Miscanthus Production on a Coastal Plain Soil: Nitrogen Fertilization and Poultry Litter

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2019

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.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Soil Science

First Page

69

Last Page

77

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