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This is to certify that the

dissertation entitled
EVALUATION OF ORGANIC RESIDUE AMENDMENTS FOR THEIR

EFFECT ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND SOIL CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES

presented by
DELIANA SIREGAR

has been accepted towards fulﬁllment
of the requirements for

Ph.D _ CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES
‘ degree in

ywumn

J Major professor

 

 

Date 05/10/1995

 

MS U is an Afﬁrmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution 0-12771

 

 

 

LIBRARY
Michigan State
University

 

 

 

PLACE It RETURN BOX to man this chockou from your rocord.
TO AVOID FINES Mum on or Moro dd. duo.

DATE DUE DATE DUE DATE DUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSU loAn Nﬂrmotivo WM Opportunity inotttuion
WWI

 

EVALUATION OF ORGANIC RESIDUE AMENDMENTS FOR THEIR EFFECT
ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

By

Deliana Siregar

A DISSERTATION

Submitted to
Michigan State University
in partial fulﬁllment of the requirements
for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

1995

 

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ABSTRACT

THE EVALUATION OF ORGANIC RESIDUE AMENDMENTS FOR
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND SOME SCH. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

By

Deliana Siregar

Four sets of experiments, 1) preliminary greenhouse study, 2) laboratory study, 3)
greenhouse study, and 4) ﬁeld study, were conducted to evaluate the eﬁ'ects of organic
residue amendment on vegetable production and soil chemical properties. Preliminary study
determined the potential adverse eﬂ‘ects from high poultry manure amendment rates and time
after application on seed germination and grth of vegetable plants in two diﬂ‘erent soils.
Planting immediately aﬁer application of >56 Mg ha‘1 poultry manure caused injury to seed
germination and growth. Injury was more serious in a McBride sandy loam (CEC= 4 cmol
kg“) than in a Capac loam (CEC=8 cmol kg"). Delaying planting time 10 days after poultry
manure application decreased injury to germination and plant growth. Applying poultry
manure up to 56 Mg ha‘1 increased the growth of carrots, snap bean and cabbage grown in
both soils. Laboratory study determined the effect of poultry manure on NH3 production, soil
pH, soluble salts concentration , and the source of seedling injury. Soil pH, soil salinity and
ammonia production in both soils increased with poultry manure rate. Change in soil pH, soil
salinity and ammonia release was greater in McBride sandy loam than in Capac loam. Data

from this study suggests that germination and seedling injury of the crops grown in McBride

pic

and
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sandy loam was caused by a combination of ammonia toxicity and high salinity. In Capac
loam the injury was caused by high salinity. Field studies determined the effects of poultry
manure, leaf compost and method of application on the soil chemical properties and crop
production. Incorporation of the organic materials increased nutrient availability and uptake
by the plant compared to surface banding. Initially, soil receiving incorporated organic matter
was more loose and drier than soil receiving banded materials. This condition reduced seed
germination and signiﬁcantly decreased crop yields per plot. Increasing poultry manure rate
signiﬁcantly increased soil pH, CEC, soil salinity, macro and micronutrient availability and
uptake by the plants, but signiﬁcantly reduced total number of carrot and snap bean plants per
plot and had no effect on crop yields per plot. Combining leaf compost with poultry manure
had no effect on germinating seed. Increasing leaf compost rates increased only CEC, Ca,
Mg and Mn in the soil, and had no effect on crop growth and yields. Greenhouse study
determined the effect of leaf compost and poultry manure on N, P and K availability in two
different soils, and on the growth and N, P, K uptake by cabbage. The amount of N, P and
K released from poultry manure increased with time and slowed down after 7 weeks. The N
and P were released more slowly ﬁ'om poultry manure than ﬁom inorganic fertilizer, but K
was released equally from two sources. There were no signiﬁcant differences in N, P and K
uptake (except P uptake in a low P soil) and total biomass production between the poultry
manure and commercial fertilizer treatments. Leaf compost slowed the availability of N, P
and K in soil solution, but increased plant nutrient uptake and growth. The effect on plant

growth was only signiﬁcant in the low P soil.

To my Late Father, Mother, Handoko, Rininta, and Rieza

iv

 

 

 

 

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CS and 1

deep ap

 

Sciences
friendly .
pregram

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and Soil 5
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I gratefully acknowledge the contribution of individuals and institutions both in the
US and Indonesia that made my education possible. First of all, I would like to express my
deep appreciation to Dr. Darryl D. Wamcke, Professor, Department of Crop and Soil
Sciences, Michigan State University, who served as my advisor during my education. His
ﬁiendly advice, patience, and continual encouragement throughout my entire graduate
program have strengthened my emotion to ﬁnish my education.

I would like to thank Dr Boyd G. Ellis, Professor, Chairman of Department of Crop
and Soil Sciences, Dr. Lee Jacobs, Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Science, and Dr.
Irvin Widders, Professor, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University for serving
in my graduate committee and for their valuable cormnents in this study.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to Ir. S. Pramoetadi, Professor, who
encouraged me and made it possible for me to pursue my graduate studies in Department of
Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University. He was the Director of Academic Facility
Development, Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia. He gave me the chance to study
in the ﬁeld of soil sciences which was not included in the list of ﬁeld studies offered to the

faculties at the University I worked.

 

 

 

L'niversi

Perguru

my gm

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Rosita
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thank

W ere

Special thanks also are due to Dr. Ukun Sastraprawira, Professor, College of
Agriculture, Padjadjaran University. He was the Dean of College of Agriculture, Padjadjaran
University, and also served as my major advisor for my MS degree. He encouraged me and
made it possible for me to take a study leave although I just started to work at the Padjadjaran
University. I would like to express my gratitude to Proyek Pengembangan Staf dan Sarana
Perguruan Tinggi, Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia, for ﬁnancially supporting
my graduate studies at Michigan State University.

I would also thank Calvin Bricker and Herr Soeryantono who helped me improve my
computer skills to analyze my data. Most importantly, I thank them for their patience helping
me while they were very busy with their works. Special thanks to Jon Dahl, Vicki Smith, and
Rosita Cabera for helping me analyze my samples at the Michigan State University Soil
Testing Lab. Also I would like to thank Robert Battel for helping me in the lab and ﬁeld
work.

My mother who always prayed for my success must received the highest recognition.
I want to thank my husband, Handoko Soelaemen, for his support and his patience taking care
of our daughters, Rininta (5 years) and Rieza (3.5 years) before they came to USA. Special
thanks to my youngest sister, Adelina Siregar, for taking care of my daughters when they
were in Indonesia. Also I would like to thank Rininta and Rieza for their love, care and
understanding while I was absorbed in writing this dissertation. Finally, I wish to thank my
American parent, Mr. Gerald Priestley and Mrs. Diana Priestley, also Jody Priestley,

Mohammad Bashir Butt and Bruce McCreary for their care and help.

vi

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPT

 

CHAPH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1. EVALUATION OF ORGANIC RESIDUE AMENDMENTS FOR

THEIR EFFECT ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND SOIL

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES .................................. 1
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................. 1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................... 3
2.1. Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers .......................... 3
2.2. Manures and Soil Organic Matter .......................... 5
2.3. Manures and Macro-Nutrient Availability ................... 9
2.4. Manures and Trace Element Availability ................... 13
2.5. Manures and Other Soil Properties ........................ 14

CHAPTER 2. AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION AND CHANGES IN SOIL

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AFTER POULTRY MANURE

APPLICATION (1990) .................................... 15

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................ 15
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................ 18
2.1. Preliminary Greenhouse Study ............................ 18

2.2. Laboratory Study ..................................... 21

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS ................................ 23
3.1. Preliminary Greenhouse Study ........................... 23

3.1.1. Seed Germination and Emergence ................. 23

3.1.2. Plant Dry Weight .............................. 24

3.2. Laboratory study ...................................... 26

3.2.1. Soil pH ...................................... 26

3.2.2. Ammonia Volatilization .......................... 28

3.2.3. Soil Salinity ................................... 31

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .............................. 33

vii

CHAPTER 3. EFFECTS OF POULTRY MANURE AND LEAF COL/{POST
APPLICATION ON PHOSPHORUS, NITROGEN, AND
POTASSIUM AVAEABILITY AND UPTAKE BY

CABBAGE (1993) ....................................... 35
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................ 35
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................ 4O
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................. 44

3.1. LOWPSOIL ........................................ 44
3.1.1. SoilpH ..................................... 44
3.1.2. Biomass Accumulation .......................... 45
3.1.3. Phosphorus .................................. 48

3.1.3.1. Phosphorus in Soil ...................... 48
3.1.3.2. Phosphorus in Plant ..................... 53
3.1.3.2.]. Phosphorus Concentration ........ 53

3.1.3.2.2. Phosphorus Uptake ............. 55

3.1.4. Nitrogen ..................................... 57
3.1.4.1. Nitrogen in Soil ........................ 57
3.1.4.2. Nitrogen in Plant ....................... 62
3.1.4.2.]. Nitrogen Concentration ......... 62

3.1.4.2.2. Nitrogen Uptake ............... 63

3.1.5. Potassium ................................... 65
3.1.5.1. Potassium in Soil ....................... 65
3.1.5.2. Potassium in Plant ...................... 69
3.1.5.2.]. Potassium Concentration ......... 69

3.1.5.2.2. Potassium Uptake .............. 71

3.2. HIGH P SOIL ....................................... 73
3.2.1. Soil pH ...................................... 73
3.2.2. Biomass Accumulation ........................... 74
3.2.3. Phosphorus ................................... 76

3.2.3.1. Phosphorus in Soil ...................... 76
3.2.3.2. Phosphorus in Plant ..................... 81
3.2.3.2.1. Phosphorus Concentration ........ 81

3.2.3.2.2. Phosphorus Uptake ............. 83

3.2.4. Nitrogen ..................................... 84
3.2.4.1. Nitrogen in Soil ........................ 84
3.2.4.2. Nitrogen in Plant ....................... 89
3.2.4.2.]. Nitrogen Concentration .......... 89

3.2.4.2.2. Nitrogen Uptake ............... 92

viii

 

 

 

C HAP":

 

3.2.5. Potassium .................................... 93

3.2.5.1. Potassium in Soil ....................... 93

3.2.5.2. Potassium in Plant ...................... 99

3.2.5.2.]. Potassium Concentration ......... 99

3.2.5.2.2. Potassium Uptake ............. 100

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................. 102

CHAPTER 4. THE EFFECT OF LEAF COMPOST AND POULTRY MANURE
ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, GROWTH AND YIELDS

OF SOME SELECTED VEGETABLE CROPS (1991) ........ 104
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................... 104
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS ............................... 107
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................ 111
3.1. Soil Chemical Properties - Snap Bean Study ................ 111

3.1.1. Soil pH, CEC, Salinity, Extractable P, Exchangeable K,
Ca, and Mg in the Soil. ........................ 111

3.1.2. Extractable Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn Concentration in the

Soil. ....................................... 114
3.2. Nutrient Concentrations in Plant Tissue ................... 116
3.2.1. Macro-Nutrient Concentrations in Snap Bean Tissue . . 116
3.2.2. Trace Element Concentration in Snap Bean Tissue . . . . 119
3.3. Growth and Yields ................................... 121
3.3.1. Growth and Yield of Snap Beans ................. 121
3.3.2. Growth and Yield of Cabbage ................... 124
3.3.3. Growth and Yield of Onion ..................... 125
3.3.4. Growth and Yield of Carrot ..................... 126
4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................ 129
INTEGRATED INTERPRETATIVE SUMMARY .......................... 131
REFERENCES ..................................................... 134

ix

 

 

Table 2
Table 2
Table 2

Table 2.

l
l
|

Table 2‘

l
l
TEEZC
Table 2.7

Table 31
Table 3.2
Table 3.3

Table 3.4,

Table 2.1.

Table 2.2.

Table 2.3.

Table 2.4.

Table 2.5.

Table 2.6.

Table 2.7.

Table 3.1.

Table 3.2.

Table 3.3.

Table 3.4.

LIST OF TABLES

Some properties of soils and poultry manure used in the greenhouse and
laboratory experiments. ....................................... 20

The total amount of poultry manure and N applied to soils for greenhouse
and laboratory experiments. .................................... 20

Carrot, snap bean and cabbage seed germination in McBride sandy loam
and Capac loam soil planted immediately after poultry manure addition. . . . 23

Carrot, snap bean and cabbage seed germination in McBride sandy loam
and Capac loam soil planted 10 days after poultry manure addition. ...... 24

Plant dry weight of carrot, snap bean and cabbage grown 90, 60 and
90 days in McBride sandy loam and Capac loam planted 10 days

after poultry manure addition. ................................... 25
Soil pH after poultry manure application and incubation (18 days). ....... 27
Soil salinity aﬁer poultry manure application and incubation (18 days). . . . . 31

Some chemical properties of two Metea loamy sand soils, poultry manure
and leaf compost used in experiment. ............................. 42

Total estimated amounts of nutrients applied to soil from fertilizer P,
poultry manure and leaf compost. ................................ 43

Soil pH in the top and bottom soil layer of a high pH, low-P Metea sandy
loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost. .................. 45

Dry matter production of cabbage plant grown in the low-P soil for
10 weeks. . ................................................ 47

 

 

 

Tabie 3

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3.5. Inorganic P concentration in the top layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils
without plants). ............................................. 49

Table 3.6. Inorganic P concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a high pH,
low-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants). ......................................... 52

Table 3.7. NO3-N plus NH4-N concentration in the top layer soil solution of a high pH,
low-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants). ........................................ 58

Table 3 .8. NO3-N plus NH4-N concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a
high pH, low-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf
compost (soils without plants). .................................. 60

Table 3.9. K concentration in the top layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P Metea
sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without
plants). ................................................... 66

Table 3.10. K concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P Metea
sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without
plants). .................................................... 68

Table 3.11. Soil pH in the top and bottom soil layer of a low pH, high-P Metea sandy
loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost. .................. 73

Table 3.12. Inorganic P concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils with
plants). ................................................... 76

Table 3.13. Inorganic P concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a low pH,
high-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants). ......................................... 79

Table 3.14. Inorganic P concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants). ......................................... 81

Table 3.15. NO3-N plus NH4-N concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH,

high-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants). ......................................... 86

xi

 

Table .

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3

Table 3
Table 4
Table 4 .

Telble4 j

Table 4.1

Table 4.5

Table 4.6
Table 47

Table 4' 8

 

Table 3.16. NO3-N plus NH4-N concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a
low pH, high-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf
compost (soils without plants). ................................. 89

Table 3.17. Leafcompost and poultry manure eﬁ‘ect on N concentration in plant
tissue at 4 weeks aﬁer transplanting . ............................. 91

Table 3.18. K concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P Metea
sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without
plants). .................................................... 95

Table 3.19. K concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils
without plants). ............................................. 97

Table 3.20. Potassium concentration in head and leaves of cabbage at 10 weeks
after transplanting ........................................... 100

Table 4.1. Some chemical properties of a Houghton Muck, Capac loam, poultry
manure and leaf compost used in this study. ....................... 109

Table 4.2. Total estimated amounts of nutrients applied to the soils from poultry
manure and leaf compost ........................................ 1 1 1

Table 4.3. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on pH,
CEC, salinity, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentration in a Capac loam where
snap beans were grown (main effect). ............................ 112

Table 4.4. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on P concentration
in a Capac loam where snap beans were grown (interaction effect) ........ 113

Table 4.5. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on
extractable Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentration in the soil where snap beans
were grown (main effect). ..................................... 114

Table 4.6. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on N, P, K,
Ca, and Mg concentration in snap bean shoots (main effect) ........... 117

Table 4.7. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on N, P, K,
Ca, and Mg concentration in snap bean pods (main effect) ............ 118

Table 4.8. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on K concentration
in the snap bean pods (interaction effect) ......................... 119

xii

 

Table -

Table 4

Table ~‘

Table 4

Table 4

Table 4

Table 4

 

 

 

Table 4_
Table 4 1
Table 4]

Table 4 1

Table 4.9. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on Cu, Fe,

Mn, Zn and B concentration in snap bean shoots (main effect) ......... 120
Table 4.10. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on Cu, Fe,
Mn, Zn and B concentration in snap bean pods (main effect) ........... 121

Table 4.11. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the

growth and yields of snap beans (main effect) ..................... 122
Table 4.12. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on the total number

of snap bean plants per plot (interaction effect) .................... 123
Table 4.13. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on the snap bean

shoot dry weight per plot (interaction effect) ..................... 124
Table 4.14. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on the snap bean

whole plant dry weight per plot (interaction effect) ................. 124
Table 4.15. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the

growth and yield of cabbage (main effect) ........................ 125
Table 4.16. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the

grth and yields of onion (main effect) ......................... 126
Table 4.17. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on carrots per

plot (interaction effect). . ................................... 127
Table 4.18. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on carrot yield per

plot (interaction effect) ...................................... 127
Table 4.19. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the

growth and yield of carrot (main effect) ......................... 128

xiii

 

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Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.3.
Figure 2.4.
Figure 2.5.

Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.4.

LIST OF FIGURES

The inﬂowing air was cleaned by passing it through 0.1N NaOH and 0.01N
H2804 .................................................... 22
The clean air was directed through the Erlenmeyer ﬂask containing soil and
through 40 ml of 5% boric acid solution to trap ammonia gas. .......... 22
Amounts of NH3 release ﬁ'om McBride sandy loam. ................. 29
Amounts of NH3 release from Capac loam. ........................ 29
Total amount of NH3 - N released from soils ......................... 30
Poultry manure effect on dry matter production by cabbage grown in a

low-P Metea sandy loam ..................................... 46
Leafcompost effect on dry matter production by cabbage grown in a

low-P Metea sandy loam ..................................... 47
Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the top layer

of a low-P Metea sandy loam .................................. 48
Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the bottom

layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ............................. 51

Figure 3.5 Leaf compost effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the top and

Figure 3.6.

Figure 3.7.

bottom layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ....................... S3

Poultry manure effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
low-P Metea sandy loam ...................................... 54

Leaf compost effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
low-P Metea sandy loam ...................................... 54

xiv

 

 

 

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Figure 3.
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Figure 3.8. Poultry manure effect on P uptake by cabbage grown in a low-P Metea
sandy loam. ............................................... 56

Figure 3.9. Leaf compost effect on P uptake by cabbage grown in a low-P Metea
sandy loam. ................................................ 56

Figure 3.10. Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the top layer
of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ................................. 57

Figure 3.11. Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the bottom
layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ............................. 59

Figure 3.12. Leaf compost effect on total soluble N concentration in the top and
bottom layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ...................... 61

Figure 3.13. Poultry manure effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
low-P Metea sandy loam ...................................... 62

Figure 3.14. Leaf compost effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
low-P Metea sandy loam ...................................... 63

Figure 3.15. Poultry manure effect on N uptake by cabbage grown in a low-P Metea
sandy loam. ............................................... 64

Figure 3.16. Leaf compost effect on N uptake by cabbage grown in a low-P Metea
sandy loam. ............................................... 64

Figure 3.17. Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the top layer of
a low-P Metea sandy loam. ................................... 65

Figure 3.18. Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the bottom layer
of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ................................. 67

Figure 3.19. Leaf compost effect on soluble K concentration in the top and bottom
layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam. ............................. 69

Figure 3.20. Poultry manure effect on K concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
low-P Metea sandy loam ...................................... 70

Figure 3.21. Leafcompost effect on K concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
low-P Metea sandy loam ...................................... 71

Figure 3.22. Poultry manure eﬂ'ect on K uptake by cabbage grown in a low-P Metea
sandy loam. ............................................... 72

XV

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Figure

Figure

 

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Figure 3.23.

Leafcompost effect on K uptake by cabbage grown in a low-P Metea
sandy loam. ............................................... 72

Figure 3.24. Poultry manure effect on dry matter production by cabbage grown in a

Figure 3.25.

Figure 3.26.

Figure 3.27.

Figure 3.28.

Figure 3.29.

Figure 3.30.

Figure 3.31.

Figure 3.32.

Figure 3.33.

Figure 3.34.

Figure 3.35.

Figure 3.36.

Figure 3.37.

high-P Metea sandy loam. .................................... 75
Leafcompost effect on dry matter production by cabbage grown in a

high-P Metea sandy loam. .................................... 75
Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the top layer
of a high-P Metea sandy loam. ................................. 77
Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the bottom
layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam .............................. 78
Leaf compost effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the top and
bottom layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam. ...................... 80
Poultry manure effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
high-P Metea sandy loam. .................................... 82

Leafcompost effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
high-P Metea sandy loam. .................................... 82

Poultry manure effect on P uptake by cabbage grown in a high-P Metea
sandy loam. .............................................. 83

Leaf compost effect on P uptake by cabbage grown in a high-P Metea
sandy loam. .............................................. 84

Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the top layer
of a high-P Metea sandy loam. ................................ 85

Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the bottom
layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam ............................. 87

Leaf compost effect on total soluble N concentration in the top and
bottom layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam. ...................... 88

Poultry manure effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
high-P Metea sandy loam ..................................... 90

Leaf compost effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
high-P Metea sandy loam. .................................... 91

xvi

 

 

Figure

Figure

Figure

Figure

Figure .

Figure I

Figure 3

Figure 3

 

 

Figure 3.38.

Figure 3.39.

Figure 3.40.

Figure 3.41.

Figure 3.42.

Figure 3.43.

Figure 3.44.

Figure 3.45.

Poultry manure effect on N uptake by cabbage grown in a high-P Metea
sandy loam. .............................................. 92

Leaf compost effect on N uptake by cabbage grown in a high-P Metea
sandy loam. .............................................. 93

Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the top layer of
a high-P Metea sandy loam. .................................. 94

Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the bottom layer
of a high-P Metea sandy loam. ............................... 96

Leaf compost effect on soluble K concentration in the top and bottom
layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam. ........................... 98

Poultry manure effect on K concentration in cabbage tissue grown in a
high-P Metea sandy loam. ................................... 99

Poultry manure effect on K uptake by cabbage grown in a high-P Metea
sandy loam. ............................................. 101

Leafcompost effect on K uptake by cabbage grown in a high-P Metea
sandy loam .............................................. 101

xvii

 

 

 

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CHAPTER I

EVALUATION OF ORGANIC RESIDUE AMENDMENTS FOR THEIR EFFECT
ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

1. INTRODUCTION

Using manures and composts to maintain and increase soil fertility has been a long
standing practice. These organic residues (organic fertilizers) play a major role in chemical,
physical and microbiological aspects of soil fertility. However, since the introduction of
synthetic fertilizers (inorganic fertilizers), which are cheaper, easily handled and distributed,
and can supply any nutrient element, the organic fertilizers have been somewhat neglected
(Chen and Avnimelech, 1986). The use of inorganic fertilizers offsets the use of organic
fertilizers as a sole source for nutrients and, in some cases, eliminates the use of manures to
the point where these materials are accumulating and not being used (Avnimelech, 1986). In
many places, organic residues are more of problem than an asset (Chen and Avnimelech,
1986; Havenstein, 1988), and the disposal of this waste is a major problem.

