Poultry Litter Application Research Articles

Effect of Organic Fertilizer and Irrigation Intervals on the Yield and Quality of Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon var. cerasiforme)

To investigate the effects of organic fertilizers and irrigation frequencies on yield and quality of cherry tomato an experiment was conducted using six fertilizer doses including control (no fertilizer), NPK fertilizer (urea at 300 kg, TSP 200 kg and MoP 250 kg), cow-dung at 5 t ha-1, cow-dung at 10 t ha-1, poultry manure at 5 t ha-1 and poultry manure at 10 t ha-1 with two levels of irrigation frequencies including alternate day irrigation and two day interval irrigation in a split plot design with three replications. Data on yield and quality attributes of cherry tomato like plant height, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant (g), yield (t ha-1), TSS (%) and vitamin C contents (mg 100 g-1) were recorded. Results revealed that poultry manure had significant effects on the yield and quality of cherry tomato. Among the fertilizer treatments, poultry manure at 5 t ha-1 showed the best results on yield and quality of cherry tomato. On the other hand, cherry tomato showed best performance in relation to yield and quality when field was irrigated in one-day interval. It can be concluded that application of poultry litter at 5 t ha-1 in combination with one day interval result in highest yield and quality on cherry tomato.

Amelioration of Adverse Effect of Drought on Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Variety BRRI Dhan28 through Application of Poultry Litter Based Compost

An experiment was carried out at the research field of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during January 2017 to May 2017 to evaluate the effects of poultry litter based composts on morpho-physiological, yield and yield contributing characters of BRRI dhan28, a mega rice variety of Boro season in Bangladesh, under different water stress conditions. The plants were grown in pots, and the experiment was laid out in a factorial complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Factor A included three levels of fertilizer and compost amendments i.e. control (recommended inorganic fertilizer), compost (10 t ha-1) + inorganic fertilizer, compost (20 t ha-1) + without inorganic fertilizers, and factor B comprised of three water levels (continuous flooding, 100% field capacity and 75% field capacity). Different parameters such as plant height, tiller number, leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll content, proline content and yield contributing characters were measured during the experiment. Most of the measured parameters were significantly influenced by irrigation levels with different fertilizer and compost amendments. The highest plant height and leaf number per hill were found in the treatment of compost (10 t ha-1) + inorganic fertilizer with 100% field capacity, though the maximum tiller number were produced by the interaction of control with flooding irrigation. The total chlorophyll was observed more in flag leaf by the interaction of control with 100% field capacity. The Proline content was observed more in flag leaf by the interaction of control with 75% field capacity. Relative water content was found more with the interaction of compost (10 t ha-1) + inorganic fertilizer with 75% field capacity. The highest effective tiller number hill-1 was found from control (19.33) at harvest. It was also observed that irrigation with 75% field capacity produced the lowest effective tiller (15.89) hill-1 at harvest. The longest panicle length (23.12 cm) was observed with the combined effect of compost (10 t ha-1) +inorganic with 75% field capacity. Thousand grain weight was found highest (18.83 g) in the interaction of compost (20 t ha-1 + without inorganic) with 75% field capacity. The interaction of compost (20 t ha-1 + without inorganic) and flooding irrigation gave the highest grain yield (33.17 g pot-1), which was statistically similar to the treatment of compost (10 t ha-1 + inorganic) with flooding irrigation. The highest harvest index was found from compost (20 t ha-1 + without inorganic) with flooding irrigation.
 The Agriculturists 2020; 18(1) 42-55

Changes in quantity and quality of organic matter in soil after application of poultry litter and poultry litter biochar—5-year field experiment

