Litter Fertilizer Research Articles

Uso de cinza de madeira e cama de aviário no desenvolvimento inicial de Eucalyptus benthamii

The Brazilian soils generally exhibit low natural fertility, including forest soils. The study aims to evaluate the initial growth of Eucalyptus benthamii in the plateau region of Santa Catarina, with the application of organic and mineral fertilization sources. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, using a Haplic Cambisol. Each experimental unit consisted of a 2.5 dm³ soil pot. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with four treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of the following fertilizer sources: control (without fertilizer); mineral fertilizer (NPK 9-33-12, equivalent to 187 mg dm³); poultry litter at a dose equivalent to 2,200 kg ha-¹; and eucalyptus wood ash at a dose of 5,500 kg ha-¹. The quantity of each fertilizer was applied to provide the equivalent of 50 kg of P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Plant height, number of leaf pairs at 90 and 180 days, dry weight of aboveground and root parts, Dickson's quality index, and phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) levels in eucalyptus aboveground parts were evaluated. Fertilization with wood ash resulted in greater height at 90 days after establishment, being similar to mineral fertilizer and control at 90 days and similar to mineral fertilization. At 180 days, wood ash was superior to other fertilizer sources, being similar to mineral fertilization. Dry weight of aboveground parts, dry weight of roots, and N and P content in aboveground parts showed no differences among the fertilizer sources. Poultry litter fertilization inhibited the initial growth of the species; however, fertilization with wood ash could be an alternative for planting Eucalyptus benthamii.

Effectiveness of Using Wood Powder and Litter Fertiliser on Rice Paddy Farming (Implementation in Tanjung Harapan Farmer Group, Setiris Village, Maro Sebo District, Muaro Jambi Regency)

The use of wood powder and leaf litter fertilizer in wetland rice farming has proven to be effective in improving agricultural productivity sustainably. The research was conducted in Setiris Village, particularly in the Tanjung Harapan Farmer Group, in Jambi Province. This organic fertilizer, besides reducing the environmental damage caused by wood powder waste, has also brought about positive changes in farming practices. Training and counseling have been conducted to enhance farmers' understanding of using organic fertilizer. Wood powder and leaf litter fertilizers enhance crop productivity and quality, improve soil structure, and reduce production costs. Thus, the use of these fertilizers supports sustainable and environmentally friendly farming in Setiris Village.

Soil Organic Matter Fractions and Enzymes Activities under No-tillage System: Effects of Organomineral and Mineral Fertilizer with Humic Substances

ABSTRACT The use of organomineral fertilizer can promote increments of organic matter and affect the enzymatic activity of the soil. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of organomineral and mineral fertilizer with humic substances on soil organic matter fractions and enzymes activities. The study was set up in a Xanthic Ferrasol, in the Cerrado region, Brazil. Treatments consisted of two fertilizers and four rates of P fertilizer. The following fertilizers were studied: mineral fertilizer enriched with humic substances (03% of N, 25% of P2O5, 08% of K2O, with 1% humic substance); and granulated organomineral produced from poultry litter and mineral fertilizer (MAP – mono-ammonium phosphate, with 26.6% of P2O5 and 18.2% of organic carbon). Five rates of P were also evaluated (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha−1 of P2O5). The crop production, soil organic matter fraction and enzymes were assessed in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 growing seasons. Contents of the total organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, humic acid, fulvic acid, and maize and soybean grain yield were positively influenced by the fertilizer application. Fertilization treatments did not affect the enzymes activities, but they showed positive correlations with particulate organic carbon.

