Experiences with PSNT in North Carolina David H. Hardy Soil Testing Section Agronomic Division- NCDA&CS
NC Broiler Production Union Co. Piedmont Research Station (PRS)
Broiler House Litter N-29.0 P 2 O K 2 O-40.0 lb. of plant available on wet ton basis Broadcast application > 11,000 samples ( ) Use rates are 4 – 6 tons per acre, not always yearly Excellent source of nutrients Environmental concerns- N and P
General Thoughts on Testing Soils for N N is very dynamic in our SE soils –Not very predictable Coastal plains soils Piedmont soils?? Time needed for sampling –Busy time of the year with other crops Quality of samples –Representative of field (12 inch depth)
2005 PSNT Test Strip test- history of poultry litter –Four 12-row strips with only 20 GPA of 30% UAN applied at planting –Four 12-row strips with 40 GPA of 30% UAN, split applied V5 PSNT was 35.5 ppm nitrate-N average Yield at harvest with weigh wagon Cornstalk testing- Blackmer (August 30)
700 to 2000 ppm is optimal, > 2000 is excess.
Brooks Farm Site with history of litter application Strip test- 4 strip combinations –30% N at 15 GPA vs. no N (NN) 6 soil V5 Tissue tassel Yield monitor plus hand-harvest Cornstalk testing- Blackmer (August 30)
Soil Test Results- Brooks 2006 W/V 0.96 g cc -1 CEC meq 100 cc -1 pH 6.0 P- 251 mg dm -3 K- 301 mg dm ppm NO 3 -N –Range ( )
700 to 2000 ppm is optimal, > 2000 is excess.
Piedmont Research Station Treatment Blocks (subsamples) –Poultry Litter (L) –Poultry Litter + Starter (L+S) –Poultry Litter + Starter + SD (L+S+SD) 8 soil samples per treatment- PSNT Leaf N at V5, T, & grain yield
PRS-2006 Results TreatmentSoil-NO 3 ppm N- V5 % N-T % Yield bu ac -1 Stalk NO 3 ppm Litter (L) L + Starter (S) L + S + SD
Piedmont Research Station Site with history of litter N Rate treatments- 0, 30, 60, 120 – at V5 RCBD with 4 reps 1 soil sample per rep- PSNT Leaf N at T, & silage + grain yield
PRS Soil Data RepHMWVCECpHPKNO 3 %g cc -1 meq 100cc mg dm
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SUMMARY Appears to be significant available N where litter is applied on Piedmont soils On Piedmont soils, PSNT may be of benefit Lab would be well positioned to handle samples in May