With the current emphasis on pollution control, the problem of manure disposal has
provoked some thought and action on changing the emphasis to utilization (Abbott and
Lingle, 1968; Olsen et al., 1970). For a century, the classical experiments at Rothamsted
Experiment Station in England showed no diﬁ‘erence in crop yields through farmyard manure
or inorganic fertilizer use. Later, a long-term test on varieties with a high yield potential
showed that farmyard and other organic manures can give higher yields than can be obtained
with inorganic fertilizers only (Johnston and Mattingly, 1976). Research on residue disposal

has provided new concepts related to the interaction between organic matter and soil, as well

1

 

 

 

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as new handling. technology for organic residues (Chen and Avnimelech, 1986; Simpson,
1986). Therefore, more farmers and scientists are showing renewed interest in the proper and
eﬁ'ective use of organic residues, compost and other recycled organic additives. The role and
function of organic amendments in modern agriculture have become topics of major interest
in the scientiﬁc and agriculture communities (Havenstein, 1988; Naber, 1988; Olsen, 1986;
Sweeten, 1988). The trend to use organic residues has led scientists to ﬁnd ways of replacing
conventional inorganic fertilizers with natural organic fertilizers. Additionally, more people
in highly developed countries are willing to pay higher prices for food produced on soils
where inorganic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals have not been used (Chen and
Avnimelech, 1986). Thus, the current interest in organic farming, where the use of synthetic
chemicals is avoided or prohibited, leads the people to solve the disposal problem. Manure
application, however, should be done carefully, because excessive application of manure may
cause surface and groundwater pollution (Vitosh et al., 1986).

In terms of natural organic fertilizers, more research is needed to investigate soil-plant
factors associated with high yields. This consideration leads to reviewing the literature that

focuses on research related to the use of organic manures and compost as fertilizers.

Objectives

1) To quantify the effect of composted tree leaves and dried poultry manure on crop
growth, yield, and soil chemical properties.

2) To evaluate the interactive effect of two organic amendments on crop growth, yields,

and soil chemical properties.

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3) To determine the dynamics of N, P, and K concentration and availability, and their

movement in the soil at different times after application of organic amendments.

Hypotheses

1) Leaf compost and dried poultry manure increase N, P, and K availability in the soil.

2) N, P and K are released more slowly from dried poultry manure and leaf compost than
from commercial fertilizer.

3) Available N, P and K from leaf compost and poultry manure increase with time after
application.

4) Leaf compost and dried poultry manure increase N, P and K content in plant tissue, as

well as increase crop growth and yield.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers

The term 'manure' used in this paper refers to bulky organic materials, mainly plant
residues and animal excreta, which are returned to the soil either directly or after some sort
of processing (Simpson, 1986).

A major difference between organic and inorganic sources of nutrients is the rate of
nutrient release. Most inorganic fertilizers are soluble with the nutrient elements being
released upon application to the soil (Avnimelech, 1986; Simpson, 1986). This instantaneous
release is often disadvantageous because a large portion of the applied P is ﬁxed by the soil
(Avnimelech, 1986) and ammonia is volatilized from surface-applied fertilizers (F reney and

Simpson, 1983; Vitosh et al., 1986). Additionally, inorganic ammonium applied with

 

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fertilizers is nitriﬁed in the soil within a few weeks (Black, 1986), and a large accumulation
of nitrate may occur in the soil proﬁle. Nitrate is subject to leaching below the root zone
and/or being lost through denitriﬁcation (Avnimelech, 1986).

In organic materials like manures, nutrients are slowly released through the microbially
induced mineralization process (Chen and Avnimelech, 1986; Simpson, 1986). The release
rates are controlled by the properties of organic material, microbial activity, and by soil
environment. Mineralization is most rapid in moist soil with a moderate to high pH (5.5-7.5)
immediately after incorporation of green manure or partially rotted farmyard manure
(Simpson, 1986). A labile (fresh) organic material will decompose faster than a stabilized
(composted) organic material (Avnimelech, 1986; Simpson, 1986). Fast decomposition leads
to a high rate of nutrient release only when the organic substrate is rich in nutrients and has
low ON and C:P ratios (Avnimelech, 1986; Simpson, 1986). Nitrogen, P and S are released
rapidly from easily decomposable organic matter (Simpson, 1986). Large accumulation of
nitrate occurred in the soil proﬁle after heavy manure applications (Vitosh et al., 1986). Yet,
this does not necessarily mean that nutrient availability is better. The decomposition process
often leads to an effective binding of nutrients by the developing and growing biomass
(Avnimelech, 1986).

Different types of manures and different composting techniques, as well as different
timing, levels and methods of application, affect the rate of nutrient release (Avnimelech,
1986; Simpson, 1986). Han and Wolf(1990) indicated that the lowest net N mineralization
and net nitriﬁcation were in surface-amended soil held at 20 °C, whereas the highest ones

were in the incorporated treatment incubated at 35 °C. A stabilized organic material will

 

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support a slow rate of nutrient supply while the addition of fresh organic material, rich in
nutrients, will lead to a rapid supply of nutrients (Avnimelech, 1986). Much slower
mineralization of more resistant organic matter reserves varies from season to season.
Mineralization is greatest in a warm, moist summer, but the amount of nutrients to be released
is very difﬁcult to predict (Simpson, 1986).

Olsen (1986) has reviewed research works indicating that a stable supply of
ammonium is essential for achievement of high yields. Manures are suggested in that work
to be a stable source of ammonium. Abbott and Tucker (1973) concluded that the stable
nature of manure, stimulation of microbial activity and association of P with organic
components of the soil may account for the resistance of manure P to processes removing P
from available forms. Therefore, the time and the rate at which the soil can supply available
nutrients may become limiting factors to crop growth. This is why timing, rate and method
of application of organic materials become important to ensure maximum nutrient availability

at the time of maximum crop requirement.

2.2. Manures and Soil Organic Matter

By their nature, manures have two functions. First, they supply some organic matter
to the soil, much of which is lost to the atmosphere after conversion to carbon dioxide. Some
of the organic matter is changed to humus - black or dark brown organic substances,
colloidal, and very complex organic compounds which persist in the soil and improves soil
chemical and physical properties. Second, they supply a wide spectrum of nutrients derived
from the decomposing organic residues (Brady, 1986; Simpson, 1986).

The organic matter in the soil can be characterized by its chemical composition and

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the amounts of various reactive groups. Organic matter can be divided into humic substances
and non-humic substances (Barber, 1984). The non-humic substances are attacked readily
by microorganisms and disappear rapidly. They consist of carbohydrates, proteins, amino
acids, fats, waxes, alkanes, and low-molecular-weight organic acids (Schnitzer, 1978). The
humic substances are the majority of organic matter and decompose slowly. They are
chemically complex organic compounds with molecular-weight from a few hundred to several
thousand (Barber, 1984).

The main ﬁmctional groups in humic substances are carboxyl, carbonyls, alcoholic
hydroxyl, and phenolic hydroxyl. The carboxyl and some of the phenolic hydroxyl groups
provide cation exchange sites. The cation-exchange capacity, resulting from these sites, is
strongly pH-dependent (Barber, 1984; Brady, 1986). Well decomposed humus has the
highest cation-exchange capacity, two to three times more than montmorillonite (Simpson,
1986). Barber (1984) recorded the cation-exchange capacity of humus at pH 7.0 as ranging
from 100 to 400 cmol(p*)/kg with values of 150 cmol(p*)/kg being common.

Through its higher ability to hold water and very high cation exchange capacity,
humus helps reduce the leaching of nutrients (Simpson, 1986; Brady, 1986). In high-humus
clays leaching is low, provided the soil is not allowed to become strongly acid. In soils with
a very low cation exchange capacity, indigenous cations and cations ﬁ'om water-soluble
fertilizer (NHI, K“) or water-soluble fractions of manure are easily leached (Simpson, 1986).

In addition to adsorption of cations in readily exchangeable forms, organic matter can
also adsorb multivalent cations in a coordination complex. Cations in these complexes are

not readily exchangeable with monovalent cations and do not dissociate readily in the soil.

7
Cations such as Mn, Zn, and Fe can be adsorbed in these complexes (Barber, 1984). Walker
and Barber (1960) measured both complexed and exchangeable Mn on 12 Indiana soils and
found almost as much Mn (12 mg kg" average) complexed as held in an exchangeable form
(18 mg kg" average). Soluble organic compounds increase the cation concentration in
solution (Barber, 1984). Hodgson et al. (1966) observed 20 Colorado soils with pH levels
of 6.9 to 7.9 and found that about 75% of Zn and 98 to 99% of Cu in the soil solution were
present as complexed soluble organic compounds.

Basically, organic matter in the soil is derived from plant residues, manures and dead
or alive soil animals, including a vast population of microorganisms. Nutrients contained in
soil organic matter are also available in varying degrees for plant uptake. Substantial amounts
of nutrients contained in organic matter are in complex forms unavailable to the plant.
Nitrogen, P and S are contained in persistent organic materials. Other organic matter,
particularly from recent crop residues or manures, can be decomposed quickly by bacteria and
thus mineralized. The carbon is released to the atmosphere as CO2 and the nutrient elements
become available to the plant as ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate and other ions
(Simpson, 1986).

All manures make some contribution to long-term soil fertility and maintenance of
humus in the soil. Young et al. (1960) conducted a long-term experiment using manure, crop
residue, lime and fertilizer on a Fargo clay. As much as 15.7 to 22.4 Mg ha" of manure or
all crop residues were applied as the treatments. Soil organic C and N declined 27% in check
plots, but only declined 20% in manure or crop residue plots. Bishop et al. (1962) showed

that applying 67.3 Mg ha“1 manure every 3 years over 21 years maintained initial levels of

8

total N and soil organic matter, whereas both N and soil organic matter decreased
signiﬁcantly with lower rates of manure application. Cope et al. (1958) reported changes in
soil N and C content after 30 years of manure applications. Annual application of 11.2 Mg
ha" horse manure to soil for an l8-year period increased soil N content 62% and soil C
content 33%, and decreased the C/N ratio ﬁ'om 21 to 17. Halstead and Sowden (1968) found
similar results after 20 years of applying manure at 11.1 Mg ha'1 yr". Total soil C and N
content, and nitriﬁcation capacity of the soil were increased. Kubota et al. (1947), and
Binford et al. (1993) also indicated annual manure application over 30 years was effective in
maintaining N and organic matter in soil, and increased the nitriﬁcation capacity. In a 40 year
study Young et al. (1960) indicated no treatment effect on C/N ratio. In a greenhouse study
they showed manured plots were capable of releasing more available N than crop residue
plots of the same total N content. With respect to oxidizable material and N content, Muhr
et al. (1943) found that manure application increased both signiﬁcantly.

Very large amounts of manure need to be applied to have a signiﬁcant long-term effect
on the organic matter content of the soil. The main reasons for this are the very high water
content of many manures and the loss of much of the organic matter during decomposition
in the soil. Simpson (1986) reported that bulky straw-based farmyard manures contain about
75% water and slurries contain 90% water. Hence, 1 Mg of each material will only add 250
or 100 kg organic matter to the soil, respectively, which is reduced to 60 kg after humiﬁcation
is complete. Thus, any attempt to increase soil organic matter simply by applying farmyard
manure requires regular annual applications of 40 Mg ha" or more. Typically, in order to

simply maintain the humus content of a sandy loam soil, annual applications of 15 to 25 Mg

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2.3. Manures and Macro-Nutrient Availability

Manures contain the full range of nutrients needed by the plant, but not necessarily
in desirable proportion. The nutrient composition of manure varies greatly depending on the
kind of livestock, feed ration, manure handling system and whether it has been diluted by
water or bedding (Vitosh et al., 1986). The concentration of nutrients in manures is low
compared with inorganic fertilizers, and not all nutrients contained in manures are immediately
available to the crop. Appreciable amounts of the total nutrient content of manures occur in
complex organic forms which have to be mineralized to release available nutrients. Manures,
however, supply useful amounts of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S (Simpson, 1986). Simpson
(1986) recorded the approximate amount of nutrients contained in 1 Mg dried poultry manure
as 40 kg N, 30 kg P20, and 25 kg K20. Only 25 kg N, 15 kg P205, and 17 kg K20 are
available during the ﬁrst year after application. The remaining N, P, and K become available
for succeeding crops, although predicting precisely when or in what quantities this will occur
is impossible.

Nitrogen is the nutrient of greatest concern because appreciable losses by NH3
volatilization can occur within 24 hours after application. Approximately 20 to 30 percent
of the N content of the farmyard manure and a greater proportion of P and particularly K are
available for the ﬁrst crop. The rest, 70 to 80 percent of N in farmyard manure and 50 to 70
percent of slurry N are in forms which become available more slowly. This part of the
nutrient content will not be available for the ﬁrst crop after application, but will increase the

reserve of nutrients in the soil (Simpson, 1986).

10

Phosphorus availability can be increased by adding organic residues via several
mechanisms. First, the slow release of inorganic P during the decomposition of the organic
matter provides a continuous supply of P to the soil. Second, the presence of organic matter
in the soil effectively decreases the P ﬁxation by the polyvalent cations (Ca, Fe, Al) in the soil,
through acidiﬁcation and chelation processes. In these processes, the added organic matter
and its decomposition products will reduce the activity of the polyvalent cations that form
insoluble salts with P (Black, 1968). As a result, more soluble P will be available in the soil.

Manure eﬂects on available P levels in soils appear dramatic and long lasting.
Application of manure over a period of 117 years, at Rothamsted Experiment Station in
England, showed a great increase of soluble P. Researchers also observed that inorganic
superphosphate fertilizer was much less effective than manure in raising soluble P levels, when
both were applied at approximately equivalent P levels (Olsen and Barber, 1977). Meek et
al. (1979), reported that application of 392 kg P ha" as triple super phosphate (0-46-0) to a
calcareous soil in each of two years increased NaHCO3-extractable P by 1 1 ppm, whereas 334
kg P ha" ﬁ'om applied manure resulted in an increase of 100 ppm in bicarbonate-soluble P.
The same result was observed by Abbott and Tucker (1973). Applying 22 Mg ha" (67 kg P
ha") manure at 2 or 3-year intervals appeared to assure adequate P availability while P
availability from P fertilizer (37 kg P ha") was negligible over the same period. In contrast,
Young et al. (1960) indicated that extractable P remained low in manured plots, but increased
in fertilizer P treated plots.

There have been many long-term studies using manure. In a thirty-year experiment,

Brage et al. (1952), conducted research using barnyard manure applied every four years at

11

0, 11.2, 22.4, and 44.8 Mg ha". They reported that the better yields of cats, barley, potatoes,
rutabagas, and sunﬂower were obtained from the heavier manure application. The most
proﬁtable yield increases usually occur in crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, turnips and
vegetables (Simpson, 1986; Wilson and Eltzroth, 1984; Percival, 1984; Bishop et al., 1962;
Nonnecke, 1989). Many ﬁeld experiments have been done on yield responses to farmyard
manure applied at rates of 25 to 30 Mg ha". Increases in sugar beet yield varied from 0.8 to
4 Mg ha". Potatoes are even more responsive; yield increases from 7 to 13 Mg ha" have
been found from farmyard manure application (Simpson, 1986). Pittman (1930) showed a
high correlation between sugar beet yields and soluble P and NO3-N derived ﬁom barnyard
manure. Abbott and Tucker (1973) also indicated signiﬁcant correlations between cotton
yields and soil P measurements. Cope et al (195 8) indicated that 30 years of annual manure
application at 11.2 Mg ha" increased yields of corn and cotton for at least 8 years after the
last application.

Halstead and Sowden (1968) summarized the results of a 20 year experiment on the
application of different sources of organic matter to both sand and clay soils. They found
that manure increased N and P uptake by the cats, and had the greatest effect on yield.
Similarly, Correll et al. (1991) found the addition of poultry litter increased the P and K
concentration in the rice tissue. Herron and Erhart (1965) conducted a four-year ﬁeld trial
using commercial cattle feedlot manure. They reported that one metric ton of cattle feedlot
manure incorporated into the soil of a sorghum ﬁeld was equivalent to 11 kg N as NH, and
N03 per year. Pratt et al. (1976) also conducted a four-year ﬁeld trial using animal manures

on irrigated soils. Manure containing 1.6 to 2.2% N appeared to mineralize at the rate of 40

12

to 50% during the ﬁrst year, 10 to 20% in the second year, and 5% in the third year following
application.

Using both dairy manure and inorganic N fertilizer on a ﬁne sandy loam, Jokela
(1992) observed that 9 Mg ha" dairy manure were equivalent, in yield response, to 73 to 122
kg ha" fertilizer N in individual years, which represented 27 to 44% of the total manure N
applied in that year. Yields and N uptake were increased by N fertilizer and by manure
treatment. Application of manure resulted in similar or slightly lower soil proﬁle NO3 than
equivalent rates of fertilizer N. The increase in soil NO3 in the 1.5 m soil proﬁle after harvest
was related to the amount of manure and fertilizer N applied. Hedlin and Ridley (1964)
showed that applying 18 tons ha" manure every six years in a 42 year wheat, ﬂax, corn, oats,
barley, and rye cropping sequence signiﬁcantly increased crop yields. Both P and manure
application increased the amount of NaHCO3-extractable P, but manure alone resulted in
higher levels of NaHCO3-extractable P.

Some studies have been done to see the effect of manure on K, Ca, and Mg
availability in the soil. Simpson (1986) reported that the amounts of K available for the ﬁrst
crop after manure application was 3.0 kg K20 ton’1 of cattle farmyard manure, 17 kg K20
ton" of dried poultry manure, 10 kg K20 ton" of deep litter poultry manure, and 12 kg K20
ton'1 of broiler litter poultry manure. Kubota et al. (1947) reported increases in exchangeable
K in the soil by applying 269 and 404 Mg ha‘1 manure over 30 years. Brage et al. (1952)
showed that the level of exchangeable K, Mg, Na, and Ca in soil increased after 30 years of
manure application. Similarly, Bishop et al. (1962) found the level of exchangeable K

increased after application of up to 67 Mg ha" of manure for 21 years.

13

Therefore, due to low nutrient concentrations, large quantities of manure are needed
to maintain soil fertility. Simpson (1986) recorded about 25 Mg ha" manure are needed to
meet plant requirements. Similarly, about 25.0 Mg ha" of compost is recommended to

achieve high crop yields (Rodale et al., 1973).

2.4. Manures and Trace Element Availability

Trace element availability can be increased by adding organic residues via several
mechanisms. First, the slow release of trace elements during the decomposition of the organic
matter provides a continuous nutrient supply to the soil (Simpson, 1986). Second, organic
matter affects trace metal availability and solubility mainly through chelation (Chen and
Stevenson, 1986).

In neutral soil, the solubility of most trace elements is often too low to support
optimal plant growth, e. g., Fe solubility is 10"8 M L" (Lindsay, 1979). Raveh and
Avnimelech (1979) observed that chelating agents supplied with organic additives can
signiﬁcantly raise the availability level of trace metals in soil. They reported the chelated Fe
concentration in sanitary leachates to be in the order of 10'2 M L". Miller and Ohlrogge
(195 8a&b) have shown the presence of water-soluble chelating agents in manure and other
organic materials. From nutrient solution experiments they concluded those chelating agents
held Fe and Zn in a form that was less available to the plant than in their ionic forms. The
addition of manure and water extracts of manure decreased the availability of Zn and Cu but
increased Mn availability (Miller and Ohlrogge, 195 8a&b). Depending on the original pH of
the soil, Parker et al. (1969) reported that the application of chicken manure in acid soil

slightly decreased soil acidity and eliminated Mn toxicity in soybean. In a long-time

 

 

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experiment Brage et al. (1952) observed that addition of manure increased Mn availability.

Although manures supply useful amounts of trace elements (Simpson, 1986), the rate
of decomposition and nutrient release are unfortunately rarely measured in many research
studies dealing with the nutritive value of manures and composts (Avnimelech, 1986).

Without this information, it is difficult to compare results and form any general conclusion.

2.5. Manures and Other Soil Properties

Some soil properties such as cation exchange capacity (CEC), bulk density, pH and
water holding capacity of the soil may or may not change depending on the time, kind, rates
and method of manure application. Research conducted by Metzger (1939) and Bishop et
al. (1962) showed that manure application increased the CEC of the soil. Other studies using
both manure and lime showed that manure signiﬁcantly increased soil pH but not CEC (Muhr
et al., 1943; Young et al. 1960). Brage et al. (1952), Halstead and Sowden (1968) showed
that manure increased both CBC and soil pH. Hileman (1971) showed that manure increased
soil pH only, whereas Bishop et al. (1962) indicated that the effect was negligible. Young et
al. (1960) showed that manure and crop residue had no signiﬁcant effect on soil aggregate

diameter, but had some value in maintaining air space porosity (Young et al., 1960).

CHAPTER 2

AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION AND CHANGES IN SOIL CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES AFTER POULTRY MAN URE APPLICATION (1990)

1. INTRODUCTION

With the rapid growth of the poultry industry in the USA. (National Agricultural
Statistics Service, 1994), information is needed on the impact of land applying the associated
litter on the nation's soil and water resources. Soluble salts and N have been major concerns
of researchers investigating possible detrimental effects associated with animal manure
application (Adriano et al., 1971, 1973; Shortall and Liebhardt, 1975; Jackson et al., 1977;
Giddens and Rao, 1975; Weil et al., 1979; Wetterauer and Killorn, 1993).

Animal manure which produces NH, upon decay has been associated with inhibition
of seed germination. Megie et al. (1967) observed that NH, above 10 ppm was phytotoxic
to cotton. Ells et al. (1991) found that an ammonium hydroxide alfalfa hay extract, and
chopped alfalfa produced ﬁ'ee NH, upon decay and inhibited both cucumber germination and
seedling growth. The rate of NH, loss from turkey manure was found to be highest
immediately after application and gradually decreased with time (Nathan and Malzer, 1992).