Morphology of Local Sweet Potatos (Ipomoea batatas) Leave Waste in Disused Limestone Mining Areas were Fertilized by Goat Litter Compost

The aim of this study was to determine the morphology of local sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaf waste as forage in disused limestone mining areas were fertilized by goat compost litter. The method used in this research was an experimental method in the disused limestone mining area by using a factorial pattern with a completed randomized design, each treatment was repeated 3 times. Factor I was three types of local sweet potatoes, namely purple (U), white (P) and yellow (K) sweet potatoes, while the Factor II was the level of goat litter fertilization, namely k1: Level of goat litter fertilization 0.5 kg. / m2, k2: 1 kg / m2, k3: 1.5 kg / m2 and k4: 2 kg / m2. The morphology of sweet potato leaf waste was measuredby the number of leaf, the width of leaf, the length of leaf stalk and the weight of leaf . The results showed that the local type of sweet potato had significant different (P < 0.05) but the level of goat compost litter fertilization had no significant different (P > 0.05) on the morphology. Judging from the, it can be concluded that the waste of orange (O) sweet potato leaf with goat litter fertilization of at least 1 kg/m2 or 10 tons/ha has a high morphology, so that the amount of sweet potato leafwaste which was produced for the forage will be high.

Pelleted biosolids and cover crop effects on major Southern row crops

Pelleted biosolids (PBS) can be used as a low-cost nutrient source alternative to conventional fertilizers for row crop production. A field study was conducted on a Marietta loam at the Plant Science Center at Mississippi State to determine the response of row crops to PBS relative to poultry litter (PL) and inorganic fertilizer N in the presence/absence of cover crop residues. Fertilization treatments included PBS and PL at agronomic rate, PBS as one-time single application at the high rate, inorganic fertilizer N, and unfertilized control. At agronomic rate, PBS and PL relative to inorganic fertilizer had similar effects on corn (Zea mays L.) grain and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yields N and P utilizations. However, in 2019, corn grain yield and grain N uptake with PBS were less by 31% and 55% as compared to inorganic fertilizer, respectively. Pelleted biosolids and PL had similar residual effects on soybean (Glycine max L.) grain yield and grain N and P uptakes. Averaged across fertilization treatments, the presence of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop residue significantly increased seed cotton yield by 7% as compared to winter fallow. One-time single application of PBS at the high rate resulted in significant NO3–N concentration below 30 cm and substantial P accumulations at the top 15 cm soil depth. At the agronomic rate, PBS can be considered as an alternative effective fertilizer for row crop productions.

Interrelationships of Chemical, Physical and Biological Soil Health Indicators in Beef-Pastures of Southern Piedmont, Georgia

The study of interrelationships among soil health indicators is important for (i) achieving better understanding of nutrient cycling, (ii) making soil health assessment cost-effective by eliminating redundant indicators, and (iii) improving nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendation models. The objectives of this study were to (i) decipher complex interrelationships of selected chemical, physical, and biological soil health indicators in pastures with history of inorganic or broiler litter fertilization, and (ii) establish associations among inorganic N, potentially mineralizable N (PMN), and soil microbial biomass (SMBC), and other soil health indicators. In situ soil respiration was measured and soil samples were collected from six beef farms in 2017 and 2018 to measure selected soil health indicators. We were able to establish associations between easy-to-measure active carbon (POXC) vs. PMN (R2 = 0.52), and N (R2 = 0.43). POXC had a noteworthy quadratic relationship with N and nitrate, where we found dramatic increase of N and nitrate beyond an inflection point of 500 mg kg−1 POXC. This point may serve as threshold for soil health assessment. The relationships of loss-on-ignition (LOI) carbon with other soil health indicators were discernable between inorganic- and broiler litter-fertilized pastures. We were able to establish association of SMBC with other soil variables (R2 = 0.76) and there was detectable difference in SMBC between inorganic-fertilized and broiler litter-fertilized pastures. These results could be useful for cost-effective soil health assessment and optimization of N fertilizer recommendation models to improve N use efficiency and grazing system sustainability.

