S-1000
Regional Project
Animal
Manure and Waste Utilization, Treatment and Nuisance Avoidance for a Sustainable
Agriculture
2003 Station
Reports
Reporting Scientists:
R.K. Hubbard and G.L. Newton Location: SE Watershed Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS and Animal and
Dairy Science Department University of Georgia, Tifton, GA
Introduction
Technologies are needed to utilize N and P contained in
animal wastes. Such technologies include methods for utilizing nutrients
in both solid and liquid forms. Wastes of concern from CAFOs include
litter from chicken operations along with lagoon wastewater from swine or
dairy operations. Research by USDA-ARS and the University of Georgia
at Tifton is addressing nutrient utilization from and environmental consequences
of application of animal wastes through a number of different research projects.
Research Projects
The potential for using overland flow vegetated
buffers to utilize N and P from swine lagoon wastewater is being evaluated
at a commercial hog producer (Jones-Moorman) located near Tifton, GA.
The producer has an inventory of over 3000 hogs at all times. A grass
buffer (coastal bermudagrass) (Cynondon dactylon L. Pers “Tifton 85”) 10
m in width was planted upslope of a mature forest on the south side of a
stream and upslope of land planted to cotton on the north side of the stream.
Each plot on the south side of the stream is 61 m in width and total length
(grass buffer plus mature forest) ranges from 98 to 133 m. On the north
side of the stream the land in cotton was planted to pines during the summer
of 1998. The experimental design for this study involves 6 land areas
including 2 controls, 2 areas receiving wastewater based on N content, and
2 areas receiving wastewater based on P content. N content of the wastewater
averages about 300 mg/L, while P content averages about 30 mg/L. Wastewater
is being applied with target rates of 800 kg N/ha/yr for the areas receiving
wastewater based on N content, and 100 kg P/ha/yr for the areas receiving
wastewater based on P content. There are 3 transects of ground water
wells per area and 4 well sites on each transect. These are sampled
2-3 times per year. Soil samples are also collected on transect on
an annual basis. All soil and water samples are analyzed for N and
P species. This project will continue through 2004.
A study is being conducted on the University of Georgia
Ponder Farm in Tift Co., GA to determine the effectiveness of grass buffer
strips in removing nutrients from surface runoff from cotton receiving poultry
litter. The parcel is divided into eighteen plots, which run up
and down the slope. They are 45.6 m in length and 6.4 m wide.
Each plot, for the full 45.6-m length, is bounded by plastic borders inserted
into the soil to 0.15 m and extending to 0.15 m high above the soil surface.
Borders were installed to confine runoff within individual plot boundaries.
The soil is Tifton loamy sand with 2.0 to 3.0% slope.
The study is testing grass variety (Common Bermuda grass
vs. Coastal Bermuda grass) and buffer length (no buffer, 1/2 buffer length,
or full buffer length). Plots are subdivided at their midpoints on
the lengthwise dimension. The upper half of each is reserved for cotton
which receives poultry litter at the rate of 2 ton/acre. The lower
half of 9 plots each was sprigged with common Bermuda grass (Cynondon dactylon
L. Pers.) or “Tifton 85” Bermuda grass on June 20, 2000. “Tifton 85”
is a very productive hybrid with rapid and robust growth. It has excellent
value as a forage crop. Common Bermuda grass is indigenous to most
field edges throughout the Coastal Plain is less productive, but is easily
established and may volunteer spontaneously, minimizing establishment requirements.
Plots within the two grass treatments were further subdivided
by positioning runoff collectors at the bottom edge of the cotton crop area,
mid-way through the grass filter strips (11.4-m) and at the bottom edge of
the filter-strips (22.8-m). There are three plots of each type.
The overall experimental design consists of two grass and three grass-filter
lengths, 0, 11.4, and 22.8-m treatments. Surface runoff collectors
are located at each sampling position. Water samples are collected
after each runoff event and analyzed for N and P species. This project
will continue through 2004.
A study was just initiated (2003) involving winter
cover crops, conservation tillage, and application of composted municipal
sludge on a Tifton loamy sand. The objective of the study is to determine
the effects of the tillage, cover crop, and municipal sludge treatments on
crop yields, soil structure, soil carbon content, and microbial respiration.
Minimally disturbed soil cores are being collected 3 times annually from
both within the rows and between the rows. Laboratory measurements
of soil physical properties include saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil
moisture retention, and bulk density. This is a replicated small plot
study which will continue until 2006.
A study to investigate the feasibility of using floating
mats of vegetation on swine wastewater lagoons was completed in 2002.
The study was conducted using floating mats of vegetation in tanks containing
different fertility treatments. The floating platforms were built using
0.64 cm PVC pipe with fibrous matting attached. Each individual platform
was 1 m2 and was built to float inside of an aquaculture tank capable of
holding 1285 L of wastewater. The plants were sprigged into the floating
platforms at the start of the study. There were three different nutrient
treatments, three different plant species, and four replicates of each combination
for a total of 36 tanks. The three different nutrient treatments were
full strength wastewater (swine lagoon wastewater pumped from the third lagoon
of the University of Georgia Swine Research Facility), ½ strength
wastewater (swine lagoon wastewater mixed with well water) and inorganic
nutrients (1/4 strength Hoaglunds solution). The three different plant
species were maidencane (Panicum hematomon Schult ‘Halifax”), cattail (Typha
angustifolia L.), and soft rush (Juncus effusus L.). The vegetation
on each floating mat was cut and the biomass was removed based on vegetation
height (need for cutting). Plant tissue was analyzed for % N, % P,
and % K. The study showed that all three species survived in full strength
wastewater. Cattail was the most successful at producing biomass and removing
nutrients.
