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Decreasing Metal Runoff from Poultry Litter with Aluminum Sulfate
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1998
Year
Metal RunoffSurface RunoffEngineeringRunoffEnvironmental EngineeringMetal ContaminationEnvironