Effects of various soil amendments on soil test P values David Brauer, Glen Aiken, Dan Pote ARS/USDA, Booneville AR S.J. Livingston, L.D. Norton ARS/USDA, W. Lafayette IN T.R. Way and J.H. Edwards ARS/USDA, Auburn, AL
Acknowledgements Additional funds were provided by: –Southern Plains Area Office/ARS –U.S. Poultry and Egg Association
Rationale and Objectives Rationale –Manure applications from concentrated animal feeding operations have increased soil P levels –P transport from agricultural land to surface water is undesirable Objectives –Evaluate various amendments to decrease soil test values for P
First Experiment-Kurten TX
Farm History- Kurten Site Farm occupies acres Dairy operation- Post WWII era (30 years) Hen laying operation since early 1980’s –500,000 birds –30-35 Mg of wet manure produced daily (70% moisture)
Aerial view of Kurten Site
Kurten TX site: Climate Rainfall –About 900 mm of annual rainfall –About 100 mm occurs in July and August, thus leading to low soil moisture Annual Average temperature –About 20 C
Kurten Site- Soil Characteristics Zulch fine sandy loam (thermic udertic Paleustalfs) Chemical characteristics Ap horizon –Mehlich III P~1,500 mg/ kg –Bray-1 P~3,000mg/ kg –DRP (25:1) 50mg/ kg –Soil Ca~5,500mg/ kg –Soil pH 7.8
Soil amendments at Kurten Site Gypsum (2 rates, 1.5 and 5 Mg/ ha) Alum (1.4 Mg/ ha) Waste paper (24.4 Mg/ ha) Waste paper plus Gypsum Waste paper plus Alum Waste paper plus Alum and Gypsum
Experimental Protocol Amendments applied annually 1999 to 2001 in March. Soil samples (0-7.5 cm and cm) collected in July/August from 1999 to Bray-1 P and DRP (25 ml water per 1 g soil). DRP solutions analyzed for Ca-readily reactive Ca.
Ca and Al additions (kg/ha) Annual AmtTotal Amt CaAlCaAl 1.5 Mg Gypsum/ha 3501,050 5 Mg Gypsum/ha 1,1603, Mg Alum/ ha Mg Paper/ha
Bray-1 P (Means for )
Soil DRP (Means for )
Changes in Soil DRP with time
Changes in “reactive”soil Ca with Gypsum from 1999 to 2001
Rainfall Simulation Data (Livingston et al. 1999)
Booneville Experiment Ability to change soil P levels with waste paper Leadvale silt loam Low P soil (<60 mg P/kg Bray-1 P values) 3 rates of waste paper (22, 44 or 88 Mg/ha to supply 90, 170 or 350 kg Al/ha)
Booneville Experimental Area
Waste Paper Addition on Soil P
Waste paper and Soil Bulk Density
Conclusions Gypsum can reduce runoff and DRP when soil P values are very high –Low soluble, reactive Ca –Ca added in amounts equal to Mehlich P Decreases in runoff P with amendments –Maybe associated with changes in soil structure