High NH, concentrations are toxic to plants (Vines and Wedding, 1960; Adriano et al.,
1973; Weil et al., 1979; Ells et al., 1991) and Nitrobacter (Smith, 1964; Brady, 1986). As
a result oxidation of nitrite to nitrate by Nitrobacter is inhibited to the extent that nitrite
accumulates in sufficient quantity to adversely affect plant growth (Smith, 1964; Brady,
1986). The natural buffering capacity of the soil apparently mitigates the effect of NH, As

the CEC of the soil increases, the toxicity effect on plant growth decreases (Ells et al., 1991).

15

16

The concentration of free NH, in the soil is inﬂuenced by soil pH (Cox and Seeley,
1984; Warren, 1962; Brady, 1986) and cation exchange capacity (Smith, 1964). At soil pH's
above 7.0, NH40H in soil solution will dissociate to form NH, Hence, high NH,
concentrations may be produced (Smith, 1964; Brady, 1986). Addition of material which
produces free NH, in a sand with a low CEC increases the pH, while a greater CEC in soil
may keep the pH relatively stable (Smith, 1964; Ells et al., 1991). The mechanism for
increasing soil pH involves fewer exchange sites for NH,+ to be held in lower CEC soils and
a resulting increase of NH,‘ in soil solution to form NH40H and eventually increase soil pH
(Smith, 1964).

A long-term land application of broiler litter increased soil pH by 0.5 unit at the depth
0 to 60 cm (Kingery et al., 1994). Application of 144 Mg ha" broiler litter increased the pH
of an unlimed Wynnville sandy loam from 5.2 to 7.6. However, at 9 Mg ha" the limed soil
pH decreased from 6.8 to 5.5 after 28 days of incubation (Lu et al., 1992). Hue (1992)
demonstrated that chicken manure was effective in raising the pH of acid Hawaiian soils.
Application of 20 Mg ha" chicken manure increased soil pH from 4.19 to 6.24 and then the
pH decreased to 5.16 at harvest time. Jackson et al. (1975) showed that at the rate of 22.4
Mg ha", soil pH of the 0 to 7.62 cm depth increased from 5.3 to 5.6 in the ﬁrst year of
application and decreased to 5.4 in the second year.

All soils contain some water soluble salts which include essential nutrients for plant
growth. When the level of the water soluble salts exceeds a certain level, harmful effects on
plant grth occur (Dahnke and Whitney, 1988). This may result from high rates of manure

or sludge application. In a long term experiment Kingery et al. (1994) found that the average

17

EC (saturated paste) in soil proﬁles from O to 60 cm depth was 0.08 dSm" in soils treated
with 6 to 22 Mg ha" yr" boiler litter application. Hue (1992) observed that application of 20
Mg ha" chicken manure increased soil salinity from 0.6 to 1.2 dSm". These values are well
below the threshold value of 4 dSm" found to be detrimental for many crops (U.S. Salinity
Lab. Staﬂl 1954). Weil et al. (1979) observed that soil receiving poultry manure at the rate
of >85 Mg ha" had a residual level of salt in excess of 4 dSm", a concentration considered
to be detrimental to corn germination and growth (Ayers and Hayward, 1948; Shortall and
Liebhardt, 1975; Weil, et al. 1979). Wetterauer and Killom (1993) observed that soil salinity
increased after manure application but returned to initial levels before the next growing
season.

The inﬂuence that a certain level of soluble salts will have on crop growth depends
upon several factors that include climatic conditions, soil texture, salt distribution in the
proﬁle, salt composition and plant species. Soil, water, and environmental factors interact to
inﬂuence the salt tolerance of a plant (Maas, 1986). High application rates of poultry manure
(>56 Mg ha") in ﬁeld plots have reduced germination (Shortall and Liebhardt, 1975) and
adversely affected growth and yield of corn due to excessive salinity (Ayers and Hayward,
1948; Ayers, 1952; Shortall and Liebhardt, 1975). Salinity affects plants at all stages of
development, but sensitivity sometimes varies from one growth stage to the next. Soil salinity
levels (saturated extract) reduce yields by 50% for snap beans, onion and cabbages are 4, 4,
and 7 dSm", respectively. The salt tolerance threshold values where yields start to decrease
for carrots, snap beans, onions and cabbages are 1, 1, 1, and 2 dSm", respectively (Maas,

1986)

1 8
Objectives

To further study the potential adverse effects from high poultry manure rates on seed
germination and plant growth, a preliminary experiment was established in a greenhouse to
address the following points:

1) Poultry manure rate at which germination is adversely affected.
2) Duration of adverse effects on germination and plant growth.
3) Role of soil texture on adverse effects of poultry manure.

Results of this preliminary experiment indicated that high rates of poultry manure can
adversely affect seed germination and plant growth. However, the cause of the injury was not
clear. Soil salinity, soil pH and NH, toxicity have been major concerns associated with the
application of poultry manure for crop production. A laboratory experiment was designed
to address the following points:

1) To determine the effects of poultry manure on soil pH, soluble salt concentrations
and NH, production.
2) To determine whether the seedling injury in the preliminary study was due to NH,

toxicity, high salinity and/or changing pH.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Preliminary Greenhouse Study

Two soils, McBride sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, Eutric Glossoboralf) and
Capac loam (ﬁne-loamy, mixed, mesic Udolic Ochraqualf), were used in this experiment.

They were air dried and passed through a 2 mm sieve and analyzed for texture, pH (1 :1

 

 

 

 

soil it
Total
and I
Nels
(War
(a I t
of 12
come
and ti
be an;
sandy.
in the (
fates u:

inthe)

rite geel

W33 cor

 

19

soilzwater ratio, Eckert, 1988) and salinity (1 :1 soilzwater ratio, Dahnke and Whitney, 1988).
Total N concentration of poultry manure was determined by a Kjeldahl procedure (Bremner
and Mulvaney, 1982), and NO,—N and NH4-N were extracted with 1M KCl (Keeney and
Nelson, 1982). CEC was determined by saturation with NH,+ and displacement with Na
(Wamcke, 1994). Field capacity was determined by placing 2 kg of soil in three pots
(a 1.6 L pot), saturating with water and then allowing drainage for 48 hours. Three soil cores
of 12 cm depth were taken from each pot and oven dried at 105 °C for 24 hours. Moisture
content was determined as the ratio of water: soil dry weight. The test results for the soils
and the dried poultry manure are shown in Table 2.1. The rates of poultry manure and N to
be applied are given in Table 2.2. The rates of poultry manure incorporated into the McBride
sandy loam soil were 0, 20, 40, 60 g kg" soil (0, 56, 112 and 168 Mg ha"). The rates applied
in the Capac loam soil were 0, 10.8, 21.6 and 32.4 g kg" soil (0, 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha"). The
rates used in the Capac soil were reduced because of the injury observed at the higher rates
in the McBride soil. No inorganic fertilizer was added to either soil.

Cabbage, carrot and snap beans were grown for 90, 90 and 60 days, respectively.
Five seeds were grown in each 2 liter pot (1.6 kg soil) in 5 replications. Thinning to 1 plant

was conducted after 2 weeks. Plant dry weight was measured at harvest time.

20

Table 2.1. Some properties of soils and poultry manure used in the greenhouse and
laboratory experiments.

 

 

Chemical McBride Capac Poultry
properties sandy loam loam manure
Moist(%) 4.8 6.5 21.4
Field capacity (%) 19 . 2 2 0 . o -
pH 5 . 1 5 . 5 7 . 0
CBC cmol kg" 4 . 0 8 . 0 -
Total N (%) - - 4 . 0
Bulk Density 1 . 4 1 . 4 -
Organic matter (%) 1 2 1 . 5 -

 

Table 2.2. The total amount of poultry manure and N applied to soils for greenhouse and
laboratory experiments.

 

 

Poultry manure applied Total N applied
---- g kg" soil ---- --- g kg" soil ---
McBride sandy loam

0 0
20.0 0.80
40.0 1.60
60.0 2.40
Capac loam
0 0
10.8 0.43
21.6 0.86
32.4 1.29

21
2.2. Laboratory Study

The same two soils used in the preliminary study, a McBride sandy loam and a Capac
' Loam, were used in this experiment. One hundred grams of soil were placed in a 250 ml
Erlenmeyer ﬂask. Poultry manure was mixed thoroughly with the soil at the rate of 0, 2, 4
and 6 g per 100 g of soil (0, 56, 112 and 168 Mg ha") for McBride sandy loam and at the
rate of O, 1.08, 2.16 and 3.24 g per 100 g of soil (0, 30, 60, and 90 Mg ha") for Capac loam,
and incubated at room temperature (20 °C) for 18 days.

To determine the amount of NH, volatilized, air was passed through each ﬂask and
then through boric acid containing methyl purple indicator to collect the NH, The inﬂowing
air was cleaned from dust and other pollutants by passing it through 0.1N NaOH, 0.01N
H2804 and water (Figure 2.1). The clean moist air ﬂowed into a 5 cm PVC pipe (manifold)
and from this pipe an air outlet was connected to each 250 ml Erlenmeyer ﬂask containing
100 g soil. Using 0.5 cm (od) tygon tubing and glass tubing, air was directed through the
Erlenmeyer ﬂask containing soil and through 40 ml of 5% boric acid solution to trap NH, gas
(Figure 2.2). The amount of NH, was determined by back titration with standardized H2804
(Bremner and Mulvaney, 1982). Moisture content of the soils was checked daily by weighing
the Erlenmeyer ﬂasks and adding water to maintain the soil moisture near ﬁeld capacity.
Soil salinity and pH were determined at the end of the study (after 18 days incubation)

according to the procedures previously indicated.

22

 

Figure 2.1. The inﬂowing air was cleaned by passing it through 0.1N NaOH and 0.01N
H2804.

 

Figure 2.2. The clean air was directed through the Erlenmeyer ﬂask containing soil and
through 40 ml of 5% boric acid solution to trap NH,

 

 

 

manure rat 6|

germinatior

toxicity rel

Table 2.3

\

Poultry
applied

 

Sign}
.3 . r
N0 5:

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1. Preliminary Greenhouse Study
3.1.1. Seed Germination and Emergence

The effect of poultry manure on seed germination and emergence, seeded right after
and 10 days after manure application is shown in Tables 2.3 and 2.4. Increasing poultry
manure rates increased the time before seedling emergence and decreased the percent of seed
germination (Table 2.3). Failure in gemrination and emergence may have been due to NH,
toxicity released from the poultry manure and/or high soil salinity.

Table 2.3. Carrot, snap bean and cabbage seed germination in McBride sandy loam and
Capac loam soil planted immediately after poultry manure addition.

 

Poultry manure Seed Germination Time before emergence

 

 

 

 

applied
Carrot S.beans Cabbage Carrot S.beans Cabbage
(g kg" soil) (%) ---------------------------- (days) -------------
McBride sandy loam
o '1ooat 100a 100a 4c 4b 3a
20.0 1008 1008 24b 6b 5b 38
40.0 72b 48b 0c 88 98 **
60.0 24c 00 0c 88 ** **
Capac loam
0 1008 1008 1008 4c 4b 3b
10.8 1008 1008 1008 6b 5b 3b
21.6 1008 1008 72b 6b 5b 3b
32.4 88b 72b 48c 88 88 68

 

* Mean separation by LSDOD, . Numbers within a column followed by different letters are

signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
** No seed emergence.

 

 

\\ .
germinarier

seedling err

   

Table 2 4

 

Poultry m;
applied

Sig:

 

3.1.2.

-‘_ _,_._A . A—W.

Salld)’ 1‘

d1}! “"61;

SigniﬁCar

24

Waiting 10 days after manure application before seeding signiﬁcantly improved
germination and seedling emergence in both soils, although at the higher poultry manure rates
seedling emergence was still delayed (Table 2.4).

Table 2.4. Carrot, snap bean and cabbage seed germination in McBride sandy loam and
Capac loam soil planted 10 days after poultry manure addition.

 

Poultry manure Seed germination Time before emergence

 

 

 

 

 

applied
Carrot S.beans Cabbage Carrot S.beans Cabbage
(g kg" soil) (%) ------------- (days) -------------

McBride sandy loam
0 1008* 1008 1008 4e 4e 3e
20.0 1008 1008 1008 7b 5b SD
40.0 100a 100a 100: 7b 6a 5b
60.0 1008 80b 1008 88 68 68
Capac loam

O 1008 1008 1008 7b 5b SD
10.8 1008 1008 1008 7b 5b 5b
21.6 1008 1008 1008 7b 68 SD
32.4 1008 80b 1008 88 68 68

 

* Mean separation by LSDOD, . Numbers within a column followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
3.1.2. Plant Dry Weight
The effect of poultry manure on plant dry weight is shown in Table 2.5. In McBride
sandy loam, poultry manure applied at 20 and 40 g kg" soil increased signiﬁcantly cabbage
dry weight compared to the control. But, dry weight of cabbage at 40 g kg" soil was

signiﬁcantly less than that at 20 g kg" soil. At 60 g kg" soil, cabbage growth was reduced

 

 

significant

ll

before bar»
In

increased g:

Table 2.5.

1

E

\

POUlll'y man
apphed

(8 k8" soil

10.3
21.5
32.4

1\
Mean sepia
S'gnlﬁcant
Plants die.

 

 

 

25

signiﬁcantly compare to other poultry manure treated plants, and some bean plants died
before harvest. There was no signiﬁcant effect of poultry manure on carrot dry weight.

In Capac loam, poultry manure applied at 10.8 to 21.6 g kg" soil significantly
increased grth and yield of carrot, snap bean and cabbage compared to control. However,
their dry weight at 21.6 g kg" were not signiﬁcantly different from those at 10.8 g kg" (Table
2.5).

Table 2.5. Plant dry weight of carrot, snap bean and cabbage grown 90, 60 and 90 days in
McBride sandy loam and Capac loam planted 10 days after poultry manure

 

 

 

 

 

addition.
Poultry manure Dry weight
appﬁed
Carrot S.beans Cabbage
(g kg" soil) (8)
McBride sandy loam
0 1.878b* 1.51b 3.510
20.0 2.418 2.528 6.478
40.0 1.988b 1.50b 4.80b
60.0 1.65b ** 3.416
Capac loam
0 1.78b 1.10b 3.450
10.8 3.088 2.418 9.958
21.6 3.628 2.638 8.70ab
32.4 3.318 1.13b 7.76b

 

* Mean separation by LSDM, . Numbers within a column followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
** plants died before harvesting.

 

 

 

 

3.2. Labor
3.2.1. Soil

Tal‘
was air drix
greatest in
inactivated .-
the followin
tantate) and
solution. Sit
and Fe, as a

The t
in Table 2 r.
explained by

might occur L

 

manure to pr

semi a lag
3H3 reacts u j
i"soil solutioh
I964),

filler

”0668s (Bradt -

 

26

3.2. Laboratory Study
3.2.1. Soil pH

Table 2.6 presents soil pH values at the end of the volatilization study after the soil
was air dried. Increasing manure rates increased soil pH in both soils. The increase was
greatest in McBride soil. Hue (1992) observed chicken manure increased soil pH and
inactivated Al. The production of OH‘ associated with manure addition can be explained by
the following process. Ligand exchange reaction might occur between organic anions (i.e.,
tartrate) and terminal hydroxyls of Fe and A] in the soil in return for release of OH' into soil
solution. Since increasing chicken manure rate increases the concentration of inactivated Al
and Fe, as a result increasing chicken manure increases soil pH.

The soil pH during the ﬁrst 18 days of incubation could be higher than the data show
in Table 2.6. Increasing soil pH immediately after poultry manure application can be
explained by the following processes. First, reduction of Mn and Fe oxide (mostly goethite)
might occur under a localized, electron-rich environment created by rapid decomposition of
manure to produce OH” (Hue, 1992):

FeO(OH) + e' + H20 <----> Fe” + 3 OH'
Second, a large quantity of NH3 might be released soon after manure application. When the
NH3 reacts with the moist soil, the NH,OH formed is in an equilibrium with NH,+ and OH'
in soil solution. Increasing OH‘ concentration in the soil solution, increased soil pH (Smith,
1964).
After nitriﬁcation, the soil pH decreases because of H* released during the nitriﬁcation

process (Brady, 1986). Hue (1992) observed that application of 40 Mg ha" chicken manure

 

 

 

Table 2.6

 

 

Poultry ma

 

A
00
r.‘
o ('3

20.
40.
60.

 

 

0

10.
21.
32.

\
‘I Mean set

Signiﬁca
increased 5.
latest time
addition of

(Smith, 19.

27

Table 2.6. Soil pH after poultry manure application and incubation (18 days).

 

 

Poultry manure applied Soil pH (Soil : water 1:1)
(g kg " soil) McBride sandy loam
0 5.0d*
20.0 6.40
40.0 6.9b
60.0 7.48
Capac loam
0 4.90
10.8 5.70
21.6 6.1b
32.4 6.58

 

* Mean separation by LSDM, . Numbers within a column followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

increased soil pH from 4.19 to 7.30 at planting time, and then the pH decreased to 6.17 by

harvest time. Adriano et al. (1973) found that soil pH rose sharply from 7.5 to 8.4 soon after

addition of 112 to 224 Mg ha" ﬁ'esh manure and then dropped back close to the initial value

within a few weeks.

Soil pH was higher in the McBride sandy loam than in Capac loam when 20 g kg"
and 21.6 g kg" poultry manure were applied, respectively. The greater change in pH in the
McBride soil with comparable amounts of poultry manure applied was related to the lower
CEC of this soil. It was found that a lower CEC in sandy soil permits the pH to increase
more quickly, while a higher CEC in ﬁner textured soil may keep the pH relatively stable

(Smith, 1964; Brady, 1986; Ells et al., 1991).

28

3.2.2. Ammonia Volatilization

Figures 2.3 and 2.4 show the amount of NH3-N loss from the McBride sandy loam
and Capac loam soils, respectively, during the ﬁrst 18 days after poultry manure application.
Ammonia volatilization was highly rate dependent and was much higher in the McBride soil.
At the beginning free NH3-N loss was high but decreased with time. After 10 days the rate
of NH3-N loss was less than halfthe initial rate. Total NH3-N losses for the 18 day incubation
period from the McBride sandy loam soils receiving 0 , 20, 40 and 60 g poultry manure per
kg of soil were 0, 58, 186, 378 mg N kg" soil, respectively. Total NH3-N losses from the
Capac loam soils receiving poultry manure at 0, 10.8, 21.6 and 32.4 g kg" of soil were 0, 7,
32 and 58 mg N kg" soil, respectively (Figure 2.5). The amounts of NH3-N released ﬁom
the McBride sandy loam and Capac loam were similar at 20 g and 32.4 g poultry manure per
kg of soil, respectively. At comparable poultry manure application rates (20 g kg" for
McBride sandy loam and 21.6 g kg" for Capac loam), NH3-N released from the McBride
sandy loam soil (58 mg N kg" soil) was about 2 times higher than that from the Capac loam
soil (32 mg N kg" soil). This suggests that soil with a lower CEC (McBride sandy loam) will
have a more serious ammonia toxicity problem compared to a soil with a higher CEC (Capac
loam).

The ammonia equilibria of the soil can be partially represented by the following
equations (Smith, 1964):

NH4OH <===> NH3 + HOH (1)
NH4OH <===> NH,+ + OH‘ (2)

NH,0H + H-Soil <===> NH4-Soil + HOH (3)

 

23456789101112131415161718
nmemvs)

Figure 2’. 3. Amounts of NH; release from McBride sandy loam.

MVMTIJZAMMNM4m

1

 

 

——Oolw-1

+20§|®1
+409Iu1
+ooqu-1

 

 

 

 

——o g “.1
+10.” mi
+21.” Ira-1
+324 9 Im-‘l

 

23456789101112131415161718
TIMEMYS)

Figure 2. 4. Amounts of NH; release from Capac loam.

 

 

30

§§§§§

"urn RELEASED (mg N kg" sou.)
§ ii

 

0 10.8 20 21 .6 32.4 40 60

RATES or POULTRY MANURE (g N Irg “ sou)

Figure 2.5. Total amount of NH3-N released from soils.

Ammonia is adsorbed by the clay particles or volatilized and the proportion being adsorbed
and volatilized depends on soil conditions (Adriano et al., 1973).

The reasons why the sandy loam volatilized more NIrI3 than the Capac loam can be
explained as follows. First, the sandy loam soil dried faster than the loam soil, consequently
at the end of the day when the soil becomes drier less NH3 had reacted with water to form
NI-LOH (reaction 1). As a result, more free NH3 existed in the soil to move from the soil to
the air. Second, the McBride sandy loam had a lower CEC than the Capac loam. With
similar poultry manure application rate, pH change in McBride sandy loam was higher than
in the Capac loam (Table 2.6). The mechanism involves less exchange sites for NH,+ in the
soil with a lower CEC. This results in a higher NH] concentration in the soil solution to

form NH4OH (reaction 2) which in turn increases a higher soil pH (Smith, 1964). Smith

{"7

[

 

 

a. w rm"!
‘_—_—

31

(1964), Cox and Seeley (1984) and Warren (1962) observed that free NH3 in the soil was
inﬂuenced by soil pH. Warren (1962) reported that at pK, 9.0, the respective percentages of
NH3 at pH 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 are 0.1, 1, 10, and 50. Since McBride sandy loam soil has a

lower CEC than the Capac loam soil, the McBride sandy soil released more free NH3.

3.2.3. Soil Salinity

Increasing poultry manure application rate increased soil salinity as measured after 18
days incubation (Table 2.7). At similar rates of manure application (20 and 21.6 g kg" for
McBride sandy loam and Capac loam, respectively), salinity had increased more in the
McBride sandy loam soil than in the Capac loam soil, by 1.7 and 1.3 dSm", respectively.

This was probably related to the lower CEC of the McBride soil compared to the Capac loam.

Table 2.7. Soil salinity after poultry manure application and incubation (18 days).

 

 

Poultry manure applied Soil salinity
(g kg" soil) (dSm 1)
McBride soil
0 0.7d*
20.0 2.40
40.0 3.1b
60.0 3.58
Capac soil
0 1.4d
10.8 2.10
21.6 2.7b
32.4 3.28

 

* Mean separation by LSD“), . Numbers within a column followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

32

The mechanism involves less exchange sites for cations to be held at the lower CECs (Smith,
1964; Brady, 1986) including NaI, Ca”, Mg*2 and K”. This results in an increase in the

concentration of cations in the soil solution producing a higher salt concentration.