Alfalfa Forage Production and Nutritive Value, Fermentation Characteristics and Hygienic Quality of Ensilage, and Soil Properties after Broiler Litter Amendment

Recycling broiler litter (BL) nutrients is an important strategy for sustainable forage production. However, BL can contain Clostridia bacteria that can contaminate forages at harvest, resulting in poor ensilage quality and botulism-related animal health risks. A better understanding of the effects of BL amendment on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production and ensiling is beneficial for promoting manure-based alfalfa production. This 2-year study examined the effects of high-level BL (HBL) at 112 kg N ha−1 and low-level (LBL) at 56 kg N ha−1 on alfalfa forage production, fermentation characteristics, and Clostridium botulinum concentrations in silage and haylage produced from 350 g dry matter (DM) kg−1 forage and 500 g DM kg−1 forage respectively, and soil characteristics compared to a control treatment (CT). Results showed that the application of BL did not affect forage production (12.8–13.1 MG ha−1) and nutritive value. The alfalfa produced high forage yield with superior ensilabilty in the second year. The BL application increased soil NH4-N, Ca, Fe, and B, but did not affect fermentation characteristics or Clostridium botulinum concentrations in ensilage. Silage had superior fermentation quality, and Clostridium botulinum concentration was found to be higher than in haylage. Broiler litter fertilization for alfalfa is environmentally safe and has forge production, ensilage fermentation quality, and botulism risks similar to CT.

Bacterial diversity changes in agricultural soils influenced by poultry litter fertilization.

Poultry litter is widely applied as agricultural fertilizer and can affect the soil microbiome through nutrient overload and antibiotic contamination. In this study, we assessed changes in soil bacterial diversity using high-throughput sequencing approaches. Four samples in triplicate were studied: soils with short- and long-term fertilization by poultry litter (S1 = 10 months and S2 = 30 years, respectively), a soil inside a poultry shed (S3), and a forest soil used as control (S0). Samples S0, S1, and S2 revealed a relatively high richness, with confirmed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the three replicates of each sample ranging from 1243 to 1279, while richness in S3 was about three times lower (466). The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia were also abundant but highly diminished in S3, while Firmicutes was less abundant in S0. Changes in bacterial communities were very evident at the genera level. The genera Gaiella, Rhodoplanes, Solirubacter, and Sphingomonas were predominant in S0 but strongly decreased in the other soils. Pedobacter and Devosia were the most abundant in S1 and were diminished in S2, while Herbiconiux, Brevundimonas, Proteiniphilum, and Petrimonas were abundant in S2. The most abundant genera in S3 were Deinococcus, Truepera, Rhodanobacter, and Castellaniella. A predictive analysis of the metabolic functions with Tax4Fun2 software suggested the potential presence of enzymes associated with antibiotic resistance as well as with denitrification pathways, indicating that the S3 soil is a potential source of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Assessing Remote Sensing Vegetation Index Sensitivities for Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) Plant Health with Varying Endophyte and Fertilizer Types: A Case for Improving Poultry Manuresheds

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is a common perennial forage in cattle pastures of the southeastern United States. A mutualistic fungal endophyte normally infects the grass and produces ergot alkaloids toxic to livestock, but fungal biotypes that have no ergot alkaloid production have been developed. Here remote sensing methods were used to assess plant health in 1 ha grazed paddocks with application amongst different combinations of fertilizer sources (inorganic and broiler litter) and endophyte associations (wild, novel–tall fescue MaxQ type with novel endophyte, and free). Broiler litter fertilization is common in the region due to the presence of many chicken farms. Moreover, broiler litter costs are comparable to inorganic fertilizer depending on distance from source to application. Incorporating remote sensing, we tested the sensitivity of three indices: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and land surface water index (LSWI) to assess fescue plant health. Indices were obtained from satellite imagery provided by Landsat 7 ETM+ between the years 2005 and 2009. Sensitivity analytics suggested that LSWI was the optimum index to determine fescue plant health. The year experiencing drought (determined by annual precipitation) showed significant difference between fertilizer types (p = 0.05) and a nearly significant difference between endophyte associations (p = 0.08). There was no significant difference in years with normal or wet precipitation rates due to tall fescue endophyte association or type of fertilization. Limited availability of satellite imagery during parts of the five years of study might have influenced outcomes of statistical analyses. Nevertheless, the data and findings point to the potential use of satellite imagery in assessing grazingland tall fescue health and advancing the concept of poultry manureshed in the region or elsewhere where poultry manure production is extensive.

