91069
Subsurface Banding Poultry Litter Impacts Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Poster Number 32

See more from this Division: Submissions
See more from this Session: Professional Poster – Soils
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Westin Peachtree Plaza, The Overlook
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Dexter B. Watts, Thomas R. Way and H. Allen Torbert, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Auburn, AL
A limited amount of research has been conducted to evaluate the impacts that subsurface banding poultry litter may have on greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, a study was conducted in established bermudagrass pastures located in Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions to determine the effects subsurface applying PL have on soil flux using two different band spacings. Treatments consisted of subsurface banding PL at 25.4 cm and 38.1 cm band spacings, surface broadcasting PL and inorganic fertilizer, and a control (no fertilization). Measurements of CO2, CH4 and N2O were evaluated using the Gracenet protocol over a 6 week period. Nutrient source addition, whether it was PL or inorganic fertilizer, increased greenhouse gas emissions. Applying PL in subsurface bands also increased gas losses compared to surface applying the nutrients. The narrow PL band spacing resulted in a greater soil flux than the wide spacing. This was most likely caused by an increase in soil disturbance as well as more manure surface area to enhance soil respiration. Gaseous losses measured were in the order of 25.4 cm PL banding > 38.1 cm PL banding > surface applied PL > inorganic PL > control. Although gaseous loss of greenhouse gases were higher in the PL treatments as a whole, the impact of sequestering the carbon from PL in soil will most likely have a greater long-term impact on the environment.
See more from this Division: Submissions
See more from this Session: Professional Poster – Soils