Optimizing phosphorus characterization in animal manures by solution phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A procedure involving alkaline extraction and solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was developed and optimized for the characterization of P in animal manures (broiler, swine, beef cattle). Inclusion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in the alkaline extraction solution recovered between 82 and 97% of the total P from the three manures, which represented a significant improvement on recovery in NaOH alone. Low concentrations of paramagnetic ions in all manure extracts meant that relatively long delay times (> 5 s) were required for quantitative analysis by solution 31P NMR spectroscopy. The manures contained inorganic orthophosphate, orthophosphate monoesters, orthophosphate diesters, and inorganic polyphosphates, but results were markedly influenced by the concentration of NaOH in the extractant, which affected both spectral resolution and the apparent P composition of the extracts. For example, extraction of swine manure and broiler litter with 0.5 M NaOH + 50 mM EDTA produced remarkable spectral resolution that allowed accurate quantification of the four signals from phytic acid, the major organic P compound in these manures. In contrast, more dilute NaOH concentrations produced considerable line broadening that obscured individual signals in the orthophosphate monoester region of the spectra. Spectral resolution of cattle manure extracts was relatively unaffected by NaOH concentration. Improvements in spectral resolution of more concentrated NaOH extracts were, however, compromised by the disappearance of phospholipids and inorganic polyphosphates, notably in swine and cattle manure extracts, which indicated either degradation or a change in solubility. The optimum extraction conditions will therefore vary depending on the manure type and the objectives of the study. Phytic acid can be accurately quantified in swine manure and broiler litter by extraction with 0.5 M NaOH + 50 mM EDTA, while a more dilute NaOH concentration should be used for complete P characterization or comparison among different manure types.     

Establishing a linkage between phosphorus forms in dairy diets, feces, and manures

Effective manure management to efficiently utilize organic wastes without causing environmental degradation requires a clear understanding of the transformation of P forms from diet to manure. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish quantitative relationships between P forms in diets, feces, and manures collected from U.S. Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic commercial dairy farms. Total P in diets ranged from 3.6 to 5.3 g kg(-1) dry matter, while the feces had higher P than diets (5.7-9.5 g kg(-1)) and manures had lower P (2.5-8.9 g kg(-1)) than feces. The farms with total dietary P of 4.8 to 5.3 g P kg(-1) had twofold higher concentrations of phytic acid (1647-2300 mg P kg(-1)) than farms with 3.6 to 4.0 g dietary P kg(-1) (844-1100 mg P kg(-1)). Much of the phytic acid in diets was converted to inorganic orthophosphate in the rumen as indicated by a reduction in phytic acid percentage from diets (32%) to feces (18%). The proportion of orthophosphate diesters (phospholipids, deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]) was twice as high in feces (6.2-10%) as diets (2.4-5.3%) suggesting the excretion of microbial residues in feces. Phosphonates (aminoethyl phosphonates and phosphonolipids) were not seen in diets but were detected in feces and persisted in manures, which suggests a microbial origin. These organic compounds (phytic acid, phospholipids, DNA) were decomposed on storage of feces in slurry pits, increasing orthophosphate in manures by 9 to 12% of total P. These results suggest that reducing dietary P and typically storing feces in dairy farms will result in manure with similar chemical forms (primarily orthophosphate: 63-77%) that will be land applied. Thus, both the reduction of dietary P and storage of manure on farm are important for controlling solubility and bioavailability of P forms in soils and waters.     

Phosphorus speciation in broiler litter and turkey manure produced from modified diets

Modifying poultry diets by reducing mineral P supplementation and/or adding phytase may change the chemical composition of P in manures and affect the mobility of P in manure-amended soils. We studied the speciation of P in manures produced by broiler chickens and turkeys from either normal diets, or diets with reduced amounts of non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) and/or phytase, using a combination of chemical fractionation and synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. All broiler litters were rich in dicalcium phosphate (65-76%), followed by aqueous phosphate (13-18%), and phytic acid (7-20%); however, no hydroxylapatite was observed. Similarly, normal turkey manure had 77% of P as dicalcium phosphate and had no hydroxylapatite, while turkey manure from diets that had reduced NPP and phytase contained equal proportions of dicalcium phosphate (33-45%) and hydroxylapatite (35-39%). This is attributed to the higher total Ca to P ratio (>2) in modified turkey manures that resulted in transformation of more soluble (dicalcium phosphate) to less soluble P compounds (hydroxylapatite). Chemical fractionation showed that H2O-extractable P was the predominant form in broiler litter (56-77%), whereas aqueous phosphate determined with XANES was <18% indicating that H2O probably dissolved mineral forms of P (e.g., dicalcium phosphate). Results show that HCl extraction primarily removed phytic acid from broiler litters and normal turkey manure, while it removed a mixture of hydroxylapatite and phytic acid from modified turkey manures. The combination of chemical fractionation and XANES provided information about the nature of P in these manures, which may help to devise best management practices for manure use.     

