Organic amendments could be beneficial in improving soil fertility and supplying various nutrients. However, excessive application of these amendments could also pose a threat to surface and groundwater in terms of N, P, K, and S overload. Release pattern of N, P, K, and S was monitored for about 8 months in Candler fine sand (pH=6.8) and in Ogeechee loamy sand (pH=5.2) amended with poultry litter alone and 1:1 ratio of poultry litter and fly ash with application rates of 0, 2, 5, 10, and 20 Mg ha -1. The amended soils were incubated at their respective field capacity moisture contents. Representative sub-samples were extracted with water at predetermined time intervals for the determination of ionic strength, soil reaction, and ionic forms of N, P, K, and S by Ion chromatograph (IC). Results indicated that the ionic concentration these elements increased with increasing rates of amendments. Among the cationic forms, greater release of K+ (180 mg kg -1) was observed at 7 th week of incubation. Among the anionic forms, greater release of NO3 - (135 mg kg -1) was observed at 3 rd day of incubation. In this presentation, effect of soil types, rates of poultry litter application and impact of fly ash incorporation on the release of selected cations and anions will be discussed.
See more of Environmental Aspects of Waste and By-product Materials Applied to Soil
See more of S11 Soils & Environmental Quality
See more of The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)