Changes of the addition of poultry litter (PL) and poultry litter biochar (PLB) on quantitative and qualitative humus parameters in loamy sand were estimated during the 5-year study period. The following properties were determined in soil: pH, total carbon (Ctotal), total nitrogen (Ntotal), humic and fulvic acids, extracted carbon, and non-hydrolysing carbon. Additionally, light absorbance in the solutions of humic acids was computed at the wavelength of 280, 465, and 665 nm. It was demonstrated that organic matter mineralisation was most intense in soil with the addition of PL, causing significant quantitative and qualitative changes in humus compounds in soil. A slower rate of organic matter mineralisation was observed in soil amended with PLB, especially in a dose of 5.0 t ha−1, which indicated the long-term effect of this material on improving soil properties. Spectrophotometric indexes for the solution of humic acids also showed that PLB had a more favourable effect on the structure durability and lower mobility of humic acid carbon compared with PL. The application of PL and PLB significantly increased the non-hydrolysing carbon content in soil, indicating greater stabilisation of humus compounds and, at the same time, lower CO2 emissions. It was found that the addition of organic materials to soil significantly increased the soil organic carbon contents. Our study has shown that the identification of changes that may occur in the quantitative and qualitative composition of soil humus after the application of PLB may be helpful in determining the appropriate biochar dose.Graphical abstract

Fluoroquinolone-contaminated poultry litter strongly affects earthworms as verified through lethal and sub-lethal evaluations

Poultry litter is one of the main sources of fluoroquinolones (FQs) in agricultural soils. In this study, our main goal was to investigate FQ-contaminated poultry litter effects on Eisenia andrei earthworms. To achieve this, acute and chronic tests covered several endpoints, such as avoidance, biomass, lethality, reproduction and changes to immune cells. FQs (enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) were determined in a poultry litter sample through high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. The avoidance test indicates that poultry litter strongly repels earthworms, even at the lowest concentration (50 g kg−1). In the acute test, the lethal concentration of poultry litter to 50% of the earthworms (LC50), was estimated at 28.5 g kg−1 and a significant biomass loss (p < 0.05) occurred at 40 g kg−1. In the chronic test, a significant reproduction effect was observed at 20 g kg−1. Cell typing, density and feasibility indicated significant effects ranging from 5 to 20 g kg−1. A high risk quotient was estimated based on recommended poultry litter applications in field studies. Although FQ contamination in poultry litter and soils has been widely reported in previous studies, this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first toxicological assessment concerning earthworms exposed to FQ-contaminated poultry litter.

Fluoroquinolones and trace elements in poultry litter: estimation of environmental load based on nitrogen requirement for crops

Poultry litter soil application contributes to sustainability of agricultural systems and is in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG). Poultry litter recommended rates are based on crop nitrogen (N) needs, however, their application can be a potential source of antibiotics and trace elements overload. The aim of the study was to estimate the role of poultry litter application on soil contamination by fluoroquinolones [enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP)] and trace elements, based on N requirements for crops. Analytical and sampling techniques were used to estimate the loads from poultry litter application. Only CIP was found in poultry litter samples (283 ± 124 µg kg−1) and its load was estimated to be of 9.89 ± 4.33 g ha−1, for the poultry litter application (35 t ha−1). The estimated loads (g ha−1) of trace elements were: Cr 9.19 ± 3.26, Ni 12.3 ± 4.93, Pb 22.0 ± 8.26, Cu 229 ± 85.6, Mn 691 ± 259 and Zn 1,011 ± 378. These estimates were 900% higher than those recommended by the technical guidance, while N exceeded 600% the recommended application. In order to achieve UN-SDGs, local policies to disseminate knowledge and technologies are required for consolidating sustainable agricultural practices.

Organic residue and agricultural lime interactions on CO2 emissions from two contrasting soils: implications for carbon management in acid soils

Agricultural lime (aglime) has been recognised to promote the production of CO2 from acid soils. However, the role of organic residues in controlling the magnitude of these emissions is poorly understood. This study, therefore, investigated the interactive effects of aglime and organic residues on inorganic- and organic-derived CO2 emissions from two contrasting acid soils. The experiment was carried out as a completely randomised 2 × 2 × 4 factorial design where two contrasting acid soils (Nariva clay series, Mollic Fluvaquents and Piarco loam series, Typic Kanhaplaquults) were amended with varying rates of 13C-enriched aglime (0% w/w and 0.230% w/w Ca13CO3, 13C 5.99% atom abundance) and organic residues (0% w/w and 1% w/w corn stover, poultry litter, or glucose) to give a total of 16 treatment combinations. These treatments were triplicated, resulting in 48 experimental units that were incubated for 103 days in 1-L media bottles. The mineralisation of carbon (C) in the Piarco soil increased by 27% with aglime addition relative to the no-organic residue control but decreased (by as much as 13.2%) when applied to the organic residue-amended soils. This interaction was, however, not evident in the Nariva soil, which may be attributed to the fact that aglime-induced priming effects were negligible in this soil. Results also show that the rate of aglime-CO2 emissions decreased with the application of poultry litter and corn stover, and increased with the application of glucose. This effect was particularly evident in the Piarco soil and is likely related to the organic residue-induced changes in the soil pH. Overall, our results highlight the importance of considering organic residue addition when assessing the global warming effect associated with aglime use. In addition to crop nutrition benefits, our results further emphasise the need to optimise liming and organic residue management practices to enhance C sequestration in acid soils.