Phosphorus fractionation in manure from swine fed traditional and low-phytate corn diets

Traditional corn (Zea mays L.) (TC), the primary grain used in swine (Sus scrofa) diets, stores a majority of its P as phytate, which is largely unavailable for digestion by nonruminant animals. Low-phytate corn (LPC) contains similar amounts of total P but a smaller percentage of P as phytate. When fed to swine, LPC increases P utilization and reduces P content of manure. While differences in P content between manure from animals fed TC and LPC diets have been documented, solubility and lability of manure P have not been compared. Manure P was characterized in manure from swine fed either LPC or TC diets in 2000 and 2001. Total P was lower (20 vs. 34 g kg(-1)) and N to P ratio was higher (4.5 vs. 3.3) in LPC manure than in TC manure. Manures were sequentially extracted with deionized water, 0.5 M NaHCO3, 0.1 M NaOH, and 1.0 M HCl. Extracts were analyzed for inorganic and total P. Most P (approximately 80%) in the extracts was in the inorganic form. Concentration of P in the water-extractable fraction was lower for LPC manure (10.2 g kg(-1) in 2000 and 9.7 g kg(-1) in 2001) than for TC manure (13.6 g kg(-1) in 2000 and 17.0 g kg(-1) in 2001). Percentage of total P in each extract was in the order of: H2O (60%), HCl (22%), NaHCO3 (12%), NaOH (8%), and residue (<1%). Total P and distribution of P in extracts indicates swine are able to utilize more P contained in LPC feed but the composition of P excreted in LPC manure is similar to TC manure. Solubility, crop availability, and lability of P in LPC manure should be similar to that of TC manure.     

Comparison of phosphorus forms in wet and dried animal manures by solution phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and enzymatic hydrolysis

Both enzymatic hydrolysis and solution (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy have been used to characterize P compounds in animal manures. In this study, we comparatively investigated P forms in 0.25 M NaOH/0.05 M EDTA extracts of dairy and poultry manures by the two methods. For the dairy manure, enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that the majority of extracted P was inorganic P (56%), with 10% phytate-like P, 9% simple monoester P, 6% polynucleotide-like P, and 18% non-hydrolyzable P. Similar results were obtained by NMR spectroscopy, which showed that inorganic P was the major P fraction (64-73%), followed by 6% phytic acid, 14 to 22% other monoesters, and 7% phosphodiesters. In the poultry manure, enzymatic hydrolysis showed that inorganic P was the largest fraction (71%), followed by 15% phytate-like P and 1% other monoesters, and 3% polynucleotide-like P. NMR spectroscopy revealed that orthophosphate was 51 to 63% of extracted P, phytic acid 24 to 33%, other phosphomonoesters 6 to 12%, and phospholipids and DNA 2% each. Drying process increased orthophosphate (8.4% of total P) in dairy manure, but decreased orthophosphate (13.3% of total P) in poultry manure, suggesting that drying treatment caused the hydrolysis of some organic P to orthophosphate in dairy manure, but less recovery of orthophosphate in poultry manure. Comparison of these data indicates that the distribution patterns of major P forms in animal manure determined by the two methods were similar. Researchers can utilize the method that best fits their specific research goals or use both methods to obtain a full spectrum of manure P characterization.     

