Transactions of the ASABE Vol. 55(3): 979-985 2012 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers ISSN 2151-0032 979 SURFACE TRANSPORT OF NUTRIENTS FROM SURFACE-BROADCAST AND SUBSURFACE-BANDED BROILER LITTER J. Lamba, T. R. Way, P. Srivastava, S. Sen, C. W. Wood, K. H. Yoo ABSTRACT. Nutrient buildup, mainly phosphorus (P), and loss from fields fertilized with poultry (broiler) litter contribute to eutrophication of surface waters. In the U.S., broiler litter is typically surface-applied, but recently, to reduce surface transport of P and other nutrients, subsurface-banding of broiler litter has been promoted as a new manure application method. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in nutrient transport between subsurface-banded and sur- face-applied broiler litter in a tall fescue pasture. Treatments were surface-applied and subsurface-banded broiler litter at a rate of 5.0 Mg ha -1 , and no application of litter (control). Results showed that runoff concentrations and loadings of total P (TP), ortho-P (PO 4 -P), nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N), and ammonium-N (NH 4 -N) were reduced by 83%, 88%, 74%, and 80%, respectively, for the subsurface-banded litter as compared to the surface-applied litter. Concentrations and loadings of all nutrients in surface runoff from the subsurface-banded treatment were similar to those from the control. This study showed that subsurface banding of broiler litter can substantially reduce nutrient losses in surface runoff. However, since less than 10% of the simulated rainfall contributed to surface runoff (more than 90% rainfall infiltrated), subsurface transport of nutrients from surface-applied and subsurface-banded litter needs to be studied in field research. Keywords. Animal waste, Land application, Manure, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Subsurface-banding, Surface runoff. unoff from agriculture is a major nonpoint source (NPS) of pollution, particularly P and N pollution, for surface waters in the U.S. (Carpen- ter et al., 1998). The southeastern U.S. is a major area for production of broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) chickens in the U.S. (USDA, 2011). The five leading broil- er-producing states of Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Missis- sippi, and North Carolina produce more than 60% of all the broiler meat produced in the U.S. (Paudel and McIntosh, 2005). Broiler production, however, is currently threatened because of three main reasons: (1) rising energy costs, (2) water quality issues associated with land application of broiler litter, and (3) emerging foreign competition. Broiler litter, which is a mixture of manure and bedding material, is commonly applied by surface broadcasting on pastures and hay fields. However, such application places nutrients on the soil surface, where they are vulnerable to transport off the field in runoff water. In addition, this prac- tice has resulted in P accumulation in soils because of the high P-to-N ratio in broiler litter (Kingery et al., 1994). Even though P is an essential nutrient for plant growth, P loss from fields fertilized with broiler litter results in a widespread problem of eutrophication of nearby surface waters, reducing dissolved oxygen levels below the respira- tion requirement of fish, causing fish kills (Carpenter et al., 1998; Edwards and Daniel, 1994). In the Sand Mountain region of northern Alabama, water quality issues associated with the massive amount of broiler litter produced each year threaten the sustainability of the poultry industry. To sustain and enhance the poultry indus- try in the southeastern U.S., it is critical that we urgently address the water quality issues associated with broiler production. To increase crop (and forage) yield and to re- duce runoff transport of nutrients, subsurface banding of broiler litter has been tried in recent years (e.g., Pote et al., 2003; Sistani et al., 2009; Warren et al., 2008). Warren et al. (2008) determined differences in forage yield from sur- face-broadcasted and subsurface-banded broiler litter. Broiler litter was applied at 9.0 Mg ha -1 to tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) plots on a sandy loam soil. Subsurface-banded litter was applied using a single-band implement. Although the subsurface-banded plots received a considerable amount of traffic from the tractor and im- plement tires, forage yields for the subsurface-banded plots were equivalent to the plots receiving surface broadcast lit- ter and no traffic. Further, Tewolde et al. (2009) found that Submitted for review in October 2011 as manuscript number SW 9452; approved for publication by the Soil & Water Division of ASABE in May 2012. Presented at the 2009 ASABE Annual Meeting as Paper No. 096899. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not im- ply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA or Auburn University. The authors are Jasmeet Lamba, ASABE Member, Research Assis- tant, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wis- consin, Madison, Wisconsin; Thomas R. Way, ASABE Member, Agri- cultural Engineer, USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, Alabama; Puneet Srivastava, ASABE Member, Associate Pro- fessor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Au- burn, Alabama; Sumit Sen, ASABE Member, Fellow, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Gangtok, Sikkim, India; C. Wesley Wood, Professor, Department of Agronomy and Soils, and Kyung H. Yoo, ASABE Member, Professor, Department of Biosystems Engi- neering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Corresponding author: Thomas R. Way, USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, 411 S. Donahue Dr., Auburn, AL 36832; phone: 334-844-4753; e-mail: tom.way @ars.usda.gov. R