Effects of Broiler Litter Application on Nutrient Accumulation in Soil

Excessive nutrient accumulation in soils due to land application of broiler litter is a growing environmental concern. A four-year study was conducted on a Pembroke silt loam soil (Mollic Paleudalf) cropped to orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerataL.) to evaluate accumulation of soil nutrients from broiler litter application. A randomized complete block design with four fertilization treatments was used. Broiler litter was applied at recommended nitrogen rate (L-N), recommended phosphorus rate (L-P), recommended phosphorus rate supplemented with inorganic nitrogen (L-P+N) and inorganic fertilizer with no litter application (Inorg). The L-P, L-P+N, and Inorg treatments did not cause an increase in soil nutrient accumulation while L-N increased soil phosphorus, copper, and zinc by five-fold compared to values at initiation of this experiment. Maximum and minimum orchardgrass yields were observed with L-N (18,019 kg/ha DM) and L-P treatments (7189 kg/ha DM). According to our findings, applying broiler litter at the recommended phosphorus rate and supplementing with inorganic nitrogen may be an environmentally sustainable broiler litter management practice.