A simple method to predict dissolved phosphorus in runoff from surface-applied manures

Computer models are a rapid, inexpensive way to identify agricultural areas with a high potential for P loss, but most models poorly simulate dissolved P release from surface-applied manures to runoff. We developed a simple approach to predict dissolved P release from manures based on observed trends in laboratory extraction of P in dairy, poultry, and swine manures with water over different water to manure ratios. The approach predicted well dissolved inorganic (R2 = 0.70) and organic (R2 = 0.73) P release from manures and composts for data from leaching experiments with simulated rainfall. However, it predicted poorly (R2 = 0.18) dissolved inorganic P concentrations in runoff from soil boxes where dairy, poultry, and swine manures had been surface-applied and subjected to simulated rainfall. Multiplying predicted runoff P concentrations by the ratio of runoff to rainfall improved the relationship between measured and predicted runoff P concentrations, but runoff P was still overpredicted for dairy and swine manures. We attributed this overprediction to immediate infiltration of dissolved P in the freely draining water of dairy and swine manure slurries upon their application to soils. Further multiplying predicted runoff dissolved inorganic P concentrations by 0.35 for dairy and 0.60 for swine manures resulted in an accurate prediction of dissolved P in runoff (R2 = 0.71). The ability of our relatively simple approach to predict dissolved inorganic P concentrations in runoff from surface-applied manures indicates its potential to improve water quality models, but field testing of the approach is necessary first.     

Reducing phosphorus runoff from swine manure with dietary phytase and aluminum chloride

Phosphorus (P) runoff from fields fertilized with swine (Sus scrofa) manure has been implicated in eutrophication. Dietary modification and manure amendments have been identified as best management practices to reduce P runoff from manure. This study was conducted to compare the effects of dietary modification and aluminum chloride (AlCl3) manure amendments on reducing P in swine manure and runoff. Twenty-four pens of nursery swine were fed either a normal diet or a phytase-amended diet. Each pen was connected to a separate manure pit, which was treated with AlCl3 to give final concentrations in the liquid manure of 0 (control), 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75% (v/v). Manure was collected and applied to plots cropped with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and simulated rainfall was applied at 50 mm h(-1), sufficient to generate a minimum of 30 min of continuous runoff. Samples of manure and runoff were analyzed for P and Al concentrations. Phytase reduced manure soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) by 17%, while AlCl3 reduced manure SRP by as much as 73% compared with normal manure. Phosphorus runoff was reduced from 5.7 to 2.6 mg P L(-1) (a 53% reduction) using AlCl3. The mean SRP concentration in runoff from phytase diets without AlCl3 was 7.1 mg P L(-1) during the first rainfall simulation. When phytase and AlCl3 were used together, both manure SRP and P runoff were reduced more than if either treatment were used without the benefit of the other. Use of AlCl3 did not increase soluble Al in manure or Al lost in runoff. Results from this study indicate that producers should use dietary manipulation with phytase and AlCl3 manure amendments to reduce potential P losses from fields fertilized with swine manure.     

Efficacy of alum and coal combustion by-products in stabilizing manure phosphorus

Animal manures contain large amounts of soluble phosphorus (P), which is prone to runoff losses when manure is surface-applied. Here we report the efficacy of alum and three coal combustion by-products in reducing P solubility when added to dairy, swine, or broiler litter manures in a laboratory incubation study. Compared with unamended controls, alum effectively reduced readily soluble P, determined in water extracts of moist manure samples with 1 h of shaking, for all three manures. The reduction ranged from 80 to 99% at treatment rates of 100 to 250 g alum kg(-1) manure dry matter. The fluidized bed combustion fly ash (FBC) reduced readily soluble P by 50 to 60% at a rate of 400 g kg(-1) for all three manures. Flue gas desulfurization by-product (FGD) reduced readily soluble P by nearly 80% when added to swine manure and broiler litter at 150 and 250 g kg(-1). Another by-product, anthracite refuse fly ash (ANT), was ineffective for all three manures. In all cases, reduction in readily soluble P is primarily associated with inorganic phosphorus (P(i)) with little change in organic phosphorus (P(o)). Sequential extraction results indicate that the by-product treatments shifted manure P from H2O-P into a less vulnerable fraction, NaHCO3 - P, while the alum treatment shifted the P into even more stable forms, mostly NaOH-P. Such shifts in P fractions would have little influence on P availability for crops over the long-term but would retard and reduce potential losses of P following manure applications.     