Soil CO2 evolution is driven by forage species, soil moisture, grazing pressure, poultry litter fertilization, and seasonality in silvopastures

AbstractCarbon cycling is a highly complex yet critical process, especially in silvopastures, which have multiple pools with the ability to store large amounts of C. However, it is largely unknown how site‐specific variables, including edaphic factors, vegetation type, topography, and management, affect soil CO2 flux in silvopastures. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate CO2 fluxes in a silvopastoral system as affected by soil moisture (udic and aquic), forage species (C4; native grass mix and orchardgrass [C3; Dactylis glomerata L.]), fertilization (poultry litter and a control), and grazing pressure (grazed and ungrazed). Temperature and volumetric water content (VWC) were measured simultaneous with flux measurements during summer grazing in 2018 and 2019. Averaged across years, fluxes were at least 20% greater (P ≤ .05) in the native mix fertilized with poultry litter than in the unfertilized native mix and fertilized or unfertilized orchardgrass, likely owing to increased microbial diversity activity in the rhizosphere of poultry litter‐amended native grass species. Across years, CO2 flux was 7% greater (P ≤ .05) in the fertilized ungrazed areas and 7% lower (P ≤ .05) in the unfertilized ungrazed areas, respectively, compared with both fertilized grazed and unfertilized grazed areas. Carbon dioxide flux was correlated (P ≤ .05) with sampling date, soil temperature, and VWC. Study results improve the understanding of C dynamics in complex silvopasture systems and may assist producers in their selection of forage species and nutrient sources when designing silvopastoral systems for enhanced regional sustainability.

Comparative Evaluation of the Influence of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth Performance of Tetrapleura tetraptera

The continuous destruction of our rainforest has threatened the existence of many useful and multipurpose plant species such as Tetrapleura tetraptera. To revert this situation, efforts must be made towards its sustainable use by encouraging reforestation which entails raising of seedlings for mass propagation of this crop. This study was aimed at comparing the effects of organic (chicken litter) and inorganic (NPK 15:15:15) fertilizers on seedling growth in four accessions of Tetrapleura tetraptera and hence determining fertilizer preference for this forest species. The Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used in a factorial arrangement with four accessions and three fertilizer types in eight replicates. One month after transplanting, the fertilizers (organic and inorganic) were uniformly applied at the rate of 45 kg/hectare according to the experimental design. Data were collected monthly for a period of three months on plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, leaf length, member of branches, number of leaves, primary and secondary internode length per plant. Data on seedling emergence were also taken. Data collected were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance. Least significant difference (LSD) was used to separate significant means at p = 0.05. Result obtained revealed that the soil was rich in calcium, phosphorus and organic matter but low in nitrogen and potassium which were adequately complemented in mean days to seedling emergence in four accessions studied. Our findings also revealed that the organic (chicken litter) fertilizer did better (P<0.05) in all accessions than inorganic (NPK 15:15:15) fertilizer for all morphological traits studied. The performance of Cross River accession was outstanding as illustrated by the significant interaction obtained in most parameters. With chicken, litter fertilizer, Cross River accession produced the tallest plant (27.38 cm), largest leaf area (1.99 cm2), highest number of branches (20.13), highest number of leaves (66.75), longest stem diameter (0.93 cm), longest leaf length (1.94 cm), lowest primary (0.80) and lowest secondary (0.83) internode length. The use of organic fertilizers is therefore recommended for improved seedling growth of Tetrapleura tetraptera.

