Environmental impacts of the use of poultry manure for agricultural production systems

Excessive use of poultry manure (PM) on croplands is likely to affect the quality of surface and groundwater resources. A three-year study (1998--2000) was conducted on nine 0.4-ha plots and on six 2.1-m2 lysimeters to: (1) determine the movement of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), orthophosphate (PO4-P), Escherichia coli, fecal coliform, and fecal streptococcus with surface runoff and subsurface drain water from plots and lysimeters treated with 168 kgN/ha from urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer, and 168 and 336 kg-N/ha from PM, and (2) predict the impacts of PM and UAN fertilizer application on NO3-N losses with subsurface water using GLEAMS model;The results of this study show that use of PM in field plots resulted in significantly higher corn and soybean yields when compared with commercial N fertilizer. The N application rate of 336 kg-N/ha from PM resulted in the highest NO3-N and PO4-P concentrations in subsurface drain water in comparison with the N application rates of 168 kg-N/ha from UAN and 168 kg-N/ha from PM. The 336 kg-N/ha N application rate from PM resulted in higher concentration of PO4-P in surface runoff in comparison with the N application rate of 168 kg-N/ha. The N application rate of 336 kg-N/ha from PM resulted in higher concentrations of fecal streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and fecal coliform bacteria in surface and subsurface drain water in comparison with N application rate of 168 kg-N/ha from PM or UAN. This study shows that excessive use of PM (at an application rate of 336 kg-N/ha) is likely to increase pollution potential of water resources with nutrients and bacteria;The GLEAMS model was capable of simulating subsurface drain flow from 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments. The model predicted overall NO3 -N concentration in subsurface drain water from lysimeters under 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments reasonably well, giving mean differences of -0.43, -0.10, and -0.15 mg/L, respectively. The results show that there were no significant differences (P = 0.05) between measured and simulated NO3-N losses with drainage water from 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments. These results show that GLEAMS model can be used as a viable management and decision-making tool to assess impacts of alternative N application treatments

Effects of Laying Hen Manure Application Rate on Water Quality

Excessive use of animal manure on agricultural lands can impact the quality of surface and groundwater resources. A three–year study (1998–2000) was conducted on nine 0.4–ha plots and on six 2.1–m 2 lysimeters to investigate the effect of two nitrogen (N) application rates from laying hen manure and one N application rate from urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer on surface and groundwater quality. Experimental treatments included N application rates of 168 kg–N/ha from UAN fertilizer, and 168 kg–N/ha and 336 kg–N/ha from laying hen manure to corn plots. Subsurface drain and runoff water samples were collected and analyzed for nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) and orthophosphate (PO4–P). Results of this study indicate that application of hen manure at 336 kg–N/ha resulted in the highest average NO3–N and PO4–P concentrations in subsurface drain water in comparison with the application of 168 kg–N/hafrom either hen manure or UAN fertilizer. Application of manure at 168 kg–N/ha resulted in significantly lower NO3–N loss with subsurface drain water in comparison with NO3–N loss from the other two N treatments. Manure application at a rate of 336 kg–N/ha resulted in a higher concentration of PO4–P in surface runoff in comparison with manure application rate of 168 kg–N/ha. Application rate of manure had no significant effect on NO3–N concentration in surface runoff water. In addition, higher PO4–P losses were observed with surface runoff water in comparison with subsurface drain water. The use of manure at both low and high application rates in field plots resulted in significantly higher corn and soybean yields in comparison with the use of UAN fertilizer. Results of this study led to the conclusions that application of hen manure at a lower rate of 168 kg–N/ha can result in higher crop yields and minimal water pollution in comparison with same amount of UAN fertilizer or higher manure application rate

Environmental impacts of the use of poultry manure for agricultural production systems

Excessive use of poultry manure (PM) on croplands is likely to affect the quality of surface and groundwater resources. A three-year study (1998--2000) was conducted on nine 0.4-ha plots and on six 2.1-m2 lysimeters to: (1) determine the movement of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), orthophosphate (PO4-P), Escherichia coli, fecal coliform, and fecal streptococcus with surface runoff and subsurface drain water from plots and lysimeters treated with 168 kgN/ha from urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer, and 168 and 336 kg-N/ha from PM, and (2) predict the impacts of PM and UAN fertilizer application on NO3-N losses with subsurface water using GLEAMS model;The results of this study show that use of PM in field plots resulted in significantly higher corn and soybean yields when compared with commercial N fertilizer. The N application rate of 336 kg-N/ha from PM resulted in the highest NO3-N and PO4-P concentrations in subsurface drain water in comparison with the N application rates of 168 kg-N/ha from UAN and 168 kg-N/ha from PM. The 336 kg-N/ha N application rate from PM resulted in higher concentration of PO4-P in surface runoff in comparison with the N application rate of 168 kg-N/ha. The N application rate of 336 kg-N/ha from PM resulted in higher concentrations of fecal streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and fecal coliform bacteria in surface and subsurface drain water in comparison with N application rate of 168 kg-N/ha from PM or UAN. This study shows that excessive use of PM (at an application rate of 336 kg-N/ha) is likely to increase pollution potential of water resources with nutrients and bacteria;The GLEAMS model was capable of simulating subsurface drain flow from 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments. The model predicted overall NO3 -N concentration in subsurface drain water from lysimeters under 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments reasonably well, giving mean differences of -0.43, -0.10, and -0.15 mg/L, respectively. The results show that there were no significant differences (P = 0.05) between measured and simulated NO3-N losses with drainage water from 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments. These results show that GLEAMS model can be used as a viable management and decision-making tool to assess impacts of alternative N application treatments.</p