Surface runoff losses of phosphorus from Virginia soils amended with turkey manure using phytase and high available phosphorus corn diets

Many states have passed legislation that regulates agricultural P applications based on soil P levels and crop P uptake in an attempt to protect surface waters from nonpoint P inputs. Phytase enzyme and high available phosphorus (HAP) corn supplements to poultry feed are considered potential remedies to this problem because they can reduce total P concentrations in manure. However, less is known about their water solubility of P and potential nonpoint-source P losses when land-applied. This study was conducted to determine the effects of phytase enzyme and HAP corn supplemented diets on runoff P concentrations from pasture soils receiving surface applications of turkey manure. Manure from five poultry diets consisting of various combinations of phytase enzyme, HAP corn, and normal phytic acid (NPA) corn were surface-applied at 60 kg P ha(-1) to runoff boxes containing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and placed under a rainfall simulator for runoff collection. The alternative diets caused a decrease in manure total P and water soluble phosphorus (WSP) compared with the standard diet. Runoff dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations were significantly higher from HAP manure-amended soils while DRP losses from other manure treatments were not significantly different from each other. The DRP concentrations in runoff were not directly related to manure WSP. Instead, because the mass of manure applied varied for each treatment causing different amounts of manure particles lost in runoff, the runoff DRP concentrations were influenced by a combination of runoff sediment concentrations and manure WSP.     

Effect of broadcast manure on runoff phosphorus concentrations over successive rainfall events

Concern over eutrophication has directed attention to manure management effects on phosphorus (P) loss in runoff. This study evaluates the effects of manure application rate and type on runoff P concentrations from two, acidic agricultural soils over successive runoff events. Soils were packed into 100- x 20- x 5-cm runoff boxes and broadcast with three manures (dairy, Bos taurus, layer poultry, Gallus gallus; swine, Sus scrofa) at six rates, from 0 to 150 kg total phosphorus (TP) ha(-1). Simulated rainfall (70 mm h(-1)) was applied until 30 min of runoff was collected 3, 10, and 24 d after manure application. Application rate was related to runoff P (r2 = 0.50-0.98), due to increased concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in runoff; as application rate increased, so did the contribution of DRP to runoff TP. Varied concentrations of water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) in manures (2-8 g WEP kg(-1)) resulted in significantly lower DRP concentrations in runoff from dairy manure treatments (0.4-2.2 mg DRP L(-1)) than from poultry (0.3-32.5 mg DRP L(-1)) and swine manure treatments (0.3-22.7 mg DRP L(-1)). Differences in runoff DRP concentrations related to manure type and application rate were diminished by repeated rainfall events, probably as a result of manure P translocation into the soil and removal of applied P by runoff. Differential erosion of broadcast manure caused significant differences in runoff TP concentrations between soils. Results highlight the important, but transient, role of soluble P in manure on runoff P, and point to the interactive effects of management and soils on runoff P losses.     

Effect of poultry diet on phosphorus in runoff from soils amended with poultry manure and compost

Phosphorus in runoff from fields where poultry litter is surface-applied is an environmental concern. We investigated the effect of adding phytase and reducing supplemental P in poultry diets and composting poultry manures, with and without Fe and Al amendments, on P in manures, composts, and runoff. We used four diets: normal (no phytase) with 0.4% supplemental P, normal + phytase, phytase + 0.3% P, and phytase + 0.2% P. Adding phytase and decreasing supplemental P in diets reduced total P but increased water-extractable P in manure. Compared with manures, composting reduced both total P, due to dilution of manure with woodchips and straw, and water-extractable P, but beyond a dilution effect so that the ratio of water-extractable P to total P was less in compost than manure. Adding Fe and Al during composting did not consistently change total P or water-extractable P. Manures and composts were surface-applied to soil boxes at a rate of 50 kg total P ha(-1) and subjected to simulated rainfall, with runoff collected for 30 min. For manures, phytase and decreased P in diets had no significant effect on total P or molybdate-reactive P loads (kg ha(-1)) in runoff. Composting reduced total P and molybdate-reactive P loads in runoff, and adding Fe and Al to compost reduced total P but not molybdate-reactive P loads in runoff. Molybdate-reactive P in runoff (mg box(-1)) was well correlated to water-extractable P applied to boxes (mg box(-1)) in manures and composts. Therefore, the final environmental impact of dietary phytase will depend on the management of poultry diets, manure, and farm-scale P balances.     

