Effects of Poultry Litter and Mineral Fertilizer on Young Slash Pine Growth and Nitrate Leaching in Sandy Soil. (4208)
Authors:
A. Osiecka* - University of Florida-Quincy J. Nowak - Univ. of Florida-Quincy
G.J. Hochmuth - Univ. of Florida-Quincy K.H. Lee - Univ. of Florida-Milton S. Jose - Univ. of Florida-Milton D.L. Wright - Univ. of Florida-Quincy
Abstract:
Fertilization is one of the most cost-efficient silvicultural practices, but little is known about the effect of fertilizing southern pines on sandy soils. Groundwater contamination is of concern when applying fertilizers to these soils. Nitrate leaching and growth of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) on Foxworth fine sand in North Florida were investigated following application of diammonium phosphate (DAP, 280 kg ha-1) or broiler litter (6240 kg ha-1) in April 2002, two years after planting. Prior to fertilization,
NO3-N concentration in soil water collected by suction lysimeters at 0.3 m and 1.2 m below soil surface averaged 1.9 mg L-1 and 0.5 mg L-1, respectively. After fertilizing, NO3-N concentrations peaked first at 0.3 m reaching 11.0 mg L-1 six weeks after DAP application, and 56.6 mg L-1 ten weeks after broiler litter application. The highest NO3-N concentrations at 1.2 m depth were recorded 12.5 weeks after applying DAP or litter (14.6 mg L-1 and 41.0 mg L-1, respectively). Except for two measurements, groundwater NO3-N concentration at 9 m remained below 1.0 mg L-1 for a year following fertilization.
During first growing season, relative increase of diameter, height and volume was greater for pines fertilized with broiler litter or DAP compared with control. After the second growing season, the diameter, height and volume were not affected by the fertilizer treatment.
Speaker Information: Anna Osiecka, University of Florida-Quincy, 155 Research Road, Quincy, FL 32351;
Phone: (850) 875 7145; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 1:25 PM-3:00 PM Presentation Start: 1:45 PM
Keywords: nitrate leaching; poultry litter; pine fertilization; tree growth