 

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

General conclusions from this laboratory study are that increasing poultry manure rate
increased NH, volatilization, soil salinity and soil pH. Changes in soil pH, soil salinity and
NH, volatilization were greater in the lower CEC soil (McBride sandy loam) than in the
higher CEC soil (Capac loam). Ammonia volatilization was greatest ﬁ'om McBride soil
immediately aﬁer application and gradually decreased with time. Ammonia volatilization from
Capac soil was greatest 4 days after application and gradually decreased with time.

Germination and seedling injury of plants grown in a McBride sandy loam soil was
apparently caused by a combination of high salinity and NH, toxicity. In the Capac soil, the
decrease of plant grth at higher rates of applied manure was most likely due to high
salinity. Soil salinity of both soils for all poultry manure treatments was >2 dSm" which is
sufﬁcient to cause germination injury and reduce growth of carrots, cabbage and snap beans
(Maas, 1986). Although inhibition of crop germination and reduction of seedling grth
appeared to be primarily the result of high salinity and NH, accumulation during poultry
manure decomposition, the possibility of organic toxins and some other nutrient toxicity may
also have occurred. By delaying planting time, poultry manure applied up to 20 and 21.6 g
kg" soil (56 to 60 Mg ha") did not cause injury to cabbage, carrot and snap bean grown in
both soils.

From these ﬁndings we conclude that relatively higher poultry manure rate may be
applied to ﬁner texture soil (higher CEC) without concern for NH, toxicity to germinating
swd and plant grth compare to coarser texture soil (lower CEC soils). It is necessary to

delay seeding/planting time after large amounts of poultry manure application to allow for

33

34

NH, release to the atmosphere and/or reaction with soil to minimize the risk of injury to
germinating seed. Maintaining adequate soil moisture, through irrigation when necessary,
enhances the formation of ammonium from NH, reducing the potential for NH, toxicity.

Applying poultry manure well ahead of planting time allows for the dissipation of NH, and
soluble salts by reaction and natural precipitation. To avoid soluble salt injury and/or NH,
toxicity, poultry manure needs to be applied at rates less than 56 Mg ha". Further ﬁeld study
is needed to evaluate the eﬂ‘ect of high rate of poultry manure on seed germination and plant

growth.

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3
EFFECTS OF POULTRY MANURE AND LEAF COMPOST APPLICATION

ON PHOSPHORUS, NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM AVAILABILITY
AND UPTAKE BY CABBAGE (1993)

1. INTRODUCTION

Poultry production is becoming increasingly important to the economic well-being of
the United States. Between 1992 and 1993, total poultry production in United States
increased 12% in value of production from $15 to 16.8 billion (National Agricultural Statistics
Service, 1994). Along with an increase in poultry production comes an increase in litter
production, which may cause environment problems if it is managed improperly. Therefore,
utilization of manure that accumulates in poultry production areas is becoming a serious
problem for the poultry industry.

With the current emphasis on pollution control, the problem of manure disposal has
provoked some thought and action on changing the emphasis to utilization (Abbott and
Lingle, 1968; Olsen et al., 1970). The manure can be used as a valuable resource of mineral
N and P in maintaining or restoring soil fertility (Liebhardt, 1976b, Huhnke, 1982;
Avnimelech, 1986; Brady, 1986; Simpson, 1986; Chen and Avnimelech, 1986 and Sims,
1987). However, the N and P contents of animal wastes typically are not balanced to meet
plant needs. Applying manures to meet the needs of one nutrient can result in potential
surface and/or groundwater contamination from the other nutrient. One solution may be
manure application rates based on P content and the evaluation of crop N status to schedule

supplemental N fertilizer application (Francis et al., 1993). Tyson et al. (1993) observed that

35

 

 

 

 

36

composting poultry litter into a product that releases N slowly may minimize nitrate
groundwater contamination.

In making manure applications consideration should be given to crop N requirement
due to concern for NO,-N contamination of groundwater (Harris et al., 1991, Simmons and
Baker, 1991, Grove, 1992, Wetterauer, and Killom. 1993, Lauren et al. 1993, Malzer et al.,
1993). Some research studies have shown that excessive application of poultry manure can
have adverse effects on crops, soil, and water resources. Shortall and Liebhardt (1975) and
Weil et al. (1979) found that high (>56 Mg ha") amounts of poultry manure applied in the
ﬁeld reduced germination, and adversely affected the growth and yield of com due to
excessive soil salinity. \Vrth respect to corn yield, Liebhardt (1976a) observed that excessive
salinity would be a problem only in the year of application. The salinity was reduced
substantially before the next growing season (Liebhardt, 1976a, Wetterauer and Killorn,
1993). Continual poultry manure application to provide N at rates greater than crop
requirement has caused N accumulation in soil (Jackson et al., 1977; Weil et al., 1979;
Cooper et al., 1984). This accumulation increased NO,-N movement through the soil into
groundwater (Ritter and Chimside, 1984; Bitzer and Sims, 1988, Wetterauer and Killorn,
1993). Liebhardt et al. (1979) applied poultry litter at rates of 0 to 179 Mg ha" (wet wt.
basis) to loamy sand soils. He found the NO,-N concentration in groundwater at 3 m depth
increased with poultry manure rate. Application of 27 Mg ha" or more, signiﬁcantly
increased NO,-N groundwater concentrations beyond the recommended 10 mg L" limit (U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1976). Similarly, Jackson et al. (1977) found that rates

of 22.4 Mg ha" applied semi-annually were considered excessive from the stand point of

37

potential loss of N for crop production. Adams et al. (1994) found that poultry litter
application at the rate 10 Mg ha" produced NO,-N as high as 13 mg L" in soil water. The
recommended litter application rate in Arkansas is not more than 11.2 Mg ha", split in two
5.6 Mg ha" applications. Sharpley et al. (1993) observed that 12 to 35 years of poultry liter
application with an average of 6 Mg ha" yr" (dry wt basis) had the greatest effect on pH, N
and P content in the surface 5 cm of the soil. Below 5 cm, P content decreased rapidly with
only slight NO,-N accumulation between 50 to 100 cm depth. Below 25 cm, litter had little
effect on pH, NO, and P content, and there was no P movement below 30 cm. Similarly,
Kingery et al. (1994) observed that 15 to 28 years of broiler litter application with rates of 6
to 22 Mg ha" yr" increased total N to depths of 15 and 30 cm, respectively; increased pH by
0.5 unit to a depth of 60 cm, and signiﬁcantly increased the accumulation of NO,-N in soil
to near bedrock." They found that extractable P concentration in littered soil was more than
6 times greater than in non-littered soil to a depth of 60 cm. They also found elevated levels
of extractable K, Ca and Mg to a depth greater than 60 cm.

Vitosh et al. (1973) observed that aﬁer 6 to 9 years of cattle manure application
available P and exchangeable K increased with increasing rates of manure. The most
favorable rate of manure application for growing corn in Metea sandy loam soil was found
to be 22.4 Mg ha". Larger applications caused a signiﬁcant buildup of exchangeable K in the
surface and subsurface horizons, and resulted in inefﬁcient use of all nutrients. The K buildup
was less in loam soil. Rao and Pan (1993) found that manure N was comparable to fertilizer
N during a normal season, but was less efﬁcient during a dry season. Similarly, Rylant et al.

(1993) observed that as a source of N in turf grass, organic-based fertilizer (pelleted poultry

 

 

 

38

litter with conventional fertilizer to produce 12-4-6) performed as well as conventional
fertilizers and provided a slower release of N. Provin and Tabatabai (1991) studied four types
of animal manures (horse, cow, chicken and pig) as sources of N for corn production. They
found that com dry matter was the highest in the chicken manure-treated soil which was
comparable to those of the UAN treatments. Regarding P availability, applications of organic
materials to the soil may either increase or decrease the availability of soil P. Increased P
availability is attributed to organic acids derived from organic matter decomposition that
complex Fe and Al in the soil thereby reducing P adsorption sites (Singh and Jones, 1976).
Decreased P availability is attributed to microbial assimilation (Singh and Jones, 1976). A
decrease in P adsorption capacity of soil following litter application may increase the potential
for P movement in runoff (Magette, 1988; Westennan et al., 1983). Large applications of
animal manures (beef, poultry and swine) to the soil typically increased P availability and
decreased P adsorption. It was found that P adsorption increased with depth (Reddy et al.
1980)

Incubation studies of several Coastal Plains soils showed that poultry litter increased
available soil P (Field at al., 1985). Similarly, Sharpley and Smith (1989) incubated soil with
crop residue to observe mineralization and leaching of phosphorus from soil. They found
mineralization of P from crop residue and its movement within the soil was greater for
surface-applied compared to incorporated residue. Greater amounts of inorganic P were
leached from surface-applied compared to incorporated residues, but the opposite was true
for organic P, with greater amounts leached from incorporated residues than from surface-

applied residues. Francis et al. (1993) observed that com grain yields showed a positive

 

39

response to manure application based on P content, but this strategy often resulted in
temporary N deﬁciencies.

Fewer studies have been conducted based on manure P application to determine the
fate of manure P in soil solution. With soils low in available P, root absorption of P and
growth of plants increase as P concentration in soil solution increases up to a limit (Olsen and
Sommers, 1982). As an index of P availability, P soluble in water is used to determine the P
concentration level in the soil extract that limits growth of the plants (Olsen and Sommers,
1982). Thompson et al. (1960) found a high correlation between P uptake by sorghum and
water-soluble P on 22 soils, most of which were acid. In contrast, Martin and Buchanan
(1950); Martin and Mikkelsen (1960), showed that yields of crops grown in California soils
with more than 0.13 mg L" of water soluble P failed to respond to P fertilization. Fried and
Shapiro (1956) observed a poor relation between water-soluble P and P uptake in eight acids
soils for the initial extract but observed a much better correlation for the 14th successive
extract.

In soil testing practices, the water extract represents an attempt to approximate the
soil solution P concentration (Adams, 1974). Phosphorus concentration in soil solution
usually increases as the amount of soil increases per unit volume of water. A saturation
extract more nearly approaches the P concentration expected to be in soil solution from which
roots absorb P (Olsen and Sommers, 1982).

More information is needed on the fate of nutrients applied in organic matter to soil
and their movement in the soil, in order to devise reliable disposal recommendations and

management options. A greenhouse study was conducted to examine how poultry manure

40

and leaf compost affect nutrient availability in the soil solution and crop growth. Soluble

inorganic P, N and K have been of major importance for crop production. These effects were

studied in two soils differing in available P level and pH.

Objectives
1) To quantify the effect of leaf compost and dried poultry manure on cabbage grth

and on N, P, and K uptake by cabbage.

2) To determine the effect of poultry manure and leaf compost on the availability and

movement of inorganic N, P and K in soil.

Hypotheses
1) Dried poultry manure increases N, P, and K availability in the soil, and the availability

increases with time aﬁer application.

2) N, P and K release is slower from dried poultry manure than from commercial fertilizer.

3) Leaf compost will increase C/N ratio of the soil which slows nutrient release into the

soil solution.

4) Leaf compost and dried poultry manure increase N, P and K uptake by plants, as well

as increase crop growth compared to inorganic nutrient sources.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two Metea loamy sand soils, one low in P and one high in P (Arenic Hapludalfs,

loamy, mixed, mesic ) were used in this experiment. Each was air dried, passed through a 2

mm sieve, and analyzed for texture, pH (1 :1) soil : water ratio (Eckert, 1988), soil NO,-N and

 

41

NH4-N (KCl extraction, Keeney and Nelson, 1982), extractable P (Bray and Kurtz P1,
Knudsen and Beegle, 1988), and exchangeable K (1N NH4OAc at pH 7.0, Brown and
Wamcke, 1988). Total nitrogen concentration of soil, leaf compost and poultry manure was

determined by a Kjeldahl procedure (Bremner and Mulvaney. 1982). Organic C was
determined by the Loss-On-Ignition procedure adapted ﬁ'om Storer, 1984 (Schulte. 1988).
Micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were determined in HCl extracts by atomic absorption
(Whitney, 1988).
Leafcompost and dried poultry manure used in this experiment were passed through
a 5 mm sieve, and analyzed for moisture content and pH. The total P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe,
Mn, Zn, B, Mo, Al and Na contents were extracted by dry ashing at 500 °C followed by
digestion with 3N HNO, containing 1000 ppm LiCl. Nutrient concentration was determined
with a Direct Current Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer. Total N, NO,-N and
NFL-N contents were analyzed by the same procedures used for soil. Total element contents
of leaf compost and poultry manure are presented on a dry-weight basis. Analyses of the soil,
leaf compost and partially composted poultry manure are given in Table 3.1.
The experimental design for this study was a 6x2 factorial, arranged as a Randomized
Complete Block in 4 replications, plus 1 replication without plants which was not included
inthe statistical analyses. Factor A included 1 rate of fertilizer P (recommended) and 5 rates
of manure. Factor B included 2 rates of leaf compost. Treatment differences for each
variable observed were tested using the LSD, P<0.05. The treatments and the amount of
nutrient applied are shown in Table 3.2. The soil to be placed in a 7.5 L pot was split into

two parts; 4.7 kg of untreated soil was placed in the bottom of the pot, and 2.7 kg was mixed

 

 

 

 

42

thoroughly with the treatment materials and placed in the top half of the pot. Supplemental
fertilizer N (ammonium nitrate 34%N) and K (muriate potash 60%) were added to equalize
their levels among the various treatments to meet crop requirement. Elements recommended
for cabbage on the low-P soil were 123 kg N , 74 kg P and 127 kg K ha" ( or 62 mg N, 37
mg P, and 64 mg K kg'l soil, respectively), whereas for the high-P soil they were 109 kg N,
37 kg P and 132 kg K ha" (or 55 mg N, 19 mg K, and 66 mg K kg" soil, respectively).

Table 3.1. Some chemical properties of two Metea loamy sand soils, poultry manure and
leaf compost used in experiment.

 

 

 

Chemical Low-P High-P Poultry Leaf
property soil soil manure compost
Moist (%) - - 16.0 44.0
CEC (cmol/kg) 3.1 4.3 - -
pH 8.1 6.4 - -
C (%) 1.0 1.1 23.4 13.7
C/N 18.9 20.6 9.7 16.7
Organic matter(%) 1.8 2.0 40.4 23.6
Elements (9 kg") :
TKN (Kjeldahl) ‘ 0.54 0.55 24.3 8.20
-- Extractable -- ----- Total -----
N0,-N 0.016 0.022 0.77 0.09
run-N 0.001 0.002 0.49 0.02
P 0.023 0.057 73.6 0.73
K 0.07 0.07 46.4 3.93
Ca 1.99 0.33 128.3 41.6
Mg 0.07 0.11 9.3 11.19
Cu 0.001 0.001 0.2 0.005
Fe 0.01 0.02 6.3 6.3
Mn 0.06 0.02 0.8 0.1
Zn 0.004 0.002 2.4 0.04
B - - 0.06 0.04
Mo - - 0.03 0.01
Na 0.02 0.014 10.9 0.80
A1 - - 1.2 8.18

 

 

43

Table 3 .2. Total estimated amounts of nutrients applied to soil from fertilizer P, poultry
manure and leaf compost.

 

 

Manure or compost ' ___$Qil_ﬂ£___
Treatment _App_11eL_ N P K N P K

Soil LP Soil HP

-- g kg’1 soil -- --------- mg kg'1 soil ---------
P.nanure/T8P
m1 (manure) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
‘m2 (TSP)* 0.04 0.02 0 38 0 0 19 0
‘m3 (manure)* 0.5 0.25 12 38 23 6 19 12
m4 (manure) 1.25 1.0 30 95 58 24 76 46
m5 (manure) 2.0 1.75 48 152 92 42 133 81
m6 (manure) 2.75 2 5 66 209 127 60 190 115
L.compost
01 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0
02 12.5 12.5 103 9 50 103 9 50
Fertilizer - - 62 38 64 55 19 66
requirement

 

* Treatment m2 and m3 received the recommended amount of N, P and K.

Cabbage seedlings having 3 true leaves, cultivar Market Topper, were transplanted
into each pot and grown for 10 weeks in a greenhouse. A single plant was harvested at 2, 4,
and 10 weeks for determination of biomass and nutrient accumulation. Fully developed outer
wrapper leaves were collected at 7 weeks aﬁer transplanting. At 10 weeks after transplanting
plant tissue was separated into root, stem and shoot for analyses. Plant tissue was prepared
for nutrient analysis by dry ashing at 500 °C and digesting the ash with 3N HNO, containing
1000 ppm LiCl. Nutrient concentration were determined with a Direct Current Plasma
Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer (DCP-AES).
Soil solution was drawn from the top and bottom soil layers at 2, 4, 7 and 10 weeks

after transplanting, 24 hours after watering, using Rhizon Soil Solution Samplers (Rhizon

44

SSS). The ﬁrst Rhizon SSS was placed at the interface of the treated and untreated soil
layers, 7 cm from the soil surface. The second Rhizon SSS was placed in the middle of the
untreated bottom soil layer, 12 cm ﬁom the soil surface. Soil solution was analyzed for NO,-
N, NH4-N, and P content using a Lachat rapid-injection ﬂow system; whereas K was

determined using a Varian atomic absorption unit.

Moisture content of the soils were checked daily by weighing the pots and adding
water to ensure that the soil remained near ﬁeld capacity. The moisture content of the low
P and high P soils was maintained near 16% and 18%, respectively. Soil moisture content at
the time of sampling were also measured using Time Domain Reﬂectometry (TDR). The

TDR probes were placed parallel to the Rhizon SSS, at the depth of 5 and 12 cm from soil

surface.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. LOW P SOIL

3.1.1. Soil pH

Soil pH in the top (treated) and bottom (untreated) layer soil solution were not
affected by poultry litter application. Data in Table 3.3 show that after 10 weeks, the pH of
soil solution in the top layer (ranging from 7.77 to 7.89) was consistently lower than in the
bottom layer (ranging ﬁ'om 8.07 to 8.09). This was probably due to irrigation that leached

salts and some cations ﬁom the top to the bottom soil layer.

45

Table 3 .3. Soil pH in the top and bottom soil layer of a high pH, low-P Metea sandy
loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost.

 

 

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg; 1) Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0 . 50 1 . 25 2 . 0 2 . 75
g kg'lsoil Top layer
0 7.89 7.85 7.91 7.93 7.87 . 7.88 7.89a
12.5 7.86 7.84 7.87 7.79 7.84 7.65 7.81!)
Mean 7.88:“ 7.85a 7.89a 7.86a 7.85a 7.778
Bottom,layer
0 8.06 8.07 8.07 8.07 8.11 8.08 8.08a
12.5 8.08 8.08 8.07 8.10 8.08 8.10 8.0911
Mean 8.07a 8.08a 8.07a 8.09a 8.09a 8.09a

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or a column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p <0.05.
‘ 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Leafcompost applied at 12.5 g kg" soil signiﬁcantly decreased the pH of top layer by
0.08 unit, and there was no effect on pH in the bottom soil layer (Table 3.3). Black (1968)
attributed such a pH decrease to the presence of organic matter derived from leaf compost
and its decomposition products which reduced the activity of polyvalent cations, especially
Ca. Even though there was a possibility that some soluble organic compounds may have

leached from the top to the bottom, the amounts were apparently not enough to reduce the

pH in the bottom layer.

3.1.2. Biomass Accumulation

In the low-P soil, plant grth at 2 weeks in soil receiving no supplemental P was

signiﬁcantly lower than in the other treated soils. Overtime dry matter production in this

treated soil (m1) caught up with the others (F ig.3. 1). There was no signiﬁcant difference in

 

46

DRY MATTER (s rtliﬂtl'l'1 l

 

2

4 10 (2+4+10)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.1. Poultry manure effect on dry matter production by
cabbage grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

plant growth between the inorganic fertilizer P (m2) and poultry manure treated soils. At 10
weeks the plant receiving the highest manure rate produced signiﬁcantly less dry matter than
the soil treated with inorganic fertilizer. Also, at 10 weeks there was a signiﬁcant interaction
effect of poultry manure/fertilizer P and leaf compost on dry matter production. With 0.04
gP ha" from inorganic fertilizer (m2) adding leaf compost increased signiﬁcantly dry matter
production, but with 0.04 g P ﬁom poultry manure (m3) adding leaf compost did not increase
dry matter production (Table 3.4).

At the beginning (2 weeks) adding leaf compost signiﬁcantly decreased dry matter
production. In the next 4 weeks leaf compost started to increased dry matter production and
compensated for the initial decrease. After 10 weeks of growth signiﬁcantly more dry matter

hadbeen produced in the soil receiving leaf compost (F ig.3.2). This likely happened because

 

47

let
Hc2

onv MATTER (9 MM")

 

(2+4+10)

4 10
"ME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.2. Leaf compost effect on dry matter production by
cabbage grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

Table 3.4. Dry matter production of cabbage plant grown in the low-P soil for 10 weeks.

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incornorated ( cr kq'l)
incorporated 0 TSPa 0 . 50 1 . 25 2 . 0 2 . 75

g kg'1 soil g

0 25.6bcd* 25.3bcd 28.6bcd 24.4cd

28.6b0d 24.01!
12.5 30.41306 36.08 26.4b0d 30.881)

24.8bcd 26.6bd

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or a column followed by
different letters are signiﬁcantly different at p <0.05.

' 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

leaf compost decreased soluble N, P, and K concentration in soil which decreased early

growth. At the same time, humic substances and growth-promoting substances may have

been released (Stevenson, 1982) which later increased plant growth and dry matter

production (Gaur and Bhardwaj, 1971) which compensated for reduced early cabbage

 

4 8
growth. In this high pH soil adding leaf compost may have increased the availability of trace

elements (Blaclg 1968).

3.1.3. Phosphorus
3.1.3.1. Phosphorus in Soil

Figure 3.3 shows that the soluble inorganic P concentration in top layer soil solution
at 2, 4, 7 and 10 weeks increased signiﬁcantly with poultry manure rate. When the same
amount of P was added, the diﬁ‘erence between soluble inorganic P concentration in poultry
manure treatment (m3=0.5 g kg") and fertilizer P (m2) was appreciable, but not signiﬁcant,
except during the ﬁrst 2 weeks. Similarly, data in Table 3.5 show that during the ﬁrst 4
weeks soluble inorganic P in soils without plants treated with m3 was much lower than soils

treated with m2. These data indicate that P from poultry manure was released more slowly

SOLUBLE INORGANIC P (mg L")

 

4 7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING ( WEEKS)

Figure 3.3. Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the top
layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

 

than from inorganic fertilizer P.