Phosphorus fractions in manure from growing pigs receiving diets containing micronized peas and supplemental enzymes

Different livestock feeds manipulations have been reported to reduce the total P concentration in manure. Information on the influence of these dietary manipulation strategies on the forms of P in manure is, however, limited. This study was, therefore, conducted to investigate the effect of diet manipulation through feed micronization and enzyme supplementation on the forms of P in swine manure. Eight growing pigs were fed four diets: barley-raw pea (BRP), barley-micronized pea (BMP), barley-raw pea with enzyme (BRPE), and barley-micronized pea with enzyme (BMPE) in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Because we are interested in the effect of enzyme cocktail and pea micronization on manure P, we did not reduce the non-phytate P with enzyme addition in this study. The fecal material and urine were collected and analyzed for total P. Fecal material was fractionated to determine the total P in H2O-, NaHCO3-, NaOH-, and HCl-extractable fractions. The total P in the residual fractions was also determined. About 98% of the total P excreted by the pigs was found in the fecal material. Inclusion of micronized pea in pig diet did not have any significant effect (p > 0.1) on either the total P or the different P fractions in the manure. The labile P (the sum of H2O-P and NaHCO3-P) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by the addition of enzyme to swine diets. Pigs fed the BRPE and BMPE had 14 and 18% lower labile P, respectively, compared with pigs fed the BRP. Enzyme addition to pig diets reduced not only the total P in manure, but also the labile P fraction, which is of great environmental concern. Thus, the potential of P loss to runoff and the subsequent eutrophication can be reduced by enzyme addition to pig diets.     

Phosphorus speciation in manure-amended alkaline soils

Two common manure storage practices are stockpiles and lagoons. The manure from stockpiles is applied to soils in solid form, while lagoon manure is applied as a liquid. Soil amendment with manure in any form introduces a significant amount of phosphorus (P) that exists in both organic and inorganic forms. However, little is known about P speciation in manure stored under different conditions, or the subsequent forms when applied to soils. We used solution (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and conventional P fractionation and speciation methods to investigate P forms in dairy manure and liquid lagoon manure, and to study how long-term amendment with these manures influenced surface and subsurface soil P speciation. Our results show that the P forms in solid and lagoon manure are similar. About 30% of the total P was organic, mostly as orthophosphate monoesters. On a dry weight basis, total P was much higher in the solid manure. In the manure-amended soils the total P concentrations of the surface soils were similar, regardless of manure type. Total P in the subsurface soil was greater in the lagoon-manure-amended soil than the solid-manure-amended subsurface soil. However, the fraction of organic P was greater in the subsurface of the solid-manure-amended soil. The NMR results indicate that the majority of organic P in the soils is phytic acid, which is enriched in the surface soils compared with the subsurface soils. These results provide insight into P speciation and dynamics in manure-amended soils that will further increase our understanding on how best to manage manure disposal on soils.     

Effect of methodology in estimating and interpreting water-extractable phosphorus in animal manures

Manure water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) data are used in indices and models to assess P transport in runoff. Methods to measure WEP vary widely, often without understanding the effect on how much P is extracted. We conducted water extractions on five dairy, swine, and poultry manures to assess single and sequential extractions, drying manures, solution to solid (cm3 g(-1)) extraction ratios, and P determination method. We found little difference in WEP of single or sequential extractions. Increasing extraction ratio from 10:1 to 250:1 resulted in more WEP recovered, but in a diminishing fashion so that ratios of 200:1 and 250:1 were not significantly different. Patterns of increased WEP with extraction ratio varied with manure type, presence of bedding material, and drying treatment. Fresh and air-dried manures had similar patterns, but differed substantially from oven-dried (90 degrees C) manures. The differential effect of oven-drying on WEP was greatest for dairy and poultry manure, and less for swine manure. We analyzed water extracts colorimetrically before and after digestion, to examine the potential effect of P determination by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. Digested extracts always contained more P. For manures with bedding, drying decreased the difference in P measured before and after digestion. The opposite was true for manures without bedding. Results highlight the influence of methodology on manure WEP measurement and caution needed when comparing data across studies using different WEP methods. Overall, our results point to a need for a standard manure water extraction method.     

