Poultry Litter Ash Rate and Placement Affect Phosphorus Dissolution in a Horticultural Substrate1

Abstract

AbstractPoultry litter ash (PLA) is a byproduct of bioenergy production and an effective P source for horticultural crops since it reduces P losses from container production due to its low P solubility. Experiments were conducted to determine effects of rate and placement of PLA on P loss from greenhouse crop production and growth and quality of two commonly-grown greenhouse crops, Verbena canadensis Britton ‘Homestead Purple' and Lantana camara L. ‘New Gold', by comparing two rates (140 and 280 g·m−3 P or 0.4 and 0.8 lb·yd−3) and two application methods (post-plant topdressed and pre-plant incorporated). Leachate-dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations were reduced by an average of 24% as P rate was reduced from 280 to 140 g·m−3, but were 134% less on average when PLA was topdressed instead of incorporated. Foliar P concentrations were less 33% and 44% for verbena and lantana, respectively when plants were topdressed compared to incorporated. Shoot biomass of verbena and lantana was 9% and 24% greater, respectively, when incorporating instead of topdressing PLA. As a P source, PLA should be pre-plant incorporated within the substrate at a total P rate between 140 g·m−3 (0.4 lb·yd−3) and 280 g·m−3 (0.8 lb·yd−3).Index words: phosphorus, poultry litter ash, Verbena canadensis Britton ‘Homestead Purple', Lantana camara L. ‘New Gold', dissolved reactive phosphorus.Species used in this study: ‘Homestead Purple' verbena (Verbena canadensis Britton); ‘New Gold' lantana (Lantana camara L.).