Miscanthus Production on a Coastal Plain Soil: Nitrogen Fertilization and Poultry Litter. Issue 3 (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaston, Lewis; Beasley, Jeffrey; Blazier, Michael; Dodla, Syam; Felicien, William; Kiniry, James
• Is Part Of: Soil science. Volume 184:Issue 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: low-fertility soil -- Miscanthus × giganteus -- nitrogen fertilization -- phosphorus -- poultry litter -- runoff water quality; Soil science -- Periodicals; 631.405
• DOI: 10.1097/SS.0000000000000257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-075X

Abstract

Abstract : ABSTRACT: There has been limited study on the performance of miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus ) on Coastal Plain soils in the Mid-South United States and use of poultry litter (PL) with miscanthus. This study examined the response of miscanthus growing on a low-fertility soil to N and PL, including effects of PL on water quality. A randomized complete block experiment on Ruston soil (fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleudults) compared five fertilizer treatments: 0, 80, and 160 kg N ha −1 y −1 as urea or PL, applied 2010 through 2013, and native vegetation (NV). Data included yields, tissue nutrients, and runoff from subplots of NV, 0, and PL, 2010 to 2014; fertility parameters in surface (0–15 cm) soil, 2009 to 2015; organic C (OC) and oxalate-extractable Al, Fe, and P with depth, 2010; and fertility parameters (including OC, total N, and total and inorganic P) with depth, 2015. Yields exhibited a 3-year lag before a maximum of 18 Mg ha −1 in 2014 and were not increased by N fertilization. Nutrient removal was low, leading to increased P with PL in 0- to 15-cm soil but no evidence of P leaching below 30 cm. Runoff P was increased by PL at the higher rate (0.40 kg P ha −1 y −1 greater than no PL). Although use of PL alone to replenish nutrients would lead to high P loss, supplementing a reduced PL rate with non-P fertilizer might be sustainable. Miscanthus did not increase soil OC or affect water quality compared with NV.