Effect of Biochar and Poultry Litter Application on Chemical Properties and Nutrient Availability of an Acidic Soil

ABSTRACT Acidic soils are susceptible to nutrient insufficiencies and imbalances. Combined application of biochar and other organic amendments is a renowned strategy for ameliorating acid soils and enhancing soil fertility. The incubation experiment investigated the effect of biochar and poultry litter on chemical properties and nutrients availability of acidic soil. 400 g of soil was thoroughly mixed with the following treatments: corn straw biochar at the rate equivalent to 15 t/ha (B15), 30 t/ha (B30), poultry litter at the rate equivalent to 10 t/ha (PL), poultry litter plus biochar at 15 t/ha (PL+ B15), poultry litter plus biochar at 30 t/ha (PL + B30) with the control (CK) to represent, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6, respectively. These were incubated in a climate box at 25°C and 80% field capacity for 90 days. Soils were sampled destructively at 30, 60, and 90 days for analysis. Results showed that combined application of biochar and poultry litter increased concentrations of % total organic carbon (% TOC), % organic matter (% OM), electrical conductivity (EC), % total nitrogen (% TN), Phosphorus (P), reduced Iron (Fe) concentrations, and carbon to nitrogen (C: N) ratio. Poultry litter enhanced exchangeable acidity, pH, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), and exchangeable cations except for Potassium (K), biochar alone reduced zinc (Zn) concentration. In conclusion, the combined application of poultry litter and biochar could effectively ameliorate acidic soil, enhance soil fertility, and maintain good soil health.

Poultry litter and liquid swine slurry applications stimulate glomalin, extraradicular mycelium production, and aggregation in soils

In addition to their ability to alter chemical attributes, poultry litter and liquid swine slurry applications in agricultural lands can improve soil physical structure by acting on aggregate formation and stability, in particular via glomalin and extraradicular mycelium production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different rates of poultry and swine manure on microbiological (glomalin and extraradicular mycelium) and physical (aggregation) parameters and to establish a relationship between them. The experiment was conducted in a very clayey Oxisol, in a randomized block design with four replications. The design consisted of a 2 x 4 + 2 factorial scheme combining two types of manure, poultry and swine, at four rates corresponding to 67, 100, 133 and 200% of the amount of nitrogen (N) required for oat crops, as well as two control treatments, where, in one, no N was applied, and, in the second, urea was applied to provide the recommended N rate. After six years with semiannual applications, in no-tillage system, soil samples were collected within 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m depths. Compared with applications of liquid swine slurry, chemical fertilizer or no fertilizer, application of poultry litter, mainly at the 133% N rate, stimulated the production of active and total extraradicular mycelium and total glomalin, and both increased and stabilized the soil aggregates within the 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m soil layers. In both layers, the production of active and total extraradicular mycelium was positively correlated to the formation of aggregates of relatively large diameter (> 8.00 mm) and, consequently, to increases in the geometric and weighted mean diameter. The production of easily extractable and total glomalin was positively correlated with the aggregate stability index and the formation of aggregates with an intermediate diameter (between 1.00 and 8.00 mm). These results indicate that manure application can be used to maintain or improve soil aggregation in addition to chemical fertility, but this benefit depends on the type of the manure used.