49

Data in Table 3.5 show that during 7 to 10 weeks the difference in soluble inorganic

P concentration between soil treated with poultry manure (m3) and treated with inorganic

fertilizer (m2) was very small. The amount of soluble P in soil treated with inorganic fertilizer

P decreased with time while the soluble P concentration in soil treated with poultry manure

was relatively constant. This decrease was probably due to precipitation of soluble P from

fertilizer by Ca at pH 8.2. Brady (1986) attributed the decrease as follows. When an H,PO4'-

Table 3.5. Inorganic P concentration in the top layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without

plants)*.

ﬁﬁ'

 

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0 . 5 1 . 25 2 . 0 2 . 75
g kg’1 soil ------------------- mg P L‘1 ---------------_---
2 Weeks
0 0.10 1.45 0.46 1.35 2.41 3.28 1.50
12.5 0.02 1.28 0.49 1.30 1.92 2.78 1.30
Mean 0.06 1.37 0.48 1.32 2.16 3.03
4 Weeks
0 0.12 1.62 0.70 1.41 3.43 3.40 1.78
12.5 0.19 1.17 0.67 1.28 2.75 3.20 1.54
Mean 0.16 1.40 0.68 1.35 3.09 3.30
7 Weeks
0 0.02 0.62 0.69 1.60 2.93 3.02 1.48
12.5 0.13 0.79 0.52 1.19 2.41 2.54 1.26
Mean 0.08 0.70 0.60 1.39 2.67 2.78
10 Weeks
0 0.24 0.63 0.75 1.69 2.93 3.24 1.58
12.5 0.22 0.81 0.59 1.35 2.51 2.30 1.30
Mean 0.23 0.72 0.67 1.52 2.72 2.77

 

"‘ data observed from 1 replication only

“ 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

50
containing fertilizer such as concentrated superphosphate is added to an alkaline soil, the
H2PO; or HP04'2 ion quickly reacts with calcium to form less soluble compounds. In manure
treatment (n13) soluble inorganic P concentrations after 2 weeks were slightly increased and
relatively constant throughout 4 to 10 weeks. The possible mechanism is after 2 weeks, P
ﬁ'om poultry manure was released slowly by decomposition. During that time organic E—
substance from poultry manure decomposition may react with Ca in the soil (Black, 1968; i

r5

Hue, 1992) and reduces the amounts of Ca that may precipitate soluble P from poultry

 

if

manure. After 4 weeks P is continuously released by microbes activity, but at the same time

the P released was continuously ﬁxed or precipitated by Ca from the soil.

Figure 3.4 shows that increasing poultry manure rates increased signiﬁcantly soluble
inorganic P concentration in the bottom soil layer at 4 and 10 weeks. The concentration
slightly increased with time and the trend was the same as the one in top layer solution,
suggesting that soluble inorganic P continuously moved from the top to the bottom.
Similarly, in soil without plants (Table 3.6) the soluble inorganic P concentration in treatment
ml, m2 and m3 increased with time suggesting P movement from the top to the bottom.
However, the soluble inorganic P concentration in treatment m4, m5 and m6 was mostly

stable. These soils retained more water and dried out more slowly. Therefore, less water was

applied to these soils resulting in less water and nutrient movement.

51

SQUBLEINORGANICPungL")
O O
9 8

p
8

_o
O
..

 

2 4 7 10
“ME AFTER TRANSPLANTING ( WEEKS)

Figure 3.4. Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the
bottom layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

52

Table 3.6. Inorganic P concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without

plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (gkg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.5 1.25 2.0 2.75
g kg" soil ------------------- mg P L" ------------------

2 Weeks
0 0.10 0.12 0.02 0.12 0.12 0.07 0.09
12.5 0.02 0.12 0.07 0.14 0.30 0.18 0.14
Mean 0.06 0.12 0.05 0.13 0.21 0.12

4 Weeks
0 0.16 0.06 0.16 0.13 0.19 0.13 0.14
12.5 0.06 0.10 0.19 0.16 0.28 0.11 0.15
Mean 0.11 0.08 0.17 0.14 0.24 0.12

7 Weeks
0 0.17 0.15 0.14 0.06 0.20 0.02 0.12
12.5 0.09 0.09 0.15 0.06 0.27 0.19 0.16
Mean 0.13 0.12 0.15 0.11 0.23 0.10

10 Weeks
0 0.15 0.22 0.18 0.11 0.14 0.02 0.14
12.5 0.20 0.15 0.18 0.16 0.25 0.17 0.19
Mean 0.18 0.19 0.18 0.13 0.20 0.10

 

* data observed from 1 replication only.

‘ 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Figure 3.5 shows the effect of leaf compost on soluble inorganic P in the top and

bottom layer of soils with plants. Adding leaf compost caused a signiﬁcant decrease in

soluble inorganic P in the top soil layer starting at 4 weeks after transplanting. Data in Table

3.5 show the same trend happened in the top layer of the soils without plants. This was

probably due to microbial activity which bound soluble P into the organic pool (Brady, 1986).

There was no signiﬁcant eﬁ‘ect of leaf compost on P concentration in the bottom soil layer.

Soluble inorganic P concentration increased slightly in the leaf compost treatment. A similar

53

.

SOLUBLEINORGANIGPML")

 

;/
./
2/
z/
=/
v
Z
%

2 4 7 10 2 4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.5. Leaf compost effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in
the top and bottom layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

condition also occurred in the bottom layer of soils without plants (Table 3.6). This probably
was due to some soluble organic substance derived from leaf compost which moved to the
bottom and reacted with Ca (Black, 1968) to reduce the amounts of Ca which may precipitate

P into an insoluble form (Brady, 1986).

3.1.3.2. Phosphorus in Plant
3.1.3.2.1. Phosphorus Concentration

Phosphorus concentration in the cabbage tissue increased signiﬁcantly with poultry
manure rates throughout the grth period (F ig.3.6). At 2 and 4 weeks after transplanting
P concentration in the plants treated with inorganic fertilizer P (m2) was higher than those
receiving comparable P amounts from poultry manure (m3). This suggests that P from

poultry manure was released more slowly than from inorganic fertilizer. The P concentration

P CONCENTRATICW (%)

P CONCENTRATION (a)

0.7

0.6

9
on

P
A

0.1

0.6

0.5

9
A

.0
or

.0
N

0.1

 

54

  

2 (lop) 4 (lop) 7 (leaves) 10 (shoot) 10 (stem) 10 (root)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.6. Poultry manure effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

c1
E c2

2 (top) 4 (top) 7 (leaves to (shoot) to (stem) 10 (root
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)
Figure 3.7. Leaf compost effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

/ . /........

 

55

in top and outer wrapper leaves decreased as the plants grew older, but the effect of poultry
manure rate was still apparent.

Phosphorus concentration in plants was increased at 2 and 4 weeks by addition of leaf
compost (Fig.3.7) despite the decrease in soil solution P. This was probably due to growth-
promoting substance (Stevenson, 1982) and humic substances derived ﬁom leaf compost
(Chui, 1962) which increased root grth (Linehan, 1976), and increase ion uptake

(Guminski et al. 1983 and Samson and Visser, 1989).

3.1.3.2.2. Phosphorus Uptake

Throughout the 10 week grth period adding higher manure amounts increased
signiﬁcantly P uptake by the cabbage plants. There were no signiﬁcant differences between
inorganic fertilizer P (m2) effect and poultry manure P effect (m3) on P uptake by the plant
until 10 weeks (Fig.3.8).

Figure 3.9 show that leaf compost signiﬁcantly increased P uptake by the cabbage at
10 weeks, despite the decreased of soluble P concentration in soil solution. Possibly a grth
promotor (Stevenson, 1982) and humic substances derived from leaf compost (Chui, 1962)

increased root grth (Linehan, 1976), and increase P uptake (Rochus, 1971).

 

P UPTAKE (mg MM")

P UPTAKE (mg plant(8)")

56

2 4 10 (2+4+10)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.8. Poultry manure effect on P uptake by cabbage
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

 

(2+4+10)

4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.9. Leaf compost effect on P uptake by cabbage
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

 

57

3.1.4. Nitrogen

3.1.4.1. Nitrogen in Soil

Initially the soluble NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in the top soil layer was high.
By 4 weeks it had decreased drastically to about 1 mg L" and by 10 weeks had dropped to
<0.1 mg L". At 2 weeks, there was a trend that soluble N in soil decreased as poultry manure
rate increased (Fig. 3.10). The reason was the amounts of N applied in every treatment were
equalized by adding inorganic N fertilizer. The amount of inorganic fertilizer added decrease
as the manure rate increased. The soluble N concentration tended to decrease as the amount
of inorganic fertilizer added decreased. This shows that N from poultry manure was released

more slowly than N from inorganic fertilizer.

TOTAL SQUBLE NIL-N PLUS N0,-N (mg L")

 

10

4 7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING ( WEEKS)

Figure 3.10. Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the top layer
of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

58

Table 3.7. NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in the top layer soil solution of a high pH,
low-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.5 1.25 2.0 2.75
g kg" soil --------------- mg N0,+NH,-N L" ----------------

2 Weeks
0 158 76 126 91 81 70 100
12.5 40 46 30 44 50 42 42
Mean 99 61 78 67 65 56

4 Weeks
0 195 106 168 83 138 97 131
12.5 47 81 69 48 91 40 63
Mean 121 93 118 65 114 68

7 Weeks
0 224 169 337 170 341 145 231
12.5 220 125 73 118 63 57 109
Mean 222 147 205 144 202 101

10 Weeks
0 315 133 128 164 102 150 165
12.5 90 129 66 161 92 80 103
Mean 202 131 97 162 97 115

 

* data observed ﬁ'om l replication only
' 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Throughout the 10 weeks study period the soluble N concentration in the soils with
plants decreased drastically while its concentration in soils without plants increased (Table
3.7). This suggested that the decrease in soluble N in soils with plants was due to plant
uptake, not N immobilization.

During the ﬁrst 2 weeks, the N concentration in the bottom soil solution was
signiﬁcantly affected by poultry manure application (F ig.3. 1 1). Changes in N concentration

were almost similar with the change in the top soil layer, indicating that there was N

59
movement ﬁ'om the top to the bottom soil layer. The soluble N concentration decreased with
the time. At 2 weeks the concentration ranged from 9.6 to 12.8 mg L". By the end of the
study the concentration decreased drastically to less than 0.03 mg L". However, data in
Table 3.8 show that the soluble N concentrations in bottom soil layer of the soils without
plants increased with the time. This suggests that the decrease of N concentration in bottom

layer of the soil with plants was predominantly due to plant uptake.

TOTAL SOLUBLE NIL-N PLUS NOrN (mg 4)

 

2 4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.11. Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the bottom
layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

60

Table 3.8. NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a high
pH, low-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.5 1.25 2.0 2.75
g kg" soil ---------------- mg N0,+NH,-N L" ----------------
2 Weeks
0 31.4 21.7 14.8 19.7 21.0 10.5 19.9
12.5 5.7 14.3 10.8 16.7 15.4 2.6 10.9
Mean 18.6 18.0 12.8 18.2 18.2 6.6
4 Weeks
0 29.4 12.2 10.5 15.5 12.4 9.2 14.9
12.5 5.2 13.3 10.8 13.9 8.6 5.5 9.5
Mean 17.3 12.7 10.6 14.7 10.5 7.4
8 Weeks
0 34.5 74.4 33.9 32.1 14.1 19.1 34.7
12.5 23.8 32.4 11.6 27.6 21.8 8.4 20.9
Mean 29.1 53.4 22.7 29.8 17.9 13.7
10 Weeks
0 57.4 49.6 37.1 44.3 36.6 48.4 45.6
12.5 22.0 44.9 29.7 45.1 26.6 26.0 32.4
Mean 39.7 47.3 33.4 44.7 31.6 37.2

 

* data observed from 1 replication only
‘ 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Figure 3.12 shows the effect of leaf compost on NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in
the soil solution of the top and bottom soil layers. At 2 weeks the soluble NO,-N plus NH4-N
concentration in soil solution of the top was signiﬁcantly lower when leaf compost was
incorporated. The same pattern occurred in the bottom soil layer indicating that there was
N movement ﬁom the top to the bottom soil layer. Similarly, in soils without plants the NO,-
N plus NH4—N concentration in soil solution from soils treated with leaf compost was always

lower than from untreated soils. But, the soluble N concentration increased with time (Table

61
3.7 and 3.8). The decrease in N concentration may have been due to N being immobilized
by microbes. Aﬁer 4 weeks N was released to the soil solution as the microbes died and
decomposed. Another mechanism may have occurred. Leaf compost contains humus which
is negatively charged. This charge is pH dependent and is high at a high pH (Brady, 1986).
As a result, in soil with a higher pH (pH 8.2) leaf compost has more negative charge. More

NH,+ adsorption can occur in this soil which in turn reduces the amount of NH4-N in soil

solution.

TOTAL SOLUBLE ML-N PLUS NOyN (mg L 4)

 

2 4 7 10 2 4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.12. Leaf compost effect on total soluble N concentration in the top
and bottom layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

62

3.1.4.2. Nitrogen in Plant
3.1.4.2.1. Nitrogen Concentration

At 2 weeks aﬁer transplanting there was no poultry manure eﬁ‘ect on N concentration
in plant tissue. At 4 weeks the N concentration in the cabbage treated with comparable
amount of N manure (m6 = 2.75 g kg") was signiﬁcantly lower from that treated with
inorganic fertilizer N (m2). This suggests that N from poultry manure was not as readily
available to the plant as fertilizer N. After 10 weeks the N concentration in the cabbage was
similar for all treatments (Fig.3.13). The change in plant N concentration reﬂects the change
in soluble N in the soil (section 3.1.4.1).

Until 4 weeks, leaf compost increased signiﬁcantly N concentration in plants, despite

a decrease in soil solution N. Possibly a growth-promotor derived from leaf compost (Chui,

 

N CONCENTRATION (%)
u

  

/

   

2 (top) 4 (top) 7 (leaves 10 (shoot) 10 (stem) 10 (root)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)
Figure 3.13. Poultry manure effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

63

N CONCENTRATION (as)

 

2 (top) 4 (top) 7 (leaves) 10 (shoot) 10 (stem) 10 (root)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANﬂNG (WEEKS)
Figure 3.14. Leaf compost effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue

grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

1962 and Stevenson, 1982) increased root growth (Linehan, 1976). As a result, more N was

absorbed by the root thereby increasing the N concentration in plant tissue. After 4 weeks

the effect was no longer signiﬁcant (Fig.3.14).

3.1.4.2.2. Nitrogen Uptake

Throughout the 10 weeks of plant growth, poultry manure addition signiﬁcantly
affected N uptake by the plant. At 2 weeks when a comparable amount of N was added,
there was no signiﬁcant diﬁ‘erence between inorganic fertilizer N effect (m2) and poultry
manure effect (m6) on N uptake by the plant. Starting at 4 weeks, N uptake signiﬁcantly
decreased in poultry manure treatment (Fig.3.15). This result indicated that at 2 weeks
cabbage plant needed only a small amount of N. At this time N in soil solution was enough

for plant need. After 4 weeks the plants N requirement increased, but N was released more

N UPTAKE ("'0 M8)" 1

 

4 10 (2+4+10)

TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.15. Poultry manure effect on N uptake by cabbage
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

N WAKE ("'0 Mai")

 

4 10 (2+4+10)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.16. Leaf compost effect on N uptake by cabbage
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

65
slowly ﬁ'om poultry manure than from inorganic fertilizer N. As a result N uptake by the
plants receiving N solely from poultry manure was decreased signiﬁcantly.

There was no leaf compost effect on N uptake by the cabbage plants, even though leaf

compost signiﬁcantly decreased N in soil solution (F ig.3. 16)

3.1.5. Potassium

3.1.5.1. Potassium in Soil

Figure 3.17 shows that the K concentration in the top layer soil solution decreased
with the time. Application of 2.75 g kg" (m6) produced the highest K concentration in soil
solution. At 4 weeks with comparable amounts of K added, soluble K concentrations in soil
treated with 1.25 and 2.0 g kg" (m4 and m5) were signiﬁcantly lower than those treated with

inorganic fertilizer only (m2). However, in soil without plant, these K concentrations were

SOLUBLE K CONCENTRATION (mg L")

 

10

4 7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKs)
Figure 3.17. Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the top layer
of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

66

Table 3.9. K concentration in the top layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P Metea sandy
loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.5 1.25 2.0 2.75
g kg" soil ------------------- mg K L" ------------------

2 Weeks

0 100 38 70 68 59 85 70

12.5 24 36 21 47 135 100 61
Mean 62 37 45 57 97 92

4 Weeks
0 120 62 128 56 100 82 91
12.5 25 42 38 37 91 60 49
Mean 73 52 83 47 96 71

7 Weeks
0 135 72 187 69 159 93 119
12.5 81 56 33 60 53 47 55
Mean 108 64 110 65 106 70

10 Weeks
0 171 70 102 70 73 84 95
12.5 49 66 73 65 64 50 61
Mean 110 68 87 68 68 67

 

* data observed from 1 replication only

" 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

almost similar (Table 3.9). This indicates that K from manure was readily released. At 10

weeks, K concentration in soils without plants was higher than K concentration in soils with

plants, suggesting that the decrease in soils with plants might have been due to plant uptake.
Figure 3.18 shows that at 7 and 10 weeks the soluble K concentration in the bottom

layer of soils with plants increased as the amount of poultry manure applied increased. This

indicated that more K released into the soil solution as amount of K from poultry manure

increased, and there was K movement from the top to the bottom soil layer. However, this

situation did not occur in soils without plants (Table 3.10). No K movement occurred

67
because less water was given daily to each pot, especially at the higher rates of manure
application. These soils retained more water and dried out more slowly. After 4 weeks the
K concentration in soils with plants decreased with time. In soils without plants K
concentration was almost similar for all treatments and was higher than that in soils with
plants. This show that in soils with plants the decrease of K concentration with time was due

to plant uptake.

SOLUBLE K CONCENTRATION (rm L")

 

4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.18. Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the bottom layer
of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

68

Table 3.10. K concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a high pH, low-P Metea
sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without

 

 

 

plants)*.
Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPF 0.5 1.25 2.0 2.75
g kg" soil ------------------ mg K L" -----------------
2 Weeks
0 15 15 15 13 16 14 15
12.5 15 14 14 15 18 15 15
Mean 15 14 15 14 17 14
4 Weeks
0 23 22 22 16 21 17 20
12.5 17 16 24 17 26 20 20
Mean 20 19 23 16 23 19
7 Weeks
0 21 25 23 15 17 14 19
12.5 15 14 15 14 19 14 15
Mean 18 19 19 15 18 14
10 Weeks
0 22 27 21 14 19 18 20
12.5 16 19 18 18 19 16 18
Mean 19 23 19 16 19 17

 

 

* data observed from 1 replication only
‘ 0.04 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Figure 3.19 shows the effect of leaf compost on soluble K in top and bottom soil
layers. Adding leaf compost caused a signiﬁcant decrease in soluble K in the top layer
at 2 weeks only. This was probably due to microbial activity which initially bound K into the
organic pool. There may also have been K adsorption in humus substances (Brady, 1986)

derived from the leaf compost (Stevenson, 1982).

 

 

69

SOLUBLE K CONCENTRATION (m L")

 

2 4 7 10 2 4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.19. Leaf compost effect on soluble K concentration in the top
and bottom layer of a low-P Metea sandy loam.

3.1.5.2. Potassium in Plant
3.1.5.2.]. Potassium Concentration

Throughout the growth period, the K concentration in the cabbage treated with
manure at the comparable amount of K (m4, m5) was not signiﬁcantly diﬂ‘erent from that
treated with inorganic fertilizer K (m2). Only at 10 weeks was K concentration signiﬁcantly
higher in shoots when higher poultry manure amount (m6) was applied (F ig.3.20).

At 2 weeks, K concentration in plant tissue with P addition (m2, m3, m4, m5 and m6)
was signiﬁcantly higher than without P (m1). Phosphorus is needed in root development,
particularly for lateral and ﬁbrous rootlets (Brady, 1986). Cabbage with P addition will have

better root development and this may increase K absorption.

70

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

\\\\\\

 

K CONCENTRATIGI (%)
or

W

     

W

2 (top) 4 (top) 7 (room) 10 (shoot) 10 (stem) to (root)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.20. Poultry manure effect on K concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

The K concentration in the cabbage grown in the low-P soil was increased
signiﬁcantly by leaf compost application (F ig.3.21), although at 2 weeks the K concentration
in soil solution was decreased signiﬁcantly (section 3.1.5.1). The leaf compost may have
provided humus which contains a growth-promoting substance (Stevenson, 1982) to enhance

root growth (Linehan, 1976) and nutrient uptake (Guminski et al., 1983).

 

 

71

0|

#1

I01
ﬁcz

N

K CONCENTRATION (16)
u

a

 

O

2 (top) 4 (top) 7 (leaves) 10 (Shoot) 10 (stem) 10 (root)
TIME AFTER TANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.21. Leaf compost effect on K concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

3.1.5.2.2. Potassium Uptake

At 2 weeks K uptake by plants without P addition (ml) was signiﬁcantly lower than
that of all other treatments. From week 2 to 10, K uptake by cabbage treated with manure
at the comparable amount of K (m4) was not signiﬁcantly different from that for those treated
with inorganic fertilizer K (Fig.3 .22).

Leafcompost addition increased slightly K uptake by the plant, but the increase was
not signiﬁcant throughout the grth period. However, it was signiﬁcant for total uptake
from the pot (Fig.3.23), despite a decreased of K in soil solution. This suggested that
increase in K uptake may have been due to a humus substance derived from leaf compost
(Stevenson, 1982) which improved root grth (Rochus, 1967; Linehan, 1976, and Mylonas

and McCants, 1980), and as a result compensated K uptake from the soil.

 

§

§§§§§

K UPTAKE in! MM")

§

1m

 

2 4 1o (2+4+10)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANﬂNG (WEEKS)

Figure 3.22. Poultry manure effect on K uptake by cabbage
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

Ic1
mcz

K UPTAKE (mg puma")

§§§§§§§§

§

 

O

( 2+4+10)

4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.23. Leaf compost effect on K uptake by cabbage
grown in a low-P Metea sandy loam.