Altrazine and Nitrate-Nitrogen Leaching through Undisturbed Soil Columns as Affected by Lime Application

Farm operators need information that enable them to select a combination of farming systems that minimizes the movement of agricultural chemicals into water sources. Agricultural lime (CaCO3) applied to the soil to reduce soil acidity, can affect the movement and fate of agricultural chemicals in the soil. A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of three application rates of lime (0, 5 and 10 Mg ha–1) on atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6- isopropylamino-1, 3, 5 triazine) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) transport through undisturbed-unsaturated soil columns. Urea (H2NCONH2) and atrazine were applied on the surface of soil columns one month after mixing lime in the top 20 mm of surface soil of these columns. Five different irrigations, totaling 36.5 cm of distilled deionized water, were used in this study. The results indicate that lime application had no significant effect on the leachate depth and pH. An increase in lime application rate increased the concentrations of Ca and NO3-N in the leachate. The concentration of NO3-N in the leachate increased with increased irrigation events for limed soil columns. The concentration of atrazine in the leachate increased significantly with increased lime application rates and decreased with subsequent irrigation events.This article is from Transactions of the ASAE 42 (1999): 937–944, doi:10.13031/2013.13274. Posted with permission.</p

Predicting Soil Nitrate-Nitrogen Losses from Incorporated Poultry Manure Using the GLEAMS Model

Proper calibration and validation of computer models can inexpensively and quickly assess the impacts of different agricultural management practices on water quality. This study used Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems (GLEAMS) version 2.1 to determine the effects of two nitrogen (N) application rates (168 kg N/ha (168PM) and 336 kg –N/ha (336PM)) from poultry manure and one N application rate (168 kg N/ha (168UAN)) from urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer on NO3–N loss with subsurface drainage. The simulated NO3–N losses by the GLEAMS model were compared with two–year (1999 and 2000) monthly measured NO3–N losses from six 2.1–m 2 field lysimeters under continuous corn production.Results indicated that the two–year average simulated subsurface drainage consistently followed the average measured subsurface drainage from 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments, with mean errors of 9%, 3%, and –2%, respectively. The model was capable of predicting overall NO3–N concentration in subsurface drainage from lysimeters under 168UAN, 168PM, and 336PM treatments reasonably well, giving mean errors of 19%, –29%, and 9%, respectively. The overall two–year results also show that there were no significant differences (p= 0.05) between average measured and simulated NO3–N losses with subsurface drainage from poultry manure treatments. The study concluded that the GLEAMS model can be used as a viable management and decision–making tool to assess the impacts of long–term poultry manure application on water quality and agricultural production for Iowa soils.This article was published in Transactions of the ASAE. Vol. 44(6): 1643–1650, doi:10.13031/2013.7051. Posted with permission.</p

Effects of Poultry Manure Application on the Leaching of NO3-N to Subsurface Drainage Water

Excessive use of poultry manure on croplands is likely to impact the quality of groundwater resources. A three year study was conducted on eight, 0.4 ha plots, and six, 2.1 m2 lysimeters, to determine the effect of poultry manure and nitrogen fertilizer applications on NO3-N leaching to shallow groundwater. Three application rates of N (168 kg-N/ha from urea ammonium nitrate fertilizer, 168 kg-N/ha and 336 kg-N/ha from poultry manure) were applied to field lysimeters and plots before planting corn (Zea mays L). Corn-soybean rotation was practiced in field plots while only corn was grown in lysimeters. No fertilizer or manure was applied to subplots where soybeans were grown. Subsurface drainage water samples were collected weekly and analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) during the study period (1998 – 2000). The results of the study indicate that poultry manure application rate of 168 kg-N/ha resulted in the lowest NO3-N concentration and loss with subsurface drainage water in comparison with similar application of commercial N fertilizer. Higher NO3-N concentrations and losses with drainage water were observed from lysimeters in comparison with field plots. Data on NO3-N concentrations in subsurface drain water clearly shows the effects of preferential flow immediately following heavy rainfall events.This proceeding is published as Chinkuyu, Adion J. and Ramesh S. Kanwar. "Effects of Poultry Manure Application on the Leaching of NO3-N to Subsurface Drainage Water." In Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Preferential Flow Water: Movement and Chemical Transport in the Environment, ASAE Publication Number 701P0006 (David Bosch and Kevin King, eds.). (2001): 269-272. DOI: 10.13031/2013.2086. Posted with permission.</p