Bermudagrass Harvest Management Options with Poultry Litter Fertilization

CSA NewsVolume 65, Issue 5 p. 15-15 SOCIETY SCIENCE Bermudagrass Harvest Management Options with Poultry Litter Fertilization First published: 30 March 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/csan.20105Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume65, Issue5May 2020Pages 15-15 Podcast— COVID-19, Agricultural Research, and Food Supply Chains with Dr. Gary Pierzynski RelatedInformation

Liming potential of poultry litter in a long-term tillage comparison study

Soil acidity is a constraint to global soil and food security, yet access to limestone to correct this problem is limited in many parts of the world. Research suggests that animal manures have a liming effect on acidified soils, representing a potential solution. This long-term (15 year) study used a split plot design to evaluate the effect of conventional tillage (CT) vs no-till (NT) (main plot) under conventional (CF) and poultry litter (PL) fertilizer source applications (sub-plots). A succession of three cropping systems consisting of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) cover crop, corn (Zea mays) with rye (Secale cereal), and millet (Panicum miliaceum) with rye was implemented. The soil is a Cecil sandy loam (1:1 kaolinitic). Changes in soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), and lime buffer capacity (LBC) were compared among the four treatments CTCF, CTPL, NTCF, and NTPL. The CTPL treatment had a 0.6 unit pH increase in the top 15 cm. However, cropping systems had more effect than tillage or fertilizer source on both soil pH and LBC. All treatments resulted in some increase in subsoil pH. Lime buffer capacity remained unchanged at all but the 76–91 cm depth, where all treatments exhibited a decrease ranging from 27 to 43 kg CaCO3 eq ha−1 pH unit−1 year−1. Our results suggest that previously reported liming effect of animal manures should be examined in the context of soil type and cropping system to better understand the true mechanism(s) of soil acidity amelioration.

Rebuilding Soil Ecosystems for Improved Productivity in Biosolarized Soils

Disinfecting soil can reduce or eliminate crop loss from soilborne pathogens, parasitic nematodes, and weed competition. Biosolarization combines biotoxic products from organic matter decomposition and heat from solarization. While biosolarization offers an organic option for soil pest control and avoids human and environmental health risks associated with chemical fumigants, it still has broad negative impacts on microbial communities. Quickly reestablishing these communities can be key in preventing resurgence in disease pressure and in maximizing nutrient use efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of fertilization source, N fertilization rate, and/or inoculate to rebuild an active soil ecosystem in biosolarized soils by measuring nematode community structure, microbial biomass, and C and N mineralization in soil as well as kale yield and quality. The study was conducted using potted kale grown in biosolarized soils. Treatments were bare soil, receiving no fertilization, and soils receiving two different rates of organic, composted broiler litter or mineral fertilizer. Half of the pots in each treatment received a locally sourced microbial inoculant (LEM). Among the nonfertilized treatments, the soils that received applications of LEM mineralized more nitrogen and produced higher yields. Soils that received the highest rate of compost immobilized the greatest proportion of nitrogen applied, were the most cold-tolerant, and produced the largest yields. None of the kale that received heavy mineral fertilization without LEM inoculation survived a hard freeze; however, the ones that received LEM applications were able to partially recover. We also found that kale grown with lower rates of N (50 kg·ha−1), applied as compost plus LEM, had the greatest magnesium leaf content and were more economically efficient while producing an equally abundant and nutritious food.

Methods and rates of poultry litter fertilization for corn silage in organic system

The creation of proper soil fertility is fundamental to the agroecological transition phase and guarantees the sustainability of organic agribusiness. In a randomized complete block design with a 3 x 2 factorial scheme with 1 additional treatment (control, without organic fertilizer), we tested three poultry litter rates (7, 14, and 21 Mg ha-1) at sowing or splitting between sowing (30%) and side-dressing (70%) for two summer corn whole-plant silage crops and for the soil chemical attributes. The splitting of the poultry litter rate during the rainy season preserves the soil K content, prevents the accumulation of soil P and increases the efficiency of the increasing yields of the organic whole-plant corn silage crop. The reapplication of pre-sowing poultry litter can lead to an accumulation of P and Ca in the soil but favors fresh matter and cob dry matter yields in the dry season. The splitting of the poultry litter rate for whole-plant corn silage can guarantee technical and environmental sustainability in rainy years, but on the other hand, the reapplication of this organic fertilizer only at pre-sowing can increase the fresh matter yield and protein quality of organic whole-plant corn silage cultivated in an Inceptisol in the dry season.