 

73

3.2. HIGH P SOIL
3.2.1. Soil pH

In contrast with the low-P soil (high pH), the soil pH in the top and bottom layer soil
solution of the high P soil increased signiﬁcantly with increasing rates of poultry litter and leaf
compost application (Table 3.11). Statistical analysis of data in Table 3.11 shows there was
a signiﬁcant interaction effect of poultry manure and leaf compost on soil pH. Soil pH

increased as the rate of leaf compost and poultry manure increased. Increased pH in the top

 

Table 3.11. Soil pH in the top and bottom soil layer of a low pH, high-P Metea sandy

 

 

 

 

 

 

loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost. E?
Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0 . 2 5 1 . 0 1 . 75 2 . 5
g kg" soil Top layer
0 5.909h*5.79h 6.029 6.57! 6.878 7.16d 6.38
12.5 7.1706 7.17d 7.230d 7.33b0 7.428b 7.528 7.31
Mean 6.54 6.48 6.63 6.95 7.15 7.34

Bottom_1a¥er

0 5.97 5.93 5.96 6.00 6.04 6.12 6.008
12.5 6.10 6.11 6.08 6.07 6.10 6.15 6.10!)
Mean 6.041) 6.021) 6.021: 6.041) 6.0711) 6. 14a

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or a column followed by
different letters are signiﬁcantly different at p <0.05.

' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

and bottom layer was probably due to the presence of organic matter derived from leaf

compost and poultry manure and its decomposition products which reduced the activity of

polyvalent cations, especially Al and Fe (Black, 1968, and Hue, 1992). In addition, leaf

compost and poultry manure also added Ca into the soil which may have increased the soil

74

pH. The amounts of calcium contributed by 12.5 g leaf compost kg" soil was 520 mg Ca,
and by 0.25, 1.0, 1.75 and 2.5 g poultry manure kg" soil were 32, 128, 225 and 320 mg Ca,
respectively (Table 3.1). Since some organic matter, its decomposition products and Ca are
soluble in water (Brady, 1986), they likely moved into the bottom soil layer by water
movement. As a result, pH in the bottom soil layer was increased slightly by poultry manure
and leaf compost application. The pH change in the bottom soil layer was only signiﬁcant for

the highest manure rate.

3.2.2. Biomass Accumulation

In the high-P soil, poultry manure applied at 1.0 g kg" soil (m4) increased dry matter
production signiﬁcantly at 2 weeks of grth (Fig. 3.24). Dry matter produced in soil treated
with inorganic fertilizer P (m2) was not signiﬁcantly different from soil treated with the
comparable amount of poultry manure P (m3). By week 10 dry matter production in soil
receiving the highest manure rate (2.5 g kg" soil) was signiﬁcantly less than with the other
manure or inorganic P treatments. This was due to less N available in soil solution as the
rates of poultry manure increased. Adding leaf compost had no effect on dry matter

production (Fig.3.25).

 

E
s
i
i
)-
S
2 4 10 (2+4+10)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)
Figure 3.24. Poultry manure effect on dry matter production by
cabbage grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.
E
5 lc1
E atc2
i
)-
E

 

(2+4+10)

4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPIANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.25. Leaf compost effect on dry matter production by
cabbage grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

76

3.2.3. Phosphorus
3.2.3.1. Phosphorus in Soil

Statistical analysis of data in Table 3.12 shows there was an interaction effect of
poultry manure and leaf compost on soluble inorganic P in the top soil layer throughout the
10 week growing period (main effects are shown in Fig.3.26 and Fig. 3.28). At each rate of
poultry manure addition (0.25, 1.0, 1.75 or 2.5 g kg" soil), adding leaf compost caused a
signiﬁcant decrease in soluble inorganic P in top layer. This was probably due to increased
microbial activity which bound P from poultry manure into the organic pool (Brady, 1986).

Table 3.12. Inorganic P concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils with

 

 

 

puns)

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg")

incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5

g kg" soil ------------------- mg P L" --------------------
2 Weeks

0 0.050* 0.1000 0.0900 0.50b 0.968 1.288

12.5 0.130 0.29b00 0.0600 0.20b00 0.44b0 0.55b
4 Weeks

0 0.128 0.3708 0.2608 0.98b0 3.038 3.278

12.5 0.2308 0.3608 0.088 0.4008 0.7900 1.54b
7 Weeks

0 0.121 0.5081 0.29! 1.7000 5.11b 6.668

12.5 0.12! 0.31f 0.101 0.48ef 1.1908 2.29
10 Weeks

0 0.090 0.440 0.240 1.780 5.16b 6.098

12.5 0.120 0.240 0.130 0.450 1.590 2.270

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or a column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

 

“it." 3.11..

. 4."

1.

V‘I

 

77
In this process leaf compost provides humus substance and a lots of ﬁber (carbonaceous)
material while poultry manure supplies nutrients as a sources of food for microorganisms that
eventually increased microorganism activity (Brady, 1986). In contrast, with or without leaf
compost addition increasing poultry manure rate increased soluble inorganic P concentration
in soil. Between weeks 2 and 4 soluble inorganic P in all treatments increased. This shows
that initially P from manure, P in the soil or P from fertilizer was slow to be released.
Probably at the beginning P was tied up in the microorganisms (Brady, 1986), due to
increased microbial activity as water added to the soil which was initially very dry.
Throughout the growth period there was no signiﬁcant difference between soluble P in soil
treated with fertilizer P and poultry manure. Increasing poultry manure rates to 1.75 and 2.5

g kg" soil increased soluble P concentration signiﬁcantly. This indicates more P was released

SOLUBLEINORSANIcFongL“)

 

TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.26. Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in

the top layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

78
as the amount of P from poultry manure increases.

Figure 3.27 shows that poultry manure rates applied at 1.75 and 2.5 g kg" soil
signiﬁcantly increased soluble inorganic P concentration in the bottom soil layer starting at
4 weeks. The soluble P concentration increased with time and the trend was similar to the
P concentration in the top layer. This suggests that P moved continuously ﬁ'om the top to
the bottom soil layer. However, this situation did not occur in soils without plants (Table

3.13). Less P movement occurred because less water was given daily to each pot.

0.35

9
o

p
bl

.0
—.

SOLUBLEINOReAuIcnmgL")
E .0
(II N

 

2 4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING ( WEEKS)

Figure 3.27. Poultry manure effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in

the bottom layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

79

Table 3.13. Inorganic P concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5
g kg" soil ------------------- mg P L1 ------------------

2 Weeks
0 0.17 0.09 0.03 0.02 0.14 0.14 0.10
12.5 0.02 0.12 0.20 0.22 0.19 0.15 0.15
Mean 0.09 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.16 0.14

Weeks
0 0.17 0.13 0.06 0.25 0.19 0.21 0.17
12.5 0.14 0.13 0.17 0.20 0.16 0.14 0.16
Mean 0.15 0.13 0.12 0.22 0.18 0.18

Weeks
0 0.12 0.05 0.08 0.03 0.07 0.17 0.09
12.5 0.15 0.13 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.13 0.13
Mean 0.13 0.09 0.10 0.07 0.09 0.15

Weeks
0 0.12 0.04 0.12 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.10
12.5 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.11
Mean 0.11 0.07 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.12

 

* data observed from 1 replication only.

‘ 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Figure 3.28 shows the effect of leaf compost on the inorganic P concentration in

solution in the top and bottom layer soils with plants. Adding leaf compost caused a

signiﬁcant decrease in soluble inorganic P in the top soil layer starting 2 weeks after

transplanting. The same trend occurred in the top layer soils without plants (Table 3.14).

This was probably due to microbial activity which bound soluble P into the organic pool. In

the bottom soil layer, leaf compost addition did not caused a signiﬁcant decreased in inorganic

P concentration in soil solution (Fig.3.28). A similar situation occurred in soils without

plants (Table 3.13).

 

80

 

TIME AFTER TRANSPLANT“ (WEEKS)

Figure 3.28. Leaf compost effect on soluble inorganic P concentration in the top

and bottom layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

81

Table 3.14. Inorganic P concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P
Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without
plants)*.

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean

 

incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5
g kg" soil -------------------- mg P L" -------------------

2 Weeks
0 0.10 0.16 0.42 0.64 2.40 2.66 1.06
12.5 0.01 0.36 0.02 0.51 1.32 1.58 0.63
Mean 0.06 0.26 0.22 0.58 1.86 2.12

4 Weeks
0 0.11 0.15 0.39 0.63 2.71 3.41 1.23
12.5 0.11 0.36 0.17 0.41 1.68 2.12 0.81
Mean 0.11 0.25 0.28 0.52 2.20 2.77

7 Weeks
0 0.07 0.16 0.24 0.33 2.02 3.07 0.98
12.5 0.12 0.08 0.25 0.42 1.10 1.77 0.62
Mean 0.09 0.12 0.24 0.38 1.56 2.42

10 Weeks
0 0.08 0.15 0.26 0.53 2.28 3.04 1.06
12.5 0.15 0.28 0.26 0.36 0.87 1.55 0.58
Mean 0.11 0.22 0.26 0.44 1.57 2.29

 

* data observed from 1 replication only.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.
3.2.3.2. Phosphorus in Plant
3.2.3.2.]. Phosphorus Concentration

In the high-P soil, P concentration in the cabbage tissue increased signiﬁcantly with
poultry manure rate throughout the grth period (Fig.3.29). At 2 and 4 weeks after
transplanting, P concentration in the plants treated with inorganic fertilizer P (m2) was higher

than in plants treated with a comparable P amount from poultry manure (m3). The P

82

            

0.8

Wig/é

2%,ZZZZJZ/éxﬂg/ZZZ

5 . 1
o o o o o

   

20°F)

TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

-P Metea sandy loam.

Figure 3.29. Poultry manure effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a high

1 0 (stem) 1 0 (root)

7 (leaves) 10 (shoot)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

009)

4

 

2 GOP)

-P Metea sandy loam.

Figure 3.30. Leaf compost effect on P concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a high

 

 

74.4.5.1—5‘. 5.3.. .2.... . .7»
. .
w
. .1. L

m! .1- A

83
concentration in plant tissue decreased as the plants grew older, but the effect of poultry
manure rate was still apparent. The P concentration in plants grown in the high-P soil was

not affected by leaf compost application (Fig.3.30), although the concentration in soil solution

decreased signiﬁcantly.

3.2.3.2.2. Phosphorus Uptake

Throughout the 10 week growth period poultry manure addition signiﬁcantly
increased P uptake by the plant. At the comparable amount of P addition, there were no
signiﬁcant difference between inorganic fertilizer P and poultry manure effect on P uptake by
the plant, except at 4 weeks (Fig.3.3l). Leafcompost did not decrease P uptake by the plant

although soluble P concentration in the soil decreased with compost application (Fig.3.32).

P UPTAKE (mg plant(s)")

 

(2+4+1 0)

4
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.31. Poultry manure effect on P uptake by cabbage
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

84

P UTAKE (mg plant(8)")

 

(2+4+10)

2 4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLAN'IING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.32. Leaf compost effect on P uptake by cabbage
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

3.2.4. Nitrogen
3.2.4.1. Nitrogen in Soil

Figure 3.33 shows the NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in top layer soil solution.
Similar to the ﬁnding in the low-P soil, the initial NO,-N plus NH,-N concentration in the
high-P soil was high, ranging from 114 to 281 mg L". Then, by 4 weeks the N concentration
had decreased drastically, ranging from 0.2 to 1.1 mg L". Finally, by 10 weeks the N
concentration had dropped to 0.1 mg L".

At 2 weeks NO,-N and NIL-N concentrations in soil solution in the top layer treated
with fertilizer P, 0.25, 1.0 and 1.75 Mg ha" poultry manure (m2, m3, m4 and m5) were not
signiﬁcantly diﬂ‘erent from control (m1). However, the N concentration in the soil solution

was reduced steadily as the manure rate increased. Total soluble N concentration in soil

85
treated with the highest poultry manure rate was signiﬁcantly lower than those treated only
with inorganic fertilizer only (m1 and m2). Since amounts of inorganic fertilizer N added to
the higher poultry manure rates was reduced as the manure rate increased, this decrease
indicates that N from poultry manure was released more slowly than that from inorganic N
fertilizer.

At 4, 7 and 10 weeks the soluble N concentration in soils with plants decreased
markedly, whereas the soluble N concentration in soils without plants increased (Table 3.15).
This suggests the decreased was due to plant uptake, not N immobilization. The soluble N
concentration in the soils without plants at 10 weeks was higher than at 7 weeks, suggesting
the rate of N mineralization was still high. In contrast in the low-P (high pH soil), N

mineralization slowed greatly after 7 weeks.

TOTAL SOLUBLE NIL-N PLUS NO,-N (mg L")

 

10

4 7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING ( WEEKS)

Figure 3.33. Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the top
layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

86

Table 3.15. NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH,
high-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5
g kg" soil ---------------- mg N0,+NH4-N L" ----------------

2 Weeks
0 122 127 160 43 68 70 98
12.5 68 60 58 31 61 114 65
Mean 95 93 109 37 64 92

4 Weeks
0 271 191 139 120 92 91 151
12.5 179 302 80 52 56 85 126
Mean 225 246 109 86 74 88

7 Weeks
0 243 251 98 318 323 69 304
25 259 114 43 102 42 89 108
Mean 251 183 70 210 183 79

10 Weeks
0 472 426 280 444 214 127 327
12.5 303 327 221 160 170 136 220
Mean 388 376 251 302 192 131

 

* data observed from 1 replication only.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

Figure 3 .34 shows that the N concentration in the bottom soil solution was
signiﬁcantly affected by poultry manure application, during only the ﬁrst 4 week period after
transplanting. At 2 weeks the concentrations ranged from 22.7 to 54.3 mg L". By the end
of the experiment the concentration for all treatments had decreased to < 0.08 mg L". Data
in Table 3.16 show that soluble N concentrations in the bottom layer of soils without plants
increased with time. This indicates that the decrease in N concentration in soil with plants

was due to plant uptake. Changes in soluble N concentration in the bottom layer (F ig.3.34)

87

TOTAL SOLUBLE NFL-N PLUS Nos-N (mg L'1 )

 

4 7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANT ING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.34. Poultry manure effect on total soluble N concentration in the bottom
layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

were similar to those observed in top layer solution (Fig.3.33), showing that there was N
movement from the top to the bottom soil layer.

Data in Figure 3.35 and Tables 3.15 and 3.16 show the effect of leaf compost on
NO,-N plus NIL-N concentration in the soil solution of the top and bottom soil layers.
Although the soluble N concentration in the soil treated with leaf compost was slightly lower
than that of untreated soil, the difference was not signiﬁcant. This is in contrast to the low-P
(high pH) where the addition of leaf compost reduced the soluble N concentration
signiﬁcantly. This difference may have been related to the difference in soil pH which affected
ammonia adsorption and ﬁxation by organic matter (leaf compost). First, leaf compost
contains humus which is negatively charged. This charge is pH dependent and is less at a

lower pH (Brady, 1986). As a result, leaf compost in soil with a lower pH (pH 6.2, high-P

88

TOTALSOLUBLENHcNPLUSNOrNML")

 

2
V
g
g
g
/
a
/
Z
/
/
2
./

2 4 7 10 2 4 7 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.35. Leaf compost effect on total soluble N concentration in the top
and bottom layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

soil) provides less buffering capacity than in higher pH soil (pH 8.2, low-P soil). Less NH]
adsorption may occur in these colloids which in turn does not signiﬁcantly decrease amounts
of NH.-N in soil solution. Second, there was a possibility that fertilizer contain free ammonia
or that form it (poultry manure) when added to the soil can react with soil organic matter to
form compounds that resist decomposition. The reaction takes place most readily in the
presence of oxygen and high pH (Brady, 1986). Since the high-P soil has a lower pH, it

seems that less ammonia ﬁxation occurred in the high-P soil than in the low-P soil.

89

Table 3.16. NO,-N plus NH4-N concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a low
pH, high-P Metea sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost
(soils without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPf 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5
g kg" soil ---------------- mg N03+NH4-N L" ----------------

2 Weeks
0 20 31 18 14 12 15 18
12.5 14 16 13 10 10 20 14
Mean 17 24 15 12 11 18

4 Weeks
0 29 27 29 12 16 13 21
12.5 37 66 32 27 29 39 38
Mean 33 47 30 19 23 26

7 Weeks
0 57 42 59 . 45 60 37 50
12.5 38 37 22 41 41 58 39
Mean 47 40 40 43 50 47

10 Weeks
0 70 74 92 100 153 88 96
12.5 137 101 66 99 98 93 99
Mean 103 88 79 99 126 90

 

* data observed from 1 replication only.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.
3.2.4.2. Nitrogen in Plant
3.2.4.2.]. Nitrogen Concentration

Similar to the results in low-P soil, there was no signiﬁcant effect of poultry manure
on N concentration in cabbage plants 2 weeks after transplanting (Fig 3.36). There was an
interaction effect of poultry manure and leaf compost on N concentration in shoots at 4
weeks (p<0.05). At similar rate of leaf compost addition, N concentration in plant tissue

decreased with poultry manure rate. This was because N concentration in the soil solution

90

 
 
    

N CONCENTRATION (%)
u

/

  
    

     

    

 

W

R

    

      

7 (leaves) 10 (Sheet) 10 (stem) 10 (foot)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTINO (WEEKS)

2 (109) 4 (IOP)

Figure 3.36. Poultry manure effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.
decreased as poultry manure rate increased. At the highest rate of manure application (m6),
N concentration in shoots increased signiﬁcantly with leaf compost addition (Table 3.17).
This data shows that leaf compost increased N uptake by the plant as the source of N comes
only from poultry manure.

There was no signiﬁcant difference between the N concentration in plants treated with
inorganic fertilizer N (m2) and the one treated with a comparable N amount from poultry
manure (m6), except in the shoots at 4 weeks and in the root 10 weeks after transplanting
(Fig. 3.36). The N concentration in plant tissue decreased as the plants grew older. Figure
3.37 shows that the N concentration in plants grown in the high-P soil was not affected by

leaf compost application (Fig. 3.37).

 

.Ks.‘

1‘1

 

 

91

Table 3.17. leafcompost and poultry manure effect on nitrogen concentration in plant tissue
at 4 weeks after transplanting.

 

Leaf compost Manure o; TSP incorporated (g kg")

 

 

 

incorporated o TSPa o . 25 1 . o 1 . 75 2 . 5 Mean
g kg" soil % N

4 weeks (top)
0 4.78* 4.58 4.68 3.70 3.608 2.7f 4.08
12.5 4.53 4.4ab 4.1bc 3.808 3.508 3.2a 3.9:

 

* Mean separation by LSD 00,. Numbers within a row or a column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly diﬁ‘erent at p<0.05.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

N CONCENTRATION (%)
u

    

2 (lop) 4 (top) 7 (leaves) to (Shoot) 10 (stem) to (roof)
11ME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)
Figure 3.37. Leaf compost effect on N concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

92
3.2.4.2.2. Nitrogen Uptake
At 4 weeks after transplanting poultry manure decreased N uptake by the plant. The
decrease was signiﬁcant at the highest rate of manure application (Fig.3.38). This was related
to lower N concentrations in the soil solution as the manure rate increased. The N uptake by
plants grown in the high-P soil was not affected by leaf compost application (Fig.3.39),

despite a slight decrease in the N concentration in soil solution.

N UPTAKE“!!! MW)

 

(2+4o10)

4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING

Figure 3.38. Poultry manure effect on N uptake by cabbage
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

93

§

§

B

N UPTAKEMMS)")

 

(2+4+10)

2 4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.39. Leaf compost effect on N uptake by cabbage
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

3.2.5. Potassium
3.2.5.1. Potassium in Soil

There was a signiﬁcant effect of poultry manure on soluble K in the top soil layer
starting at 7 weeks after transplanting (Fig.3.40). Similar to the ﬁnding in low-P soil, only
the highest manure rate caused a signiﬁcant increase in the soluble K concentration. There
was no signiﬁcant difference in the effect of inorganic fertilizer K (m2) and poultry manure
(m3, m4, and m5) on the soluble K concentration in the top soil layer, where the K level was
equalized. This indicates that K from poultry manure was released as fast as from inorganic
fertilizer. From 4 to 7 weeks, the K concentration in soils with plants was always lower than
K concentration in soils without plants (Table 3.18), and its concentration decreased with the

time. This suggests that the decrease in K concentration was due to plant uptake.

 

w w w m m w

E 8.. 29.252328 0. H.038

10

7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING ( WEEKS)

4

Figure 3.40. Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentratron in the top

layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

95

Table 3.18. K concentration in the top layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P Metea
sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without plants)*.

 

 

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg") Mean
incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5
g kg" soil -------------------- mg K L" -------------------

2 Weeks
0 61 61 91 18 39 48 53
12.5 24 16 41 12 30 52 29
Mean 43 39 66 15 35 50

4 Weeks
0 100 78 80 18 43 48 61
12.5 71 63 43 27 23 40 44
Mean 85 70 62 23 33 44

7 Weeks
0 288 158 44 96 105 34 121
12.5 58 35 20 26 16 31 31
Mean 173 96 32 61 61 32

10 Weeks
0 191 175 96 173 84 43 127
12.5 104 87 67 33 43 42 63
Mean 148 131 81 103 64 43

 

* data observed from 1 replication only.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

96

SOLUBLE K CONCENTRATION (mg L")

 

4 7
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTINO ( WEEKS)

Figure 3.41. Poultry manure effect on soluble K concentration in the bottom
layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

The soluble K concentration in the bottom soil layer decreased with time paralleling
the trend found in the top soil layer (Fig.3.41), indicating that K in soils with plants
continuously moved ﬁ'om the top to the bottom soil layer. Starting at 4 weeks, the K
concentration in soils with plants was lower than that in soils without plants (Table 3.19),

SUggesting that the decrease in K concentration was due to plant uptake.

97

Table 3.19. K concentration in the bottom layer soil solution of a low pH, high-P Metea

sandy loam treated with poultry manure and leaf compost (soils without plants)*.

 

Leaf compost

Manure or TSP incorporatgd (gkg")

 

 

incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5 Mean
g kg" soil ------------------- mg K L" ------------------

2 Weeks
0 10.4 11.4 8.9 7.9 8.8 8.5 9.2
12.5 8.0 8.1 8.1 7.7 7.3 8.7 7.9
Mean 9.2 9.8 8.5 7.8 7.5 8.6

4 Weeks
0 13.2 11.3 11.7 8.1 8.2 8.4 10.2
12.5 12.5 14.2 10.6 9.9 9.7 11.5 11.2
Mean 12.3 12.8 11.2 9.0 9.0 9.9

7 Weeks
0 17.5 15.5 15.1 11.4 13.5 10.7 14.0
12.5 12.9 12.2 8.3 12.2 9.8 15.0 11.6
Mean 14.7 13.8 11.7 11.8 11.6 12.8

10 Weeks
0 19.8 27.3 21.4 22.7 24.6 16.9 22.1
12.5 24.6 19.7 14.1 19.7 20.2 21.8 19.9
Mean 22.2 23.0 17.8 21.2 22.4 19.4

 

"' data observed from 1 replication only.
' 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.