Manipulation of dietary protein and nonstarch polysaccharide to control swine manure emissions

Odor and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stored pig (Sus scrofa) manure were monitored for response to changes in the crude protein level (168 or 139 g kg(-1), as-fed basis) and nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) content [i.e., control, or modified with beet pulp (Beta vulgaris L.), cornstarch, or xylanase] of diets fed to pigs in a production setting. Each diet was fed to one of eight pens of pigs according to a 2 x 4, full-factorial design, replicated over three time blocks with different groups of animals and random assignment of diets. Manure from each treatment was characterized and stored in a separate, ventilated, 200-L vessel. Repeated measurements of odor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from the vessels were taken every two weeks for eight weeks. Manure from high-protein diets had higher sulfur concentration and pH (P < or = 0.05). High-NSP (beet pulp) diets resulted in lower manure nitrogen and ammonia concentrations and pH (P < or = 0.05). Odor level and hedonic tone of exhaust air from the storage vessel headspaces were unaffected by the dietary treatments. Mean CO2 and CH4 emissions (1400 and 42 g d(-1) m(-3) manure, respectively) increased with lower dietary protein (P < or = 0.05). The addition of xylanase to high-protein diets caused a decrease in manure CO2 emissions, but an increase when added to low-protein diets (P < or = 0.05). Nitrous oxide emissions were negligible. Contrary to other studies, these results do not support the use of dietary protein reduction to reduce emissions from stored swine manure.     

Sorption of inorganic and total phosphorus from dairy and swine slurries to soil

Understanding P sorption from animal manures is essential to formulate best management practices with regard to land application of manure from the standpoint of crop production and environmental quality. Little research has focused on the construction of P sorption isotherms where the P source is manure. The objectives of this study were to: (i) develop a procedure to characterize how inorganic P (P(i)) and total P (P(t)) from dairy slurry and swine slurry sorbs to soil; and (ii) compare the sorption characteristics of P(i) and P(t) where the P source was dairy slurry, swine slurry, or potassium phosphate (KH2PO4). Sorption solutions were prepared in 0.1 M KCl at pH 6 and equilibrated with soils at a 1:25 (w/v) soil/solution ratio for 24 h. Inorganic P, P(t), Al, and Fe in the equilibrated solutions were measured. For all soils, P(i) and P(t) sorption capacity of dairy slurry was greater than KH2PO4. Total P sorption capacity of swine slurry was greater than KH2PO4, while P(i) sorption capacity was less than KH2PO4. Overall, P(i) and P(t) sorption strengths of the manure slurries were less than or equal to KH2PO4. Increased P(i) sorption from dairy slurry was correlated with Fe and Al desorption. Reduction of P(i) sorption capacity from swine slurry was related to preferential sorption of organic P. Additional studies need to be conducted to determine how differences in P sorption between manures and fertilizer impact in-field P availability to a crop and potential for losses in runoff water.     

Leaching and crop uptake of nitrogen from nitrogen-15-labeled green manures and ammonium nitrate

Green manures can be used as an N source for agricultural crops as a substitute for inorganic N fertilizers. The effects of using green manures on leaching and uptake of N by spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were evaluated in a 2-yr lysimeter study. Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) labeled with (15)N were applied in May of the first year at 160 kg total N ha(-1). Simultaneously, (15)NH(4)(15)NO(3) was applied at 80 kg N ha(-1) to additional lysimeters and others were left without N additions (control). During the second year, all lysimeters, except the control, received 80 kg N ha(-1) as unlabeled NH(4)NO(3). The cumulative, average loads of total N leached during the two years were: 37 (control), 62 (NH(4)NO(3)), 50 (ryegrass manure), and 73 (red clover manure) kg ha(-1). The differences among the treatments were not significant (P > 0.05), but the control had significantly smaller (P < 0.05) leaching loads than the treatments. About 24% of ryegrass- and red clover-derived N and 43% of NH(4)NO(3) were removed through spring barley grain and stover during the two growing seasons. Thus, the N use efficiency in barley was substantially larger when grown with inorganic N fertilizer than when grown with green manure. Viewed in combination with the tendency for larger N leaching loads under red clover manure, claims about water quality benefits of legume-based green manures should be evaluated with regard to the timing of N release and demand for N by the plant.     

