2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) This program researches fate of manure nutrients in soil, plants, and air as affected by management and environment. Research determines nutrient fate and speciation, mineralization rates, and soil nutrient balances as affected by management, determines emissions and nutrient concentrations in litter inside the poultry house, determines effects of animal management, agronomic management, and environment on nutrient fate, soil properties, and water quality in watershed, and any fungicidal or phyto-hormonal effects of animal manure on plant pathogens and plant growth. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Determine spatial variation of manure nutrients and emission of ammonia and other gases in the poultry house as a function of management, age of bird, diet, flocks of birds on same litter, and ambient humidity and temperatures. Develop a system for measuring fungicidal effects of animal manure on an array of important plant pathogens. Develop a system for isolating nutrient effects of animal manure from phyto-hormonal effects. Measure water quantity and quality in runoff from nine watersheds as a function of presence or absence of grazing and presence or absence of poultry litter fertilization. Over time in the watersheds, measure changes in soil quality, botanical composition, shallow well water quality, and the quantity and quality of runoff water. Determine manure nutrient’s fate in soil and changes in soil quality, and changes in soil nutrient concentrations for long term fertilization with poultry litter or swine effluent. Test effects and efficacy of manure nutrient extraction with surface application or incorporation for different crop species and soil types. Develop best management procedures for the 12-month management system. 3.Progress Report Research was conducted to determine the recovery of nitrogen (N) in fresh and pelletized poultry litter by cotton and corn. We hypothesized that corn and cotton receiving fresh or pelletized litter would have similar yield and N uptakes and that these would be significantly lower than with ammonium nitrate applied. Broiler litter and pelletized litter were applied to the soil at corn and cotton planting time in March and May, respectively. Commercial fertilizer N was applied as split application with half at planting and the other half at 10 leaf stage for corn and early squaring for cotton. To determine synchronization of available N in fresh and pelletized litter with plant N uptake, frequent in-season plant samples were collected and analyzed for N concentration and N uptake to estimate seasonal N availability in both fresh and pelletized broiler litter. Litter may improve N use efficiency, while reducing soil N losses. Above ground plant samples were collected at 10 leaf, tasseling (peak N demand), and will be collected at physiological maturity stages for corn. For cotton, plant samples will be collected at squaring, peak bloom, and open boll stages. Samples will be dried at 60°C in a forced dried oven, weighed, and ground to pass a 2-mm sieve and total N determined by combustion. Above ground N content was calculated by multiplying the whole-plant N concentration with above ground dry matter weight. The net N uptake by corn and cotton is calculated using the difference method. For each growth stage, the N uptake of the unfertilized control (0 kg N ha-1) is subtracted from total N uptake of treatments receiving ammonium nitrate, fresh broiler litter, and pelletized litter. Nitrogen uptake data represents net-N uptake above the unfertilized control attributed to each N source and rate combination. Grain yield for corn and seed yield for cotton was determined at physiological maturity by harvesting 0.5 meter length area from one of the harvest rows of each plot, yield was recorded and net N uptake was calculated as described previously. Completed data collection and statistical analyses of most of the studies scheduled will be addressed in FY 2007. If litter rates are decreased, more land is needed for application and this adversely affects economics. Research is determining tall fescue response to litter and commercial fertilizer in two, novel-endophyte infected varieties that differ in season of growth (summer vs winter active). Nitrogen utilization efficiency varied greatly depending on rainfall. As compared to 224 kg ha-1 N fertilizer (100% available), the amount of litter N utilized by fescue was 62% in a wet year (2005) and 36% in a dry year (2006). Results provide information on proper management of broiler litter that may expand the use of litter in a year-round forage production system for the livestock industry. 4.Accomplishments Broiler litter applications based on phosphorus needs of plant reduced phosphorus (P) environmental pollution -- Broiler litter applications may contribute to water pollution and cause soil nutrient imbalance. With proper management, broiler litter can be a valuable source of crop nutrients with minimal or no adverse environmental impacts. When broiler litter is applied to a crop based on nitrogen requirements, the phosphorus applied is above crop needs. When phosphorus (P) concentration in the soil is increased, the potential for pollution of surface runoff water is increased. A two-year study indicated that phosphorus-based broiler litter application produced similar forage yield as N-based and avoided soil P accumulation, thus significantly reducing phosphorus runoff. This phosphorus based system can be used by regulatory agencies for the development of tools and guidelines that allow producers to maximize the benefit of manure nutrients while minimizing water quality degradation. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 4: Farming Systems and Practices for Efficient and Balanced Manure Nutrient Management. Phosphorus need based poultry litter applications to cotton -- Trace elements added to poultry feed appear in litter and when applied to soil amounts above plant needs can appear in runoff. Broiler litter application to no-till and conventional tillage cotton for 3 years indicated that short-term application of broiler litter to cotton may not pose environmental threat from trace elements to the ecosystems. However, because of very low cotton trace element requirements, continued application based on N needs with broiler litter as the only source may result in trace element accumulation in the soil over years. However, phosphorus based broiler litter application with supplemental N to cotton could be advantageous. Results from a three-year broiler litter application to no-till and conventional tillage cotton in Coffeeville, MS, and Cruger, MS, locations indicated that broiler litter at the rate of 4.5 Mg ha-1 with 67 kg supplemental N ha-1 optimized yield and significantly reduced soil copper, zinc and, arsenic concentrations compared to 67 Mg broiler litter ha-1 alone in both locations. