Distribution of phosphorus in an Ultisol fertilized with recovered manure phosphates

Phosphorus (P) can be recovered in concentrated form from livestock manure and poultry litter. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the the short-term leaching potential and plant availability of P from recovered P materials from liquid pig manure (SRP) and broiler litter (LRP) in a characteristic sandy soil of southern U.S. and compared to triple superphosphate (TSP) and raw broiler litter (BL). Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a major crop in the southern U.S., was used as the test species. The vertical soil P distribution showed that most of plant available P applied with RP and SP materials remained within the top 15-cm soil. In the short-term (8 weeks), soil leaching potential of both LRP and SRP was lower than more soluble forms of P fertilizers such as TSP. The use of recovered P could minimize manure P losses into the environment, promote long-term sustainability of poultry and pig production, and provide a P fertilizer source for crop production.