 

98

SOLUBLE K CONCENTRATION (mg L")

 

7 10 2 4
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.42. Leaf compost effect on soluble K concentration in the top

and bottom layer of a high-P Metea sandy loam.

Figure 3.42 shows the effect of leaf compost on soluble K concentration in the top and
bottom layers of soils with plants. Adding leaf compost caused a signiﬁcant decrease in
soluble K in the top at 2 weeks and in bottom soil layers at 2 and 4 weeks. Starting at 7
weeks K concentration in top soil solution was greater with leaf compost applied than
without. Throughout the 10 weeks K concentration in top layer soil without plants decreased
when leaf compost was applied (Table 3.18). It is concluded that leaf compost application
decreased the K concentration in soil solution. The decrease in K concentration in soil
without plants may have been due to increased microorganism growth immobilizing K (Brady,
1986). This conclusion suggests that the diﬁ‘erence in soluble K concentration in top layer
of soils with plants at 7 and 10 weeks was not the direct effect of K solubility in leaf compost,

but was due to a difference in plant uptake.

3.2.5.2. Potassium in Plant
3.2.5.2.1. Potassium Concentration

Potassium concentration in the cabbage leaf tissue was increased signiﬁcantly with the
highest poultry manure rate only at 10 weeks (Fig.3.43 and Table 3.20). At similar K
application rates, K concentration in plant tissue treated with either inorganic K (m1 and m2)
or poultry manure (m4 and m5) was not signiﬁcantly diﬁ‘erent. This shows that K from
poultry manure is as available as K from inorganic fertilizer. The K concentration in plants
grown in the high-P soil was not affected by leaf compost application, despite the decrease

K concentration in soil solution (Table 3.18 and 3.19).

\

 

K CONCENTRATION (N)
u

//

V/Mﬂ/W/V/

    

4 (top) 7 (Iosvss) 10 (shoot) 10 (stem) to (root)
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3. 43. Poultry manure effect on K concentration in cabbage tissue
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

100

Table 3.20. Potassium concentration in head and leaves at 10 weeks after transplanting.

 

Leaf compost Manure or TSP incorporated (g kg")

 

 

incorporated 0 TSPa 0.25 1.0 1.75 2.5

g kg" soil ----------------- mg K L" -----------------
0 2.4ab* 1.9d 2.1cd 2.1cd 2.2cd 2.68
12.5 2.0cd 2.2bc 2.0cd 2.1cd 2.4ab 2.5a

 

"‘ Mean separation by LSD 00,. Numbers within .a row or a column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

‘ 0.02 g P kg" soil was incorporated.
3.2.5.2.2. Potassium Uptake

Throughout the 10 week grth period poultry manure addition did not aﬁ‘ect the K
uptake by the plant, except at the ﬁrst two weeks (Fig.3.44). There was no signiﬁcant
difference between K uptake by plants treated with inorganic K fertilizer (m1 and m2) and the
plants treated with poultry manure only (m5 and m6). Hence, K was as readily available from
the poultry manure as from inorganic fertilizer. Leafcompost had no effect on K uptake even

though it supplied 50 g K kg" soil (Fig.3.45). Apparently the K applied by the poultry

manure and inorganic fertilizer was adequate.

K UPTAKE (mg plant(e)“)

§§§§§§§§§

K UPTAKE (ms plant( )"1

§§§§§

.L

5‘3

 

O

4 10 (244010)
TTME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)

Figure 3.44. Poultry manure effect on K uptake by cabbage
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

lct
ac2

é

 

(2+4+10)

4 10
TIME AFTER TRANSPLANTING (WEEKS)
Figure 3.45. Leaf compost effect on K uptake by cabbage
grown in a high-P Metea sandy loam.

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

In summary this greenhouse study demonstrated that increasing poultry manure rate
gradually increased the availability of soluble P in both soils. There was N, P and K
movement from the top 7 cm soil to the underlying soil layer. The N and P ﬁ’om poultry
manure were released more slowly than from inorganic fertilizer, but K was released equally
from the two sources. TheN, P and K released from poultry manure increased with time for
the ﬁrst 7 weeks after incorporation. After 7 weeks the N, P and K release in the soil slowed.
There were no signiﬁcant differences in N, P and K concentration in plant tissue between
plants treated with poultry manure and those treated with commercial fertilizer. In addition,
there were no signiﬁcant differences in P (except in the low P soil) and K uptake by cabbage,
and total biomass production between the poultry manure and commercial fertilizer
treatments. N uptake by cabbage treated with N fertilizer was signiﬁcantly higher than those
treated with poultry manure. Applying poultry manure to supply 2.5 to 4 times the P supplied
by fertilizer (m4) resulted in similar P accumulation in cabbage. However, these higher
amounts did not improve biomass over that produced when poultry manure was applied to
supply the same amount of P as from inorganic fertilizer. Therefore, it appears that applying
poultry manure to meet the P fertilizer recommendation is adequate for optimizing crop
production.

Leaf compost at the rate of 12.5 g kg" soil reduced the concentration of N, P, and
K in soil solution, but increased plant grth and nutrient uptake. The effect of leaf compost
on increasing plant grth and nutrient uptake was only signiﬁcant in the low P soil (high

pH= 8.2). A decrease in nutrient concentration in soil solution following leaf compost

102

 

103

application may reduce the potential for N, P and K leaching to ground water. Therefore,
although leaf compost does not contribute much nutritional, its application has the potential

for improving plant growth and groundwater quality.

CHAPTER 4
THE EFFECT OF LEAF COMPOST AND POULTRY MANURE ON SOIL

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, GROWTH AND YIELDS OF SOME
SELECTED VEGETABLE CROPS (1991 )

1. INTRODUCTION

Land application of organic residue from leaf compost and poultry manure is an
important management practice to recycle nutrients and to improve soil fertility. The litter
from poultry manure is a rich source of nutrients for crop production and a low-cost
alternative to mineral fertilizer for many farmers (Huhnke, 1982). However, use of organic
residue for optimum crop yields often conﬂicts with potential groundwater contamination.
This situation is particularly important in the area where the number of poultry operations
have dramatically increased and has created public concern over potential groundwater
pollution regarding the use and disposal of the associated manure.

Organic waste application rates are often based on estimated crop yields and estimated
available N from manure during the growing season. Excessive amounts of N may be applied
by farmers to assure high yields. Kingery et al. (1994) observed that 15 to 28 years of
applying 6 to 22 Mg broiler litter ha" yr" increased organic C and total N to depths of 15 and
30 cm, respectively, increased soil pH by 0.5 units to a depth of 60 cm, and signiﬁcantly
increased the accumulation of soil NO,-N to or near bedrock. Extractable P concentration
in litter-amended soil was more than 6 times greater to a depth of 60 cm than in soil not
receiving broiler litter. Elevated levels of extractable K, Ca and Mg to a depth greater than

60 cm and accumulation of extractable Cu and Zn to a depth of 45 cm were also found. From

104

105

analyses of ﬁeld soils, Van der Watt et al. (1994) found that the build-up of possible toxic
levels of Cu, Mn, and Zn occurred only in one soil which had received 6 Mg ha" yr" poultry
litter for 16 years.

Some researchers found that high rates of manure application caused high levels of
total soluble salt (Ayers and Haywards, 1948; Shortall and Liebhardt, 1975; Weil et al.,
1979), nitrites (Bingham et al., 1954; Court et al., 1962; Oke, 1966; Lamaire, 1969; Weil et
a1, 1979) and NH, (Aleem and Alexander; 1960; Giddens and Rao, 1975; Siegel et al., 1975;
Weil et al.,1979) at levels that were toxic to both crops and microorganisms.

Hue (1992) found that application of 20 Mg ha" chicken manure in acid soil, increased
soil pH ﬁom 4.19 to 6.24, increased soil salinity and concentrations of P, K, Ca, and Mg in
soil solution and plant tissue, and increased total plant (Desmodium intortion) dry matter.

Application of ammonium-containing fertilizer, which quickly hydrolyses to NH,, can
result in signiﬁcant losses of ammonia gas, especially on sandy soils and alkaline or calcareous
soil. Both the organic and inorganic soil fractions have the ability to bind or "ﬁx" ammonia
in forms relatively unavailable to higher plants or microorganisms. Anhydrous ammonia or
other fertilizers that contain free ammonia or that form it when added to the soil can react
with soil organic matter to form organic compounds that resist decomposition. In this sense
the ammonia can be said to be "ﬁxed" by organic matter. The reaction takesplace most
readily in the presence of oxygen and at high pHs. In organic soils with high ﬁxing capacity
it could be serious and would dictate the use of fertilizer other than those which supply free

ammonia (Brady, 1986).

 

106

Research conducted by Brage et al. (1952), Halstead and Sowden (1968) showed that
manure increased both CBC and soil pH. Metzger (1939), and Bishop et al. (1962) showed
that manure application increased CEC of the soil. Hileman (1971) showed that manure
increased soil pH only, whereas Bishop et al. (1962) indicated that the effect was negligible.

Greenhouse study conducted in 1990 (Chapter 2), showed that high rates of poultry
manure application reduced seed germination. The adverse effect on seed germination was
lower in Capac loam (higher CEC) than in McBride sandy loam (lower CEC). Following lab
study in 1990, showed increasing poultry manure rate increased soil salinity and ammonia
release from McBride sandy loam and Capac loam. Soil with a higher CEC (Capac loam) had
a lower NH, release and soluble salt concentration changing than soil with the lower CEC
(McBride sandy loam). The decrease in seed germination may have been related to the
increase of NH, release and/ or increase of salinity in both soils. Since adding leaf compost
will increase organic matter and the CEC of a soil, leaf compost may alleviate NH, toxicity
and reduce soluble salt concentration. Therefore, we were interested in determining whether
this effect would occur in the ﬁeld. In this study high application rates of leaf compost and
poultry manure were used where the rates of poultry manure was considered potentially
toxicity for seed germination. The effect of leaf compost and poultry manure application on
the N, P, K, Ca, Mg and some trace elements Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in soil and plant were

investigated.

107
Objectives
1) To evaluate the effect of high amounts of leaf compost and poultry manure application on
germination, growth, yields, and some soil chemical properties.
2) To evaluate the interaction effect of leaf compost and poultry manure on germination,
growth, yields, and some soil chemical properties.
3) To evaluate the effect of methods of application on germination, growth, yields, and some

soil chemical properties.

Hypotheses

1) Dried poultry manure will increase N, P, K , Ca, Mg, and trace element concentrations and
availability in the soil.

2) Leaf compost will increase nutrient availability to the plant.

3) Combining leaf compost and dried poultry manure will reduce NH, toxicity to germinating
seed and seedling.

4) Band application will supply fewer nutrients to the plant than incorporated poultry manure

and/or leaf compost.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two soils, a Houghton muck and a Capac loam, were used in these ﬁeld studies.
Samples of the two soils were air dried and passed through a 2 mm sieve, and analyzed for
pH (1 :1 soil : 0.01M CaCl2 solution ratio) (Eckert, 1988), total N concentration by a Kjeldahl

procedure (Bremner and Mulvaney. 1982), NO,-N and NH4-N (KCl extraction, Keeney and

108

Nelson, 1982), extractable P (Bray and Kurtz P1, Knudsen and Beegle, 1988), and
exchangeable K (1M NH4OAc at pH 7 .0, Brown and Wamcke, 1988). The soils were also
analyzed for Cu (1N HCl), Fe (0.1 N HCl), Mn (0.] N HCl), and Zn (0.1 N HCl) (Whitney,
1988). Ten soil cores of 20 cm depth were taken from every plot in the Capac loam after
snap bean harvest. Each sample was analyzed for pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn with
the same procedures used for the soil samples before planting.

Leafcompost and dried poultry manure used in this experiment were passed through
a 2 mm sieve prior to elemental analysis. Moisture content and pH were determined on the
bulk sample. Organic C was determined by the Loss-On-Ignition procedure adapted from
Storer, 1984 (Schulte, 1988). The total P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Mo, Al and Na
contents were determined by dry ashing at 500 °C followed by dissolution with 3N HNO,
containing 1000 ppm LiCl. Element concentrations were determined with a Direct Current
Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer (DCP-AES). Total N, NO,-N and NH,,-N
contents were analyzed by the same procedures used for soil. Total element contents of leaf
compost and poultry manure are presented on a dry-weight basis. The complete data set of
soils analysis, and element content of leaf compost and poultry manure are shown in

Table 4.1.

109

Table 4.1. Some chemical properties of a Houghton Muck, Capac loam, poultry manure
and leaf compost used in this study.

 

 

Chemical Muck soil Mineral soil Poultry Leaf
properties (Houghton) (Capac) manure compost
Moist (%) - - 16.0 54.0
pH 6.4 6.5 6.9 7.4
Organic C (%) 47.3 1.6 25.5 17.4
Elements (9 kg"):
Total N 28.5 2.9 32.7 9.7
-- Extractable -- ----- Total -----
P 0.19 0.08 27.2 0.9
K 0.44 0.16 40.5 4.3
Ca 14.22 1.68 66.6 40.1
Mg 1.90 0.31 7.3 7.2
Cu 0.03 0.01 0.3 0.01
Fe 0.02 0.04 1.3 6.9
Mn 0.04 0.05 1.1 0.11
Zn 0.01 0.01 0.5 0.06
B - - 0.2 0.06
Mo - - 0.1 0.01
Na - - 4.6 0.71
A1 - - 2.5 11.9

 

Cabbage (cultivar Market Topper), carrot ( cultivar Paramount), and onion (cultivar

Sweet Sandwich) were grown in a Houghton muck at the MSU Research Farm. Snap bean

(cultivar Bush Blue Lake) was grown in a Capac loam at the MSU Horticulture Research

Center. Cabbage, carrots and onions were seeded during mid-May in three row beds with 46

cm between rows. The cabbage was thinned to one plant every 35 cm. The snap beans were

seeded in early June. Ten carrot plants were harvested from each plot at 3 and 6 weeks after

planting to observe biomass accumulation. Fully developed outer wrapper leaves for cabbage

were counted at 7 weeks after planting to measure the vegetative growth. Whole plant

110

samples of snap beans were collected at harvest (9 weeks) and analyzed for nutrient content.
Plant tissue samples were dry ashed at 500 °C and the ash was digested with 3N I-INO3
containing 1000 ppm LiCl. Element concentrations were determined by DCP-AES. Carrot,
onion, snap bean and cabbage were harvest at 16, 21, 9 and 12 weeks, respectively from 5
m of one center row. Plant dry weight was measured after oven drying for 3 days at 65 °C.

The experimental design was a 2x3x3 factorial, arranged as a Randomized Complete
Block in 3 replications. Factor A included 2 methods of applications: banded and
‘ incorporated. Factor B included 3 rates of poultry manure: O, 12.5 and 25 Mg ha". Factor
C included 3 rates of leaf compost: O, 12.5 and 25 Mg ha". The soil was plowed and
treatments were applied one day prior to sowing time. In band application, poultry manure
and leaf compost was placed in a band on the soil surface between the rows, 5 cm from the
plant row. When poultry manure and leaf compost were applied together, leaf compost was
placed on top of poultry manure. For the incorporated treatments the poultry manure and leaf
compost were rototilled into the soil. Treatment differences for each variable observed were

tested using the LSD, P<0.05. The amount of nutrients applied are shown in Table 4.2.

111

Table 4.2. Total estimated amounts of nutrients applied to the soils from poultry manure and

 

 

leafcompost.

Treatment N P K Ca Mg Cu Fe Mn Zn

-------------------- kg ha" -----------——--------
P. Manure:
(Mg ha")
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12.5 410 340 505 835 95 3.6 16 14 6
25 820 680 1,010 1,670 190 7 2 32 28 12
L. Compost:
(Mg ha")
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0
12.5 120 12 55 500 90 0.1 87 1.4 0.8
25 240 24 110 1,000 180 0.2 174 2.8 1.6

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Soil Chemical Properties - Snap Bean Study
3.1.1. Soil pH, CEC, Salinity, Extractable P, Exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg in the Soil
Application method had no signiﬁcant effect on pH, CEC, salinity, extractable P, and
exchangeable K, Ca and Mg in the Capac loam. Although the value for each measurement
in the incorporated treatments was higher than in banded treatments (except for K), the
difference was not signiﬁcant (Table 4.3). By harvest time the poultry manure had decayed
and only a small portion of the leaf compost was recognizable on the soil surface. Some of
the roots grew near the soil surface, especially when residues were band applied. For these
reasons only the undecayed part of leaf compost on the very top of soil sample (1 cm) was
discarded when soil samples were collected. Hence, there was no signiﬁcant effect of

application method on measured soil parameters.

112

No interaction effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the
measured soil parameter (except for extractable P concentration) was observed. Application
of 12.5 Mg ha" poultry manure signiﬁcantly increased soil salinity, extractable P and K.
Increasing the rate to 25 Mg ha" poultry manure signiﬁcantly increased soil pH, CEC, salinity,
extractable P, and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg compared to the control (Table 4.3). The
possible mechanism to explain how these elements became more available is phosphate along
with other nutrients were released from poultry manure during decomposition (Hue, 1992).
Adding 12.5 Mg ha" leaf compost had no effect on soil pH, CEC, salinity, P, K, Ca and Mg
in the Capac loam. Increasing the rate to 25 Mg ha" leaf compost signiﬁcantly increased the
Table 4.3. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on pH, CEC,

salinity, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentration in a Capac loam where snap beans
were grown (main effect),

 

 

Treatment pH CEC Salinity P K Ca Mg
cmol kg" dSm" -------- mg kg" --------

A. method:

Incorporated 6.68* 9.68 0.388 1558 1918 1,2098 2908

Banded 6.58 9.38 0.358 1488 1948 1,1538 2728

P. manure:

(Mg ha")

0 6.41) 9.11: 0.220 820 1460 1,0991) 2681)

12.5 6.58b 9.21: 0.361) 152b 18413 1,121!) 2661)

25 6.7a 10.1a 0.528 2218 248a 1,3258 3098

L. compost:

(Mg ha")

0 6.58 8.61) 0.358 1488 1888 1,0991) 2671)

12.5 6.58 9.11) 0.388 1568 1918 1,117b 2651)

25 6.68 10.78 0.378 1518 199a 1,3288 3118

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a column followed by different letters

are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

113

CEC, exchangeable Ca and Mg only. Leaf compost had no signiﬁcant eﬂ‘ect on P and K
concentration in the soil, because additions of P and K from leaf compost applications were
very low compared to those in poultry manure (Table 4.2).

There was an interaction effect of application method and poultry manure on
extractable P concentration in the Capac loam (Table 4.4). In both application methods, P
concentration in the soil increased signiﬁcantly with poultry manure rate. At 0 and 12.5 Mg
ha" poultry manure, P concentration in both application methods was not signiﬁcantly
different. At 25 Mg ha" poultry manure, P concentration in the top 20 cm soil was
signiﬁcantly lower when poultry manure was applied on the soil surface as compared to being
incorporated. This indicates that the decomposition process was more eﬂ‘ective when poultry
manure was mixed thoroughly with the soil.

Table 4.4. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on P concentration in a
Capac loam where snap beans were grown (interaction effect).

 

 

Manure applied machination—
Incorporated Banded
-- Mg ha" -- ------ mg kg" P ------
0 810* 820
12.5 1450 1590
25.0 2408 202b

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

114

3.1.2. Extractable Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn Concentration in the Soil

No signiﬁcant effect of application method on extractable Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn
concentration in the top 20 cm of the Capac loam was found (Table 4.5). At harvest, poultry
manure and/or leaf compost applied on the soil surface had decayed, so only a small part of
the residue could be recognized. Only the undecayed part of leaf compost on the very top of
the soil sample (1 cm) was discarded. Hence, even though the nutrients were concentrated
near the soil surface they were included in the soil sample. For this reason there was no

signiﬁcant effect of application method on the extractable levels of these micronutrients.

Table 4.5. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on extractable
Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentration in the soil where snap beans were grown

 

 

Omaneﬂeu)
Treatment Cu Fe Mn Zn
-1

---------------- mg kg ----------------
A. method:
Incorporated 4.18* 46.88 52.48 7.08
Banded 4.08 48.88 51.88 9.68
P. manure:
(Mg ha")
0 3.7b 51.98 44.9b 5.9b
12.5 3.9b 50.18 45.9b 6.7b
25.0 4.68 41.5b 65.58 12.08
L. compost:
(Mg ha")
0 4.18 49.58 45.3b 7.28
12.5 4.08 48.98 48.2b 8.68
25 4.28 45.28 62.88 9.18

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a column followed by different letters

are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

115

Application of 12.5 Mg ha" poultry manure did not signiﬁcantly affect the Cu, Fe, Mn
and Zn concentrations in the soil, but 25.0 Mg ha" signiﬁcantly increased Cu, Mn and Zn
concentrations in the soil and, signiﬁcantly decreased the Fe concentration. Singhania et al.
(1983) also observed that manure increased the water- soluble Zn. Possible mechanisms to
explain how these nutrients became more available are: 1) Copper, Mn and Zn were released
from manure itself during decomposition (Hue, 1992); 2) Increasing amounts of organic
matter created reducing conditions and decreased the oxide fraction making the Cu, Mn, and
Zn more bioavailable (Mandal and Mandal, 1987a,b; Shuman, 1988); 3) Copper, Fe, Mn and
Zn form soluble organic complexes through a chelation process (Chen and Stevenson, 1986;
Hodgson et al 1966; Barber, 1984). The decrease in extractable Fe concentration may have
been related to the increase in soil pH from 6.4 to 6.7. Iron uptake by the snap bean plants
increased despite a signiﬁcant decrease in extractable levels in the soil (Table 4.9). This
indicates that less Fe was present in the soluble inorganic form, but more was present in the
organic form that was available to the plant.

Leafcompost application at the rate of 12.5 Mg ha" had no effect on Cu, Fe, Mn and
Zn concentrations in the soil. This occurred because leaf compost supplied only a small
amount of Cu, Mn and Zn compare to poultry manure (Table 4.2). Increasing the rate to 25
Mg ha" leaf compost signiﬁcantly increased the extractable Mn concentrations. Since leaf
compost contained only a small amount of Mn, the possible mechanisms to explain how Mn
became more available are: 1) Increasing amounts of organic matter created reducing
conditions and decreased the oxide fraction (Mandal and Mandal, 1987 a, b; Shuman, 1988)

making Mn originally present in the soil became more soluble (Table 4.1); 2) Soil Mn formed

 

116

soluble organic complexes through chelation process (Chen and Stevenson, 1986; Hodgson

et al 1966; Barber, 1984).

