Project Number: 6406-12630-004-03
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 15, 2007
End Date: Aug 14, 2008

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project: (1) determine monthly uptake rates for phosphorus (P) in two fields with different botanical compositions, perennial bermudagrass vs. annual forage grasses; (2) determine physiological mechanisms of P uptake by different bermudagrass and annual ryegrass varieties on soils with a long history of broiler litter application; (3) determine changes in the level of heavy metals, such as copper, that can have antimicrobial effects; and (4) combine data with a digital elevation map (DEM) using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and assess the impact of soil chemical characteristics and landscape position (slope, elevation, aspect) on dry matter yield and nutrient uptake by forages.

Approach:
Work will be done on a cooperator farm at Mize, MS. The site comprises two adjoining fields with a 40+ year history of poultry litter application. One field (5.1 ha) is managed for bermudagrass pasture and the other field (3.4 ha) has two annual forages, annual ryegrass (cool-season) and crab grass (warm-season). Soils in these pastures are sampled in a random pattern for 50 samples from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths. The soil samples are analyzed for pH, total N, and extractable P, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Na, Cu, Fe, and Zn using Mehlich-3 extraction. Based on these results samples of forage and soil (to 30-cm depth) are taken at 16 high and 16 low P sites for two growing seasons.