The replicated tank studies tanks showed that several
wetland species would flourish in lagoon wastewater with N content of around
160 mg/L. New work on a commercial hog producer’s anaerobic lagoon
is showing that several species can also survive and provide rapid biomass
accumulation in wastewater where the N concentration is about 300 mg/L.
Several species of grass along with non-grass species are being tested.
This work will continue through 2005.
Usefulness of Findings and Impact
All of these research projects are designed to provide
information and technologies to assist animal producers in using the nutrients
contained within their animal wastes.
Publications
Gascho, G.J., R.K. Hubbard, T.B. Brenneman, A.W. Johnson, D. Sumner,
and G.H. Harris. 2001. Effects of Broiler Litter in an Irrigated,
Double-Cropped, Conservation-Tilled Rotation. Agron. J. 93:1315-1320.
Griffin, T.S., S.L. Albrecht, J.M. Powell, R.A. Eigenberg, R.K. Hubbard,
S.L. McGowen, B.L. Woodbury, and H.A. Torbert III. 2001. Nitrogen
mineralization from animal manure: USDA-ARS nationally coordinated research.
Agronomy Abstracts.
Hubbard, R.K., C.W. Honeycutt, S. Albrecht, G. Brink, B. Eghball, T. Griffin,
M. Powell, K. Sistani, B. Wienhold, and R.J. Wright. 2001. A
USDA-ARS Nationally Coordinated Research Project to determine Nitrogen Mineralization
from Animal Manure – Properties of Soils. Agronomy Abstracts for Charlotte,
N.C.
Hubbard, R.K., W.L. Magette, and J.M. Sheridan. 2001. Application
of a watershed scale ranking scheme for evaluating impacts of AFOs on water
quality. Proceedings of the Georgia Water Resources Conference.
Edited by Kathryn J. Hatcher. P. 682-685.
Hubbard, R.K. and G.L. Newton. 2001. A farm scale test of the
effectiveness of overland flow vegetated buffer treatment systems for swine
lagoon wastewater. International Symposium on Animal Waste, Raleigh,
NC. Fall 2001.
Lowrance, R., R. K. Hubbard, and R.G. Williams. 2001. Denitrification
from a Swine Lagoon Overland Flow Treatment System at a Pasture-Riparian
zone Interface. Journal of Environmental Quality. 30:617-624.
Hill, G.M., R.N. Gates, R.K. Hubbard, and C. Blalock. 2002. Integration
of winter grazing with irrigated cotton production in Georgia. Cotton
Research and Extension Report.
Hubbard, R.K. and G.L. Newton. 2002. Long-term impact of swine
lagoon wastewater on shallow groundwater nitrogen levels in vegetated buffer
systems. Proceedings of Water Environment Federation Animal Residuals
Conference, May 6-8, 2002, Washington, D.C. At www.biosolids.com.
Hubbard, R.K., G.L. Newton, G.Vellidis, G.J. Gascho, and R. Lowrance.
2002. Long-term impact of dairy lagoon wastewater on shallow groundwater
quality. National Sigma Xi Meeting, Galveston, TX., November 2002.
Fisher, D.S., M.B. Jenkins, R.R. Lowrance, R.K. Hubbard, T.C. Strickland,
G. Vellidis, and G.L. Newton. 2003. In vitro disappearances of
E.coli and enterococci related to light, predation, and sedimentation.
ASA Annual Meeting.
Hawkins, Gary, Dalila Sierra, and Robert K. Hubbard. 2003.
Phosphorus and Nitrogen Leachability on Agricultural Fields Used for Land
Application of Poultry Waste. ASAE Meeting Paper Number 032252.
Hill, G.M., R.N. Gates, R.K. Hubbard, and C. Blalock. 2003. Integration
of winter grazing and irrigated cotton production. Final Report (UGA
47FY03RF) (Final Report for Year 2 of 4) Account #25-21-RF329-097, (July
1, 2002-June 30, 2003).
Hubbard, R.K., G.J. Gascho, and G.L. Newton. 2003. Use of floating
vegetation to remove nutrients from swine wastewater lagoons. Southern Ag.
Workers Meeting, Mobile, AL. p. 26
Hubbard, R.K., G.L. Newton, and G.J. Gascho. 2003. Nutrient
uptake and growth response of grass in buffer systems receiving swine lagoon
effluent. Accepted by J. Soil Water Conserv, May 2003.
Hubbard, R.K. G.L. Newton, and G. Hill. 2003. Water quality
and the grazing animal. J. Anim. Sci. Vol 81, Suppl. 1/J. Dairy Sci.
Vol 86, Suppl. 1 Abstract 507 page 128. Invited presentation to Animal Science
and Dairy Science Societies in Phoenix, AZ. June 25, 2003.
Hubbard, R.K. J.M. Sheridan, R. Lowrance, D.D. Bosch, and G. Vellidis.
2003. Fate of Nitrogen in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Submitted
to Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
Newton, G.J., J.K. Bernard, R.K. Hubbard, J.R. Allison, R.R. Lowrance, G.J.
Gascho, R.N. Gates, and G. Vellidis. 2003. Managing manure nutrients
through multi-crop forage production. Paper for SE Dairy Conference
held in Quebec City Canada. J. Dairy Sci. 86(6) 2243-2252.
Newton, G.L., G.J. Gascho, J.K. Bernard, J.R. Allison, R.K. Hubbard, R.N.
Gates, and G. Vellidis. 2003 Multi-cropped forages for nutrient management.
ADSA Southern Branch Symposium. Potential for Dairying in the Southeast–Challenges
and Opportunities. Abstract Number 470.
Vellidis G., R. Lowrance, P. Gay, R.W. Hill, and R.K. Hubbard. 2003.
Nutrient transport in a restored riparian wetland. J. Environ. Qual
32:711-726.