3.2. Nutrient Concentrations in Plant Tissue
3.2.1. Macro-Nutrient Concentrations in Snap Bean Tissue

Data in Table 4.6 show that P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in snap bean shoot
(stems and leaves) for all treatments were in the range sufﬁcient for normal growth (Jones,
et al. 1991). The N concentration was considered low (Jones, et al. 1991), probably because
of N translocation to the pods. However, N, Ca and Mg concentrations in the shoots (Table
4.6), and N and K concentration in pods (Table 4.7) were signiﬁcantly higher when poultry
manure and/or leaf compost were incorporated than when they were applied on the soil
surface (band application). This indicates that those elements were more available to the plant
when the poultry manure and leaf compost were incorporated than when banded on the soil
surface, inspite of no difference in concentration in the top 20 cm of soil (Table 4.3). This
occurred because when the residues were incorporated the nutrients were distributed in the
soil. Whether they reached the root by mass ﬂow and/or root interception (Brady, 1986 ) the
process was more effective when all nutrients were uniformly distributed in the soil than when
they were concentrated near the soil surface.

There was no signiﬁcant diﬂerence in P and K concentration in the shoots for the two
methods of application (Table 4.6). These elements move to the root surface mostly by
diﬂiision (Barber, 1974; Brady, 1986) suggesting that P and K continuously moved ﬁ'om the

higher concentration zone near the soil surface to the soil below where the roots were

117

Table 4.6. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on N, P, K, Ca,
and Mg concentration in snap bean shoots (main effect).

 

 

Treatment N P K Ca Mg
_________________ % -_----..__.__..-__-

A. method:

Incorporated 3.08* 0.328 3.68 2.88 0.558

Banded 2.7L 0.318 3.68 2.0b 0.41b

P. manure:

(Mg ha")

0 2.6L 0.280 3.00 1.98 0.43b

12.5 2.98 0.32b 3.6b 2.5b 0.508

25.0 3.08 0.358 4.28 2.88 0.528

L. compost:

(Mg ha")

0 2.88 0.328 3.58 2.38 0.478

12.5 2.98 0.318 3.68 2.48 0.498

25.0 2.98 0.328 3.78 2.48 0.498

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a column followed by different letters
are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

growing. Also, with residue on the soil surface more roots may have developed near the soil
surface than when residues were incorporated.

The N, P, K, concentration in the snap bean shoots and pods (Table 4.6 and 4.7), and
Ca and Mg concentration in the snap bean shoots (Table 4.6) increased with poultry manure
rate. Applying 12.5 Mg ha" poultry manure or more signiﬁcantly increased N, P, K, Ca and
Mg concentrations in snap bean tissues. Leaf compost had no signiﬁcant effect on N, P, K
and Ca concentrations in plant tissue (Table 4.6 and 4.7), because the amounts of N, P, K,

and Ca supplied by the leaf compost were much lower than from poultry manure (Table 4.2).

118

Table 4.7. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on N, P, K,
Ca, and Mg concentration in snap bean pods (main effect).

 

 

Treatment N P K Ca Mg
................. % --__-_______--_--

A. method:

Incorporated 3.98* 0.608 3.68 0.558 0.308

Banded 3.7b 0.588 3.4h 0.558 0.298

P. m8nure:

(Mg ha”)

0 3.5a 0.56b 3.0c 0.538 0.298

12.5 3.8b 0.58b 3.5b 0.568 0.308

25.0 4.18 0.648 3.98 0.568 0.298

L. compost:

(Mg ha'l)

0 3.78 0.578 3.48 0.558 0.298

12.5 3.88 0.598 3.48 0.548 0.298

25.0 3.98 0.628 3.68 0.568 0.298

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a column followed by different letters
are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
Statistical analysis shows an interaction effect of application method and poultry
manure rate on K concentration in pods. In both band and incorporation methods, K
concentration in pods increased as the amount of poultry manure added increased. Potassium

concentration in pods was lower when poultry manure was banded on the soil surface

(Table 4.8).

119

Table 4.8. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on K concentration in
the snap bean pods (interaction effect).

 

 

Manure applied JWD—
Incorporated Banded
-- Mg ha’1 -- ------- %K -------
0 3.0d* 3.18
12.5 3.6b 3.3c
25.0 4.18 3.7b

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly diﬂ’erent at p<0.05.

3.2.2. Trace Element Concentration in Snap Bean Tissue

The concentrations of Fe and Mn in snap bean shoots and pods were signiﬁcantly
lower when poultry manure and/or leaf compost were applied on the soil surface (band
application); but there was no signiﬁcant effect of application methods on Cu, Zn and B
concentrations in snap bean tissues (Table 4.9 and 4.10). Since the concentrations of the
extractable Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in soil were not affected by method of application, apparently
Fe and Mn which were concentrated near the soil surface were not available to the plant.

The concentration of Fe, Mn, and B in snap bean shoot (Table 4.9) and Zn in snap
bean pods (Table 4.10) increased signiﬁcantly as poultry manure applied increased. Leaf
compost had no effect on the concentration of these elements in snap bean shoot and pods
(Table 4.9 and 4.10). This occurred because leaf compost supplied only small amounts of Cu,
Mn and Zn compared to poultry manure (Table 4.2), and apparently Fe from leaf compost

remained in the organic pool.

120

Table 4.9. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on Cu, Fe, Mn,
Zn and B concentration in snap bean shoots (main effect).

 

 

Treatment Cu Fe Mn Zn B
-1

--------------- mg kg ----------—----
A. method:
Incorporated 7.88* 3308 36.08 20.38 26.28
Banded 8.48 158b 29.9b 21.28 25.18
P. m8nuro:
(Mg ha”)
0 7.38 164b 24.9h 21.38 24.2b
12.5 8.68 2698 35.98 19.68 25.78b
25.0 8.48 2998 37.98 21.48 27.08
L. compost:
(Mg ha”)
0 8.58 2168 30.98 23.98 25.48
12.5 7.78 2688 34.58 19.38 25.78
25.0 7.98 2478 33.48 19.08 25.88

 

“ Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a column followed by different letters
are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

121

Table 4.10. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on Cu, Fe, Mn,
Zn and B concentration in snap bean pods (main effect).

 

 

Treatment Cu Fe Mn Zn B
--------------- mg kg ----------------

A. method:

Incorporated 6.78* 85.18 29.18 26.38 26.68

Banded 7.28 72.0b 20.3b 25.98 25.68

P. m8nure:

(Mg ha”)

0 5.58 78.88 24.28 25.1b 26.98

12.5 7.98 78.08 24.48 26.28b 26.68

25.0 7.48 70.08 25.68 27.18 26.48

L. compost:

(Mg ha'l)

0 6.18 79.58 25.28 26.38 26.88

12.5 7.88 79.68 25.18 25.98 26.38

25.0 7.08 76.78 23.98 26.18 26.88

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a column followed by different letters
are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

3.3. Growth and Yields
3.3.1. Growth and Yield of Snap Beans

Increasing poultry manure rates had no signiﬁcant eﬂ”ect on the growth and yield of
snap bean plants after establishment (Table 4.11). However, increasing poultry manure rate
signiﬁcantly decreased total number of plants per plot. The initial adverse effect on the
germinating seed may have been due to release of NH3 or increased salinity.

Leaf compost did not affect plant grth and yield; nutrients in the soil were
adequate for plant growth and the amount of nutrients supplied were low compared to those

supplied from poultry manure (Table 4.11).

122

Method of application had a signiﬁcant effect on grth and yield of snap bean.
Incorporation of the poultry manure and leaf compost signiﬁcantly reduced grth and yield
of snap beans per plot but the effect on individual plant growth and yield after plant
establishment were not signiﬁcant (Table 4.11). No signs of toxicity were seen in mature
plants, and the nutrient concentrations in plant tissue were in the sufﬁcient range for normal
growth (Table 4.6 and 4.9). The decrease in stand due to incorporation was related to
adverse effects of the poultry manure (Table 4.12). This may have been compounded by the
soil being rototilled for incorporation while for band application the soil was not rototilled.
The soil of the incorporated treatments was more loose and dn'er than the soil for band

Table 4.11. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the growth
and yields of snap beans (main effect).

 

Growth and yields _Appligg_methgd_ Poultry Leaf

Incorp. Banded manure compost

 

 

Shoot fw. (kg/plot) 4.72b* 5.858 ns ns
Shoot dw. (kg/plot) 0.31b 0.388 ns ns
Total plant fw. (kg/plot) 7.77b 9.868 ns ns
Total plant dw. (kg/plot) 0.51b 0.658 ns ns
Total number of plant/plot 39.85b 49.968 ** ns
Total pods fw. (kg/plot) 3.09b 4.018 ns ns
Total pods dw. (kg/plot) 0.20b 0.278 ns ns
Marketable pods (kg/plot) 2.48b 3.198 ns ns
Oversized pods (kg/plot) 0.14b 0.238 ns ns
Small size pods (kg/plot) 0.29b 0.408 ns ns
Pod length (cm) 14.6 b 14.9 8 ns ns
Pods fw. (g/plant) 78.3 8 79.4 8 ns ns
Pods dw. (g/plant) . 5.2 8 5.4 8 ns ns
Plant dw.(g/p1ant) 13.2 8 13.1 8 ns ns

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row followed by different letters are

signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
** Signiﬁcant at p<0.05

123

treatment. Because the soil was more loose, seed placement may have been deeper in the
incorporation plots and this may also have affected seedling vigor.

There was a signiﬁcant interaction between poultry manure and application method
on the total number of snap bean plants per plot, shoot dry weight, and total dry weight
(Table 4.12, 4.13, and 4.14). Data in Table 4.12 show that number of plants decreased
signiﬁcantly when poultry manure was incorporated into the soil. The number of plants per
plot decreased as rate of poultry manure incorporated into the soil increased. There was a
possibility that the incorporated poultry manure released sufficient NH3 to kill snap bean
plants during germination (Chapter 2). The decrease in total number of plants per plot
resulted in decrease yield and total biomass per plot. However, per plant weight and yields
were similar (Table 4.13 and 4.14). The effect of the poultry manure rates was not signiﬁcant
in band application. When poultry manure was applied on the surface 5 cm from the seed
row, NH3 was released to the atmosphere without having an adverse effect on germination
and seedling establishment.

Table 4.12. Eﬂ‘ect of poultry manure rate and application method on the total number of
snap bean plants per plot (interaction eﬁ‘ect).

 

Manure applied
Incorporated Banded

 

-- Mg ha‘1 -- -- Number of plant --
0 498* 518
12.5 38b 50!
25.0 33b 503

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

124

Table 4.13. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on the snap bean shoot
dry weight per plot (interaction effect).

 

Manure applied
Incorporated Banded

 

-- Mg ha‘1 -- --------- g ---------
0 354b* 3858b
12.5 2770 3638b
25.0 2840 3888

 

"' Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

Table 4.14. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on the snap bean whole
plant dry weight per plot (interaction effect).

 

Manure applied
Incorporated Banded

 

-- Mg ha'1 -- --------- g ---------
0 588b* 6588
12.5 471a 6348b
25.0 4670 6548

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.
3.3.2. Growth and Yield of Cabbage
Leafcompost and poultry manure rate had no signiﬁcant effect on growth and yield
of cabbage grown in a Houghton muck (Table 4.15). Only the method of application had a
signiﬁcant effect on growth and yield. Growth and yield of cabbage decreased signiﬁcantly
when poultry manure and/or leaf compost was incorporated. For the incorporation method

the soil was rototilled while for band application it was not. This caused the soil in the

125

incorporation treatments to be more loose and drier than with band application. Hence, the
seed-soil contact was not as good and the seed may have been placed deeper in the soil. These
conditions may have reduced the absorption of water by the seed and, hence, slowed

germination and early growth.

Table 4.15. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the growth
and yield of cabbage (main effect).

 

 

Growth and yields _Applig1_methgd_ Poultry Leaf
Incorp. Banded manure compost
Large leaves (#/plant) 8.9b* 9.58 ns ns
Head diameter (cm) 14.4b 15.68 ns ns
Head FW (kg/head) 1.6b 1.88 ‘ ns ns
Total plant FW/plot (kg) 34.6b 40.18 ns ns
Yield per plot (kg) 20.3b 23.48 ns ns

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

3.3.3. Growth and Yield of Onion

Leafcompost and poultry manure rate had no signiﬁcant effect on grth and yield
of onion grown in a Houghton muck. Only the method of application had a signiﬁcant effect
on growth and yield. Grth and yield of the onion plants decreased signiﬁcantly when
poultry manure and/or leaf compost was incorporated (Table 4.16). For the incorporation
method the soil was rototilled while for band application it was not. This caused the soil in
the incorporation treatments to be more loose and drier than with band application. Hence,
the seed-soil contact was not as good and the seed may have been placed deeper in the soil.

These conditions may have reduced the absorption of water by the seed and, hence, slowed

126

germination and early grth and reduced total plants per plot. The decrease in number of
plants per plot caused the increase of the individual plant growth, hence, increased the bulb
size. However, the yield per plot was signiﬁcantly decreased due to the fewer number of

plants per plot.

Table 4.16. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the grth
and yields of onion (main effect).

 

Applic. methods Manure applied Leaf

Growth and compost
yields Incorp. Banded 0 12.5 25.0

 

# of leaves/plant:

6 weeks 5.0b* 5.38 5.18 5.18 5.28 ns
9 weeks 9.48 9.58 9.48 9.48 9.58 ns
12 weeks 12.8]: 13.98 13.48 13.38 13.58 ns
Bulb FW.(g/plant) 2558 195b 2198 2238 2248 ns
Yield/plot (kg) 16.3b 20.48 18.08 19.48 17.88 ns
Total bulbs/plot 67b 1068 868 918 818 ns

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

3.3.4. Growth and Yield of Carrot

There was an interaction effect of poultry manure and application method on total
number of carrots and yield per plot. When the poultry manure was incorporated the total
number of carrots (plants) and yields per plot decreased with poultry manure rate. When
banded on the soil surface poultry manure had no effect on total number of carrots and yield
per plot (Table 4.17 and Table 4.18). In contrast, dry weight and fresh weight per plant
increased signiﬁcantly with poultry manure rates (Table 4.19). Leaf compost had no effect

on carrot growth and yield. These data indicate that in early growth, incorporating poultry

127

Table 4.17. Eﬂ‘ect of poultry manure rate and application method on carrots per plot
(interaction effect).

 

Manure applied
Incorporated Banded

 

-- Mg ha‘1 -- ------ # plot"1 -------
0 2228* 2278
12.5 151b 2368
25.0 163b 2408

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

Table 4.18. Effect of poultry manure rate and application method on carrot yield per plot
(interaction effect).

 

Manure applied
Incorporated Banded

 

-- Mg ha’1 -- ----- kg plot’1 -----
0 16.08b* 16.28b
12.5 13.96 17.28
25.0 15.3b 17.38

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row or column followed by different
letters are signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

manure into the soil caused some injury and killed some plants. This may have been caused

by NH3 which was released immediately after poultry manure application and became toxic

to the seed in germination (Chapter 2). After several days, the level of ammonia was no

longer toxic to the plant. The grth per plant increased with poultry manure rates because

carrot population per plot was reduced signiﬁcantly. However, the increase in biomass was

only signiﬁcant at 15 weeks. This indicates that applying up to 25 mg ha’l poultry manure

128

would not cause injury to carrot plants, if they were planted several days after application.

Table 4.19. Effect of poultry manure, leaf compost and application method on the grth
and yield of carrot (main effect).

 

Applic. methods Manure applied Leaf
Growth and compost
yields Incorp. Banded 0 12.5 25.0

 

 

 

Fresh wt./pl8nt:

6 weeks (g) 178* 188 178 178 198 ns

9 weeks (g) 768 748 738 788 758 ns

15 weeks (g) 1798 141b 147b 1678 1668 ns
Dry wt./pl8nt:

6 weeks (g) 2.28 2.38 2.28 2.28 2.48 ns

9 weeks (9) 8.88 8.48 8.48 8.98 8.58 ns

15 weeks (9) 17.58 14.6b 15.0b 16.68 16.58 ns

Yield/plot (kg): 15.1b 16.98 16.18 15.58 16.38 ns

Carrots/plot: 179b 2348 2248 193D 201D ns

 

* Mean separation by LSD 0.05. Numbers within a row followed by different letters are
signiﬁcantly different at p<0.05.

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

General conclusions from these studies are that method of applying poultry manure
and leaf compost had no signiﬁcant effect on the extractable macro and micronutrient
concentrations in the top 20 cm. Incorporation of the organic materials caused injury during
germination and hence, decreased total number of plants and yield per plot for all crops. The
decrease in germination may also have been related to drier and more loose soil conditions
for the incorporation treatments. However, incorporation of organic residues increased the
concentration of N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn in snap beans tissue and did not cause injury to
the growth of individual established plants. Therefore, with good tillage and irrigation
management to avoid germination injury, incorporation of organic materials will be better
than surface banding.

Application of poultry manure had no effect on total yield of all crops because the
original nutrient concentrations in the soils studied were adequate for the crops grown.
Application of poultry manure increased soil pH, CEC, and macro and micronutrient
concentrations in the soil and in snap bean tissue. In addition, there was an interaction effect
between application method and poultry manure rate on P concentration in the Capac soil,
K concentration in snap bean pods, total plant dry weight, and total number of carrot and
snap bean plants per plot. When incorporated, increasing poultry manure rate increased P and
K concentrations in the Capac soil and in snap bean pods, respectively. When banded on the
soil surface, poultry manure rate had no effect on these parameters. Although incorporated
poultry manure caused germination injury which signiﬁcantly decreased total number of plants

per plot and total plant dry weight, it did not affect growth of established plants. Data ﬁom

129

130

lab and greenhouse study (1990) showed that release of NH3 decreased markedly several days
after poultry manure application. Seedling injury can be avoided by planting several days (
ca. 10 days) after poultry manure application. Therefore, considering its potential to supply
more nutrients, incorporation of poultry manure into the soil is recommended over surface
application to increase nutrient availability, crop growth and production. However, further
study is needed to determine the proper time to plant after poultry manure application.
Adding leaf compost had no signiﬁcant effect on N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations
in snap bean tissue, or P and K availability in the soil, and had no effect on growth and yield
of all crops. However, adding leaf compost did increase the CEC, Ca , Mg, and Mn
availability in the soil. Considering the need to maintain soil buffering capacity to reduce
nutrient leaching, leaf compost is recommended in the soil with a low CEC. At the rates used
in this study, combining leaf compost with poultry manure did not alter the effect of poultry
manure on germination. The amount of leaf compost applied was probably not enough to ﬁx
NH3 released from poultry manure or reduce injury to the germinating seed. Therefore,
further study is needed to evaluate the effect of higher rates of leaf compost on reducing

ammonia toxicity.

INTEGRATED INTERPRETATIVE SUMMARY

The following summary comments and suggestions are based on the laboratory,
greenhouse and ﬁeld studies conducted for this dissertation.

Poultry manure is a by product of the poultry industry which can be a source of plant
essential nutrients. The N and P in poultry manure were released more slowly into the soil
than from inorganic fertilizer, but K was released equally from the two sources. Nitrogen
uptake by cabbage plants treated with N fertilizer was signiﬁcantly higher than by those
provided all the N from poultry manure. There were no signiﬁcant differences in N, P and
K concentration in plant tissue between plants treated with poultry manure and those treated
with commercial fertilizer. In addition, P (except in the low P soil) and K uptake by cabbage,
and total biomass production were not signiﬁcantly different between the poultry manure and
commercial fertilizer treatments. Increasing the amount of poultry manure applied, gradually
increased soluble P in the soils studied. To get equal P solubility in the soil to that attained
with fertilizer, poultry manure should be applied 2.5 to 4 times the P supplied by fertilizer.
However, these higher amounts did not improve biomass over that produced when poultry
manure was applied to supply the same amount of P as from inorganic fertilizer. Therefore,
it appears that applying poultry manure to meet the P fertilizer recommendation is adequate
for optimizing crop production.

Planting immediately after poultry manure application may cause injury to germinating
seed. Incorporation of poultry manure at 12.5 Mg ha'1 or more increased the extractable

macro and micro-nutrient concentrations in the soil and in plant tissue. Increasing the rate

131

 

132

of poultry manure to 25 Mg ha'1 increased soil pH and CEC. However, seedling
establishment was reduced due to changes in either the physical and/or chemical properties
of the soil. When left on the soil surface between the planted rows, poultry manure had no
eﬂ‘ect on these parameters. Once established, the incorporated manure had no ﬁrrther adverse
effect on the grth of individual plants. Immediately after incorporation into the soil, the
level of NH3 release can be quite high from the poultry manure but the release decreases
markedly after several days. Therefore, seedling injury can be avoided by planting more than
10 days after poultry manure incorporation. Considering its potential to supply nutrients,
incorporation of poultry manure into the soil is recommended over surface application to
increase nutrient availability, crop grth and production. The cation exchange capacity
(CEC) of a soil can have a signiﬁcant effect on the degree of soluble salt and NH3 injury to
germinating mds. In a loam soil with a CEC of 8 cmol kg", up to 56 Mg ha'1 poultry manure
was able to be incorporated without concern for salt and NH3 toxicity to germinating seed and
plant growth compare to coarser texture soil (CEC = 4 cmol kg“).

Adding leaf compost at 25 Mg ha'1 increased the CBC and Ca, Mg, and Mn
availability in the soil, but reduced the concentration of N, P, and K in soil solution. Plant
growth and nutrient uptake was increased by addition of leaf compost. The effect of leaf
compost on increasing plant grth and nutrient uptake was only signiﬁcant in the low P soil
(high pH= 8.2) studied. A decrease in N, P and K concentration in soil solution following leaf
compost application may reduce the potential for their leaching to ground water. Therefore,
although leaf compost does not contribute much nutritionally, its application has the potential

for improving plant growth and groundwater quality. Considering the need to maintain soil

133

buffering capacity to reduce nutrient leaching, and to increase plant grth and nutrient
uptake, leaf compost is especially recommended for soil with a low CEC or high pH. At the
rates studied (up to 25 Mg ha") combining leaf compost and poultry manure did not alter the
adverse effect of poultry manure on germination. Additional study is needed to ﬁrrther clarify
the beneﬁcial and adverse effects of using high rates of leaf compost in combination with

poultry manure or other animal manures.

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