Fertilizer Effectiveness of Phosphorus Recovered from Broiler Litter

Abstract

Phosphorus can be recovered from broiler litter using a new process (“quick wash”). However, limited information is available on the beneficial use of this P product as plant fertilizer. The objective of this study was to determine the agronomic effectiveness of this P material. A greenhouse study was conducted with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) to compare the recovered phosphorus (RP) to both commercial triple superphosphate (TSP) and raw broiler litter (BL) as a P source. The study consisted of a 7‐wk experiment that was repeated three times. Fertilizer rates were 0, 22, 44, 88, and 176 mg P kg−1 soil. Three harvests of the ryegrass were made at 2‐wk intervals. On average, biomass production was higher than the control with no P for plants fertilized with RP, BL, or TSP. Total P uptake increased linearly with application rate for all three fertilizer materials. At the highest application rate, total P uptake was 36.1 mg pot−1 for TSP, 21.3 mg pot−1 for the BL, and 17.3 mg pot−1 for the RP. Chemical analysis of the RP material revealed that more than 90% of the total P in the RP material was mostly as citrate‐soluble. Mehlich‐3 extractable soil P at the end of the experiment indicated that less RP material dissolved than TSP during this short study. The RP material appears to have potential as a fertilizer.