Abrasive Grit Application in Organic Red Pepper: An Opportunity for Integrating Nitrogen and Weed Management

Weeds are a top management concern among organic vegetable growers. Abrasive weeding is a nonchemical tactic using air-propelled abrasive grit to destroy weed seedlings within crop rows. Many grit types are effective, but if organic fertilizers are used, this could integrate weed and nutrient management in a single field pass. Our objective was to quantify the effects of abrasive grit and mulch type on weed suppression, disease severity, soil nitrogen availability, and yield of pepper (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Carmen’). A 2-year experiment was conducted in organic red sweet pepper at Urbana, IL, with four replicates of five abrasive grit treatments (walnut shell grits, soybean meal fertilizer, composted turkey litter fertilizer, a weedy control, and a weed-free control) and four mulch treatments (straw mulch, bioplastic film, polyethylene plastic film, and a bare soil control). Abrasive weeding, regardless of grit type, paired with bioplastic or polyethylene plastic mulch reduced in-row weed density (67 and 87%, respectively) and biomass (81 and 84%); however there was no significant benefit when paired with straw mulch or bare ground. Despite the addition of 6 to 34 kg N/ha/yr through the application of soybean meal and composted turkey litter grits, simulated plant N uptake was most influenced by mulch composition (e.g., plastic vs. straw) and weed abundance. Nitrogen immobilization in straw mulch plots reduced leaf greenness, plant height, and yield. Bacterial spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria) was confirmed on peppers in both years, but abrasive weeding did not increase severity of the disease. Pepper yield was always greatest in the weed-free control and lowest in straw mulch and bare soil, but the combination of abrasive weeding (regardless of grit type) and bioplastic or polyethylene plastic mulch increased marketable yield by 47% and 21%, respectively, compared with the weedy control. Overall, results demonstrate that when abrasive weeding is paired with bioplastic or polyethylene mulch, growers can concurrently suppress weeds and increase crop N uptake for greater yields.

Recovery of degraded area of Urochloa decumbens with turkey litter fertilizer

The aimed of this study was to evaluate the effects of different dosages of turkey litter on soil’s chemical attributes and yield of the Urochloa decumbens in classified as degraded pasture. The work was performed at the municipality of Mineiros-GO between October/2011 and September/2013 in Quartzipsamment soil. The treatments consisted in applications of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 Mg ha-1 of turkey litter at a randomized-complete blocks design with four replications. Was evaluated the fodder’s productivity and the following soil’s chemical attributes: organic matter, hydrogenionic potential (CaCl2), phosphorus (resin), potassium, calcium, magnesium, cation exchange capacity and base saturation of soil. In general terms, the increase of turkey litter’s doses increased the grass productivity and the supply of nutrients of the soil, maintaining the balance of the soil-plant system. The dosage of 12 Mg ha-1 year-1 of turkey litter ensure higher amounts in the soil’s chemical attributes and in the productivity of dry mass of Urochloa decumbens.