Integration of poultry litter and mineral nitrogen on growth and yield of winter canola

AbstractCanola (Brassica napins L.) has the potential to be used as a winter crop in the southeastern United States, but little is known about its nitrogen management when grown in this region. Increasing fertilizer costs have increased interest in using poultry litter (PL) as an alternative nutrient source for crops in this region. However, evaluation of the use of PL on canola growth and yield is lacking. Thus, a field study was conducted at Shorter, AL (loamy sand soil) and Prattville, AL (fine sandy loam soil) using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertility treatments consisted of an unfertilized control (P0U0), commercial fertilizer N (urea, 180 kg N ha−1, P0U180), PL at 68 kg N ha‐1 with 112 kg N ha−1 urea (P68U112), PL at 112 kg N ha−1 with 68 kg N ha−1 urea (P112U68), and PL at 180 kg N ha−1 (P180U0). Overall, the combination of PL and urea application significantly increased canola growth (plant height and aboveground biomass) and elevated grain yield compared with PL application alone or with the control. The P68U112 treatment resulted in an equivalent aboveground biomass, grain yield, and N uptake compared with the recommended urea treatment. This study suggests that a combination of PL and commercial fertilizer N could provide sustainable canola yield production in the southeastern United States.

Impacts on reproduction of Enchytraeus crypticus in fertilized soils with chicken litter treated with synthetic and natural insecticide

Poultry litter is used as a fertilizer due to the high concentration of nutrients. However, this material receives application of medicines, whether they are used to treat animals or the litter itself. Thus, the objective was to evaluate if the application in soils of poultry litter doses treated with two insecticides (cypermethrin and cinnamon oil) used to control of the Alphitobius diaperinus, affect the reproduction of Enchytraeus crypticus, and the insecticides effects over time, trough of ecotoxicological tests using soils with different textural classes an Entisol and an Oxisol. In the Oxisol the application of poultry litter stimulated the E. crypticus reproduction regardless of the insecticide and the collection time. In Entisol the poultry litter showed a toxicity at 10 t ha−1 when treated with cypermethrin and at 30 t ha−1 with cinnamon oil. Entisol results show that cypermethrin affects non-target edaphic organisms soon after spraying, but over time has reduced toxicity unlike cinnamon oil.

Effect of seeding distance from subsurface banded poultry litter on corn yield and leaf greenness

AbstractPoultry litter is a nutrient‐rich soil amendment and is generated in large quantities throughout the southeastern United States where row crop production, such as corn (Zea mays L.) occurs. However, extensive surface poultry litter applications have resulted in nutrient losses to atmosphere and water systems. Research objectives were to determine optimum corn planting distance from subsurface‐applied poultry litter bands for maximizing plant N uptake and productivity under rainfed and irrigated conditions in a conservation tillage system. This experiment was conducted as a split‐block at two locations in Alabama and one in Arkansas during 2016. Irrigation was the whole block and soil amendments the split‐block, which included planting corn 13, 25, and 38 cm to the side of subsurface banded poultry litter, surface‐applied poultry litter, inorganic N (all received total N; 168 kg ha−1), and 0 kg N ha−1 (control). Chlorophyll readings indicated inorganic fertilizers and the 25 cm resulted in greatest leaf greenness, which was not different from the 13‐cm litter band distance. Banding distance had no impact on rainfed forage yields; however, yields were not different from inorganic fertilizer applications. The 13‐cm band distance resulted in the greatest grain yield, which was not different from the inorganic‐N treatment. Grain neutral detergent fiber, crude fiber, and P and K fractions were all favorable for the 13‐cm band distance treatment. Yield and quality results suggest subsurface banding poultry litter 13 cm from corn rows may be a viable replacement for inorganic fertilizers in fodder and grain systems, particularly in organic production systems.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Yield Attribute of Sugarcane