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 4: Farming Systems and Practices for Efficient and Balanced Manure Nutrient Management. Improved management practices for hybrid bermudagrass hay production using long-term broiler litter fertilization -- Broiler litter applied to bermudagrass may result in phosphorus accumulation in runoff water. In a Tifton 44 hybrid bermudagrass hay field, changing a 9cm cutting height of hay to 3cm resulted in 24-30% increase in phosphorus uptake. Changing a 29 day cutting interval to 49 days increased phosphorus uptake by 27%. Hay production is an important component of manure nutrient management. Alternative harvesting methods to optimize the recovery of broiler litter nutrients in bermudagrass hay fields add to farm value. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 4: Atmospheric Fate and Transport to Receptors. Fungal populations determined following application of swine effluent -- Application of swine effluent to pastures may affect population of soil fungi. At most sampling times, fungal population levels did not significantly differ between soils in close proximity with and without applied swine wastes despite great differences in concentrations of chemical nutrients. Results indicate that fungi are a stable component of the soil microbial community for which population levels do not change appreciably in response to commercial swine waste applications or the major increases in soil nutrient concentrations that result from them. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 3: Control Technologies and Strategies for Emission. Temporal and spatial trends for broiler litter gas flux -- Ammonia losses from poultry waste at high concentrations can diminish the productivity of modern breeds of chickens and is an environmental concern with potential negative effects for air quality (particulate formation), terrestrial life (decreased ecosystem diversity), and water resources (eutrophication). Rigorous spatial sampling of litter properties and gas flux in commercial broiler houses identified two factors in modern management schemes that affect emissions of ammonia. (1) From middle to late flock, the birds insulate the litter, maintaining its temperature, which may negate some seasonal and management effects. (2) Caked surfaces that form over litter in high traffic areas differ based on location (near feeder or fan), but both limit ammonia flux. Growers, integrators, and researchers can use the results to understand how bird activities influence emissions, to manage ammonia flux from the litter, and to develop mitigation strategies for in-house control (i.e. zone litter treatment). The research enhances knowledge of chemical and physical mechanisms contributing to emissions and is a resource for process-based modeling. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 1: Understanding the Biological, Chemical, and Physical Mechanisms Affecting Emissions; Problem Area 3: Control Technologies and Strategies for Emissions. Broiler litter cake management -- Ammonia losses from poultry waste at high concentrations can diminish the productivity of modern breeds of chickens and is an environmental concern with potential negative effects for air quality (particulate formation), terrestrial life (decreased ecosystem diversity), and water resources (eutrophication). Ammonia generation was found in laboratory studies to increase in broken litter cake compared to intact litter cake samples. Integrators and growers recognized the value of these results and discontinued their common management practice of tilling and chopping litter between flocks. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 1: Understanding the Biological, Chemical, and Physical Mechanisms Affecting Emissions; Problem Area 3: Control Technologies and Strategies for Emissions. Mobile Instrument Lab developed to measure poultry litter emissions -- Ammonia losses from poultry waste at high concentrations can diminish the productivity of modern breeds of chickens and is an environmental concern with potential negative effects for air quality (particulate formation), terrestrial life (decreased ecosystem diversity), and water resources (eutrophication). A mobile instrument laboratory has been installed and is currently collecting air property, ventilation, and pollutant gas concentration data. Developing emission factors will provide the poultry industry with scientifically-based, process specific data for imminent air quality regulations. In addition, the instrument laboratory supplies measurement capability for evaluating abatement strategies in future. NP206: Manure and Byproduct Utilization; Problem Area 2: Emission Factors from Livestock Facilities; Problem Area 3: Control Technologies and Strategies for Emissions. 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations None. 6.Technology Transfer Number of non-peer reviewed presentations and proceedings 5 Number of newspaper articles and other presentations for non-science audiences 2 Review Publications Tewolde, H., Sistani, K.R., Rowe, D.E., Adeli, A. 2007 Phosphorus Extraction by Cotton Fertilized with Broiler Litter. Agron J. 99:999-1008 Tewolde, H., Sistani, K.R., Rowe, D.E., Adeli, A., Johnson, J.R. 2007. Lint yield and fiber quality of cotton fertilized with broiler litter. Agronomy Journal. 99:184-194. Tewolde, H., Sistani, K.R., Rowe, D.E., Adeli, A. 2007. Nitrogen Extraction by Cotton Fertilized with Broiler Litter. Crop Science. 47:1131-1142. Pratt, R.G., Brink, G.E. 2007. Forage Bermudagrass Cultivar Responses to Inoculations with Exserohilum rostratum and Bipolaris spicifera and Relationship to Field Persistence. Crop Science. 47:239-244. Pratt, R.G. 2006. Frequency and pathogenicity of Dermatiaceous hypomycetous on annual ryegrass overseeded on bermudagrass in Mississippi. Plant Disease. 90:1085-1090. Pratt, R.G. 2006. Enhancement of sporulation in species of Bipolaris, Curvularia, Drechslera, and Exserohilum by growth on cellulose-containing substrates. Mycopathologica. 162:133-140. Pratt, R.G. 2006. A direct observation technique for evaluating sclerotium germination by Macrophomina phaseolina and effects of biocontrol materials on survival of sclerotia in soil. Mycopathologia. 162:121-131. Zhao, D., Reddy, R.K., Kakani, G.V., Read, J.J., Koti, S. 2007. Canopy reflectance in cotton for growth assessment and prediction of lint yield. European Journal of Agronomy. 26(3):335-344. Adeli, A., Sistani, K.R., Tewolde, H., Rowe, D.E. 2007. Broiler litter application effects on selected trace elements under conventional and no-till systems. Soil Science. 172:349-365. Adeli, A., Sistani, K.R., Rowe, D.E., Tewolde, H. 2007. Effects of broiler litter applied to no-till and tillage cotton on selected soil properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 71:974-983. Miles, D.M., Rowe, D.E., Owens, P.R. 2008. Winter broiler litter gases and nitrogen compounds: Temporal and spatial trends. Atmospheric Environment. 42:3351-3363.