A model for phosphorus transformation and runoff loss for surface-applied manures

Agricultural P transport in runoff is an environmental concern. An important source of P runoff is surface-applied, unincorporated manures, but computer models used to assess P transport do not adequately simulate P release and transport from surface manures. We developed a model to address this limitation. The model operates on a daily basis and simulates manure application to the soil surface, letting 60% of manure P infiltrate into soil if manure slurry with less than 15% solids is applied. The model divides manure P into four pools, water-extractable inorganic and organic P, and stable inorganic and organic P. The model simulates manure dry matter decomposition, and manure stable P transformation to water-extractable P. Manure dry matter and P are assimilated into soil to simulate bioturbation. Water-extractable P is leached from manure when it rains, and a portion of leached P can be transferred to surface runoff. Eighty percent of manure P leached into soil by rain remains in the top 2 cm, while 20% leaches deeper. This 2-cm soil layer contributes P to runoff via desorption. We used data from field studies in Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arkansas to build and validate the model. Validation results show the model accurately predicted cumulative P loads in runoff, reflecting successful simulation of the dynamics of manure dry matter, manure and soil P pools, and storm-event runoff P concentrations. Predicted runoff P concentrations were significantly related to (r2=0.57) but slightly less than measured concentrations. Our model thus represents an important modification for field or watershed scale models that assess P loss from manured soils.     

Investigation of the inorganic and organic phosphorus forms in animal manure

The most viable way to beneficially use animal manure on most farms is land application. Over the past few decades, repeated manure application has shown adverse effects on environmental quality due to phosphorus (P) runoff with rainwater, leading to eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. Improved understanding of manure P chemistry may reduce this risk. In this research, 42 manure samples from seven animal species (beef and dairy cattle, swine, chicken, turkey, dairy goat, horse, and sheep) were sequentially fractionated with water, NaHCO?, NaOH, and HCl. Inorganic (P(i)), organic (P(o)), enzymatic hydrolyzable (P(e); monoester-, DNA-, and phytate-like P), and nonhydrolyzable P were measured in each fraction. Total dry ash P (P(t)) was measured in all manures. Total fractionated P (P(ft)) and total P(i) (P(it)) showed a strong linear relationship with P(t). However, the ratios between P(ft)/P(t) and P(it)/P(t) varied from 59 to 117% and from 28 to 96%, respectively. Water and NaHCO? extracted most of the P(i) in manure from ruminant+horse, whereas in nonruminant species a large fraction of manure P was extracted in the HCl fraction. Manure P(e) summed over all fractions (P(et)) accounted for 41 to 69% of total P(0) and 4 to 29% of P(t). The hydrolyzable pool in the majority of the manures was dominated by phytate- and DNA-like P in water, monoester- and DNA-like P in NaHCO?, and monoester- and phytate-like P in NaOH and HCl fractions. In conclusion, if one assumes that the P(et) and P(it) from the fractionation can become bioavailable, then from 34 to 100% of P(t) in animal manure would be bioavailable. This suggests the need for frequent monitoring of manure P for better manure management practices.     

Phytase supplementation and reduced-phosphorus turkey diets reduce phosphorus loss in runoff following litter application

Concerns about regional surpluses of manure phosphorus (P) leading to increased P losses in runoff have led to interest in diet modification to reduce P concentrations in diets. The objectives of this study were to investigate how dietary P amendment affected P concentrations in litters and P losses in runoff following land application. We grew two flocks of turkeys on the same bed of litter using diets with two levels of non-phytate phosphorus (NPP), with and without phytase. The litters were incorporated into three soils in runoff boxes at a plant-available nitrogen (PAN) rate of 168 kg PAN/ha, with runoff generated on Days 1 and 7 under simulated rainfall and analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total P. Litters were analyzed for water-soluble phosphorus (WSP) and total P, while soils in the runoff boxes were analyzed for WSP and Mehlich-3 phosphorus (M3-P). Formulating diets with lower NPP and phytase both decreased litter total P. Phytase had no significant effect on litter WSP at a 1:200 litter to water extraction ratio, but decreased WSP at a 1:10 extraction ratio. Using a combination of reducing NPP fed and phytase decreased the total P application rate by up to 38% and the P in surplus of crop removal by approximately 48%. Reducing the NPP fed reduced DRP in runoff from litter-amended soils at Day 1, while phytase had no effect on DRP concentrations. Increase in soil M3-P was dependent on total P applied, irrespective of diet. Reducing overfeeding of NPP and utilizing phytase in diets for turkeys should decrease the buildup of P in soils in areas of intensive poultry production, without increasing short-term concerns about dissolved P losses.