Fertiliser is one of the expensive inputs for sugarcane production in Bangladesh. As a long duration and exhaustive crop, it depletes a considerable amount of nutrients from soil. As a result, soil fertility in sugarcane growing areas is declining. Considering this issue, a field experiment was conducted in the location of Iswardi, Pabna in Bangladesh during 2013-2014 cropping season. In this experiment, seven treatments were used to appraise their effects on growth, yield and yield attribute of sugarcane. All these treatments were completely randomised and replicated thrice. Among the treatments, the highest growth parameters such as internodes length (17.20 cm), number of internodes (22.67), plant height (4.38 m), stalk height (2.86 m) and stalk girth (23.62 mm) were achieved in treatment with combined application of poultry litter and inorganic fertiliser (Treatment 3). Maximum tiller population (211.76 x 103) was also found with this treatment at 150 days after transplanting (DAT).Tiller population increased from 120 to 150 DAT and after that time, decreased gradually. The highest millable cane stalks (126.15 x 103/ha) and cane yield (144.02 t/ha) were also recorded in the same treatment and followed by the treatment with cow dung and inorganic fertiliser (Treatment 4). Maximum amount of chlorophyll (40.46 spad unit), LAI (7.57) and dry matter (3.81 kg/m2) were also obtained from the treatment with poultry litter (Treatment 3) followed by the treatment with cow dung (Treatment 4). As for the economic aspect of fertiliser management packages, maximum benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 4.06 was obtained from the treatment with poultry litter followed by treatment with cow dung. Significant changes were not found in one cycle of sugarcane cultivation in initial and postharvest soil characteristics viz., pH, organic C, total N, P, K and S contents due to integrated use of different fertiliser packages. It is concluded from the present findings that treatment with combined application of poultry litter followed by the treatment with cow dung and inorganic fertiliser exhibited better productivity, profit and integrated nutrient management technology for sole sugarcane cultivation without soil fertility degradation in High Ganges River Floodplain soils. Keywords: Nutrient, fertiliser, growth, yield, sugarcane

The state of phosphorus balance on 58 Virginia dairy farms.

Managing a sustainable dairy farm requires balancing phosphorus (P) imports and exports that enter and leave through the farm gate. Over the long term, P surpluses will elevate soil-test P concentrations above crop requirements through routine land applications of manure. The objectives of this study were aimed at Virginia dairy farms (a) to determine P mass balances, (b) to define potential guidelines for a sustainable and feasible zone of operation based on P balance and P use efficiency, and (c) to assess risk factors driving P surplus and P use inefficiencies. Data on farm-gate P imports and exports via feed, manure, crops, fertilizers, bedding, animals, and milk were collected for 58 dairy farms in Virginia. There was no relationship between farm P balance and milk production, indicating that a P surplus was not necessary for good milk productivity. A feasible P balance limit was calculated below which 75% of farms could operate, and this was 18.7kg P ha-1 . Two risk factors were identified for farms having a P balance above this limit: (a) land application of poultry litter and (b) excessive import of P through feed. Combined dairy and beef operations generally had more land and a lower P balance, whereas having combined dairy and poultry did not raise the P balance as long as poultry litter was exported. Dairy farms in Virginia can operate with a sustainable P balance as long as they avoid using excessive poultry litter and pay attention to P imported through purchased feed.

Maize yields and carbon pools in response to poultry litter, rock phosphate and P-solubilizing microorganisms

ABSTRACT: The acid release of phosphates from rock phosphates (RP) and the retention of ammonium by inorganic phosphates have been studied separately in composting; however, there is a gap in the knowledge of combined application of RP with organic residues and microorganisms. The objectives were to evaluate the combined application of fresh poultry litter (PL) with RP and P-solubilizing microorganisms (M) on soil organic matter pools, microbial biomass C (MB-C) and on whole-plant silage maize and grain yields. Two field experiments tested the effects of timing of applications of PL (8 Mg ha–1), RP (4 Mg ha–1) and microorganisms on soil organic matter pools, nutritional aspects and productive components of maize crop whole-plant silage. A second experiment evaluated the effects of RP doses (0, 3, 6 and 9 Mg ha–1) with a fixed dose of PL (8 Mg ha–1) on maize grains. Application of PL+RP decreased soil organic C, while RP alone increased the humin fraction C compared to the control. The MB-C in soil with PL and PL+RP+M increased in comparison to the control and the RP. The application of PL, based on an average of fall and spring, increased leaves + stem dry matter, while in the fall on its own, the highest cob yield was observed in the combination of PL+RP, showing synergistic effects. The best ratio of poultry litter to rock phosphate combination is 2:1 in the anticipated fall application on the maize silage crop or immediate application on the maize grain crops.