Effect of Different Commercial Fertilizers, Harvest Date, and Storage Time on Two Organically Grown Blackberry Cultivars: Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Properties, and Sugar Profiles

Despite increased consumer interest in organic produce, little is known about how different organic production methods affect both the traditional measures of quality and the naturally occurring health promoting (bioactive) compounds of food. In this study, “Obsidian” and “Triple Crown” blackberries (bothRubushybrids) were cultivated organically and fertilized with either soy meal, fish emulsion/hydrolysate blend, or processed poultry litter fertilizers at a fixed rate. Fruits were hand-harvested three times during their peak production period and stored at 4°C and 85% RH for up to 12 d. Fertilizer effects on the physicochemical properties were minor, while harvest period had a stronger effect, though that trend varied by year. Antioxidant and sugar profile data revealed an interesting pattern: “Obsidian” had ORAC and lower sugar than “Triple Crown” at harvest and also had greater differentiation due to fertilizer treatments. Fertilizer effects differed based on harvest date and cultivar, with late harvest fruit fertilized with fish emulsion fertilizer showing higher TPC and ORAC than other fertilizer treatments, while the early and middle harvest fruit showed similar or greater responses to soy meal-based fertilizer. Time of harvest and length of storage also affected the antioxidant properties and sugar profiles in different ways depending on fruit cultivar, again with the “Obsidian” fruit showing greater variability in general. This study demonstrated that the two cultivars of organically grown blackberry fruit have different physicochemical and antioxidant properties, thus potentially different shelf lives in the fresh market.

Multi-temporal accumulation and risk assessment of available heavy metals in poultry litter fertilized soils from Rio de Janeiro upland region.

Poultry litter is widely used as fertilizer in soils and can be a relevant source of heavy metals for agricultural environments. In this study, poultry litter fertilization of long-term (< 1-30years) was evaluated in tropical soils. Our main goal was to investigate the occurrence of temporal variation in the available fraction of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Mn) in soils, in addition to their environmental loads through new indexes for risk assessment. The highest mean concentrations in poultry litter were the following: 525mgkg-1 for Mn, 146mgkg-1 for Zn, and 94.4mgkg-1 for Cu. For soils, concentrations were higher for the same heavy metals: Mn (906mgkg-1), Zn (111mgkg-1), and Cu (26.3mgkg-1). Significant accumulation (p < 0.05) in fertilized soils was observed for Cu, Cr, and Zn. The high estimates of poultry litter input based on geological background (LIGB) for Cu, Cr, and Zn coincided with the accumulation observed in soils, confirming the effectiveness of the index. The risk of biogeochemical transfer based on fertilized soils (LIFS) decreased for Cu, Cr, and Zn between 10 and 30years of soil fertilization. For Mn, a very high LIFS was estimated in all long-term fertilized soils. The proposed indices, based on heavy metal concentration, can be used in risk assessments to guide future studies that analyze other environmental matrices possibly impacted by manure and poultry litter fertilization.

Fluoroquinolones in agricultural soils: Multi-temporal variation and risks in Rio de Janeiro upland region

Our main goal was to investigate the potential accumulation of fluoroquinolones (FQs) in agricultural soils over extended periods of land use, predicting leaching and estimating risk quotients for soil microorganisms. Short to long-term of poultry litter fertilization (<1–30 years) were evaluated for enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) input, in addition to the emergence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. High FQs concentration (range 0.56–100 mg kg−1) were measured in poultry litter samples. In soils, FQs occurrence and risks have changed over the years. An accumulation trend was observed between short and medium-term fertilized soils (ST and MT soils), reaching a range of 330–6138 μg kg−1 ENR and 170–960 μg kg−1 CIP in MT soil, followed by decreased concentrations in long-term fertilized soils (LT soils). The environmental risk assessment showed a high ENR risk quotient (RQ ≥ 1) in ST and MT soils ranging (7–226) and high CIP risk (9–53) in LT soils. The detection of qnrS genes in the area with the lowest FQs concentration emphasizes the importance of a broader approach to environmental assessment, in which not only target compounds are considered. FQs soil-water migration model pointed out a high leaching risk in ST soil. To reduce risks, management measures to decrease antibiotic environmental load should be taken before poultry litter application. In addition, the high weathering of tropical soils contributing to possible fate of antibiotics to water resources through drainage basins should be considered.