Low seasonal nitrous oxide emissions in tea tree farming systems following nitrogen fertilisation using poultry litter application or green manure legumes

The integration of legumes into coppiced tree crop systems to replace some or all of the external nitrogen (N) fertiliser requirements may be one means to lower seasonal nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. We investigated soil N2O emissions using static chamber methodology in field trials located within two commercial tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) plantations (Casino and Tweed Heads) where N (116 and 132 kg N ha–1 respectively) was supplied via poultry litter application (5 t wet ha–1) or by termination of annual legumes (soybean or mung bean) grown in the inter-row. While there was no treatment effect at the Tweed Heads site, both legume treatments had significantly (P = 0.01) lower cumulative N2O emissions (0.33 and 0.30 kg N2O-N ha–1 season–1 for soybean and mung beans respectively) than the poultry litter treatment (0.66 kg N2O-N ha–1 season–1) at the Casino site. However, the amount of N added to soils in each treatment was not identical owing to an inability to accurately predict N inputs by legume crops, and thus differences could not be attributed to the N source. A third site was thus established at Leeville comparing N2O emissions from poultry litter amendment (5 t wet ha–1 contributing 161 kg N ha–1) to an inter-row faba bean crop (contributing 92 kg N ha–1) and a nil-N control. Cumulative seasonal N2O emissions were significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) lower in the faba bean treatment than the poultry litter treatment (0.08 and 0.23 kg N2O-N ha–1 season–1 respectively), but owing to different N inputs and generally low emissions, it was not possible to draw definitive conclusions on whether green manure legume crops can lower N2O emissions. Overall, soil N2O emissions in coppiced tea tree systems under current management practices were very low, offering limited potential to reduce seasonal N2O emissions through management practice change.

Long-term effects of grazing management and buffer strips on phosphorus runoff from pastures fertilized with poultry litter.

Phosphorus (P) runoff from pastures can cause accelerated eutrophication of surface waters. However, few long-term studies have been conducted on the effects of best management practices, such as rotational grazing and/or buffer strips on P losses from pastures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of grazing management and buffer strips on P runoff from pastures receiving annual (5.6 Mg ha-1 ) poultry litter applications. A 14-yr study was conducted on 15 small watersheds (0.14ha) with five treatments: hayed (H), continuously grazed (CG), rotationally grazed (R), rotationally grazed with an unfertilized buffer strip (RB), and rotationally grazed with an unfertilized fenced riparian buffer (RBR). Runoff samples were collected using automatic samplers during runoff events. Average annual runoff volumes from H (40mm yr-1 ) and RBR (48mm yr-1 ) were lower than CG and RB, which were both 65mm yr-1 , and from R (67mm yr-1 ). Rotational grazing alone did not reduce P loads compared with continuous grazing (1.88 and 1.71kg P ha-1 for R and CG, respectively). However, compared with CG, total P losses from RB pastures were reduced 36% with unfertilized buffer strips (1.21kg P ha-1 ), 60% in RBR watersheds with unfertilized fenced riparian buffer strips (0.74kg P ha-1 ), and 49% by converting pastures to hayfields (0.97kg P ha-1 ). Hence, the use of unfertilized buffer strips, unfertilized fenced riparian buffer strips, or converting pastures to hayfields are effective best management practices for reducing P runoff in U.S. pasture systems.

Poultry litter and fresh mulch of Elephant grass improve the organic potato production

ABSTRACT The organic production system for potato is usually limited by the occurrence of diseases and nutrient shortage. In these cases, fresh grass mulch and organic fertilization can interact in the foliar late blight infestation and increase the yield and quality of marketable potato tubers, in the organic production system. Aiming to validate this hypothesis, four poultry litter doses (0 Mg ha-1, 10 Mg ha-1, 20 Mg ha-1 and 30 Mg ha-1), which were incorporated into the soil at the pre-planting stage of organic grown potato combined with the presence and absence of fresh mulch (60 Mg ha-1) composed of chopped Elephant grass, were tested. The incorporation of poultry litter into the soil at the pre-planting of potato or the use of fresh grass mulch after the potato hilling inhibits the late blight infestation on leaves, in the organic system. The application of fresh grass mulch after the hilling operation enhances the effect of organic fertilization at the pre-planting of potatoes. The pre-planting application of poultry litter increases the yield and decreases the specific gravities of marketable potato tubers in association with fresh grass mulch. The use of poultry litter at pre-planting and fresh grass mulch improve the sustainable potato cropping in the organic production system.

Impact of poultry litter application on alfalfa grown in Mississippi

AbstractAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production in the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States requires enhanced soil fertility management to capitalize on increased dry matter yield and nutritive value. Poultry litter (PL) is an abundant fertilizer source that has been recognized as an economical choice for pasture and hay production. A field trial was established in east‐central Mississippi in which PL and inorganic fertilizer sources were compared in three alfalfa cultivars in 2018 and 2019. Fertilizer treatments included (a) 2 ton PL acre−1 (Treatment 1); (b) 4 ton PL acre−1 (Treatment 2); (c) inorganic N, P, and K delivered at similar rates to Treatment 1; and (d) inorganic P, and K (no N) supplied at same rates as Treatment 3. The cultivars were Bulldog 505, Bulldog 805, and AlfaGraze 600RR. Forage mass (FM), plant persistence (PER), nutritive value [crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and relative forage quality (RFQ)], and economic comparisons were conducted. Repeated measures analysis observed no differences between cultivars or treatments for FM, PER, or CP. Bulldog 505 had superior TDN and RFQ values for 7 out of 11 total harvests. Plots with applied PL (2 or 4 ton acre−1) recorded greater TDN values than inorganic sources in 4 of 11 harvests. In 2018, Bulldog 505 produced the lowest cost per ton ($96.29 ton−1); in 2019, similar costs were observed between Bulldog 505 ($147.57 ton−1) and Bulldog 805 ($147.96 ton−1). Poultry litter sources resulted in the lowest cost per ton for both years of the trial.

Application of filter cake and poultry litter in the production of tomatoes for fresh

The tomato crop is the second most relevant in Brazil and of higher added value. The investment of fertilizer for the increase in the production of quality fruits is quite feasible, and for this we have been encouraged the use of organic fertilizers in order to improve the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil and increase the production in the cultivation of vegetables. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, containing 4 treatments: T0: control, T1: sugarcane filter cake; T2: poultry litter; T3: the combination of T1 and T2 in a ratio of 1: 1, with a fixed dose of 10 ton / ha for all treatments, 5 replicates and 5 plants per treatment, making a total of 100 plants. The design was a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications.The variables studied were subjected to analysis of variance by the F test and the means were compared by the Duncan test (p &lt;0.05). The analyzes were fresh fruit mass (yield), fruit height and width, soluble solids content, lycopene, beta - carotene, pH, ratio and leaf analysis. The fresh mass of the tomato fruit was higher in the treatment that corresponds to the combination between the sugarcane filter cake and the poultry litter, being approximately 25 tons per hectare, which indicated production superior to the other treatments, this can be verified, since these organic fertilizers contain nitrogen and potassium, which directly influenced the vegetative growth and fruit quality, as was verified in the soluble solids content and fruit size (height and width) of this same treatment. also superior to the others. The pH values did not vary statistically between treatments. As the pigment analysis found a higher beta carotene content compared to lycopene. t was concluded that the association of filter cake and poultry litter treatments is feasible due to the increased production obtained, and the use of these by-products for the production of vegetables may complement the chemical fertilizer due to the excellent physico-chemical properties , and these wastes from industries become less costly to the producer and is a way of taking advantage of something that would be discarded in nature.

Review of Antibiotic Resistance, Ecology, Dissemination, and Mitigation in U.S. Broiler Poultry Systems

Since the onset of land application of poultry litter, transportation of microorganisms, antibiotics, and disinfectants to new locations has occurred. While some studies provide evidence that antimicrobial resistance (AMR), an evolutionary phenomenon, could be influenced by animal production systems, other research suggests AMR originates in the environment from non-anthropogenic sources. In addition, AMR impacts the effective prevention and treatment of poultry illnesses and is increasingly a threat to global public health. Therefore, there is a need to understand the dissemination of AMR genes to the environment, particularly those directly relevant to animal health using the One Health Approach. This review focuses on the potential movement of resistance genes to the soil via land application of poultry litter. Additionally, we highlight impacts of AMR on microbial ecology and explore hypotheses explaining gene movement pathways from U.S. broiler operations to the environment. Current approaches for decreasing antibiotic use in U.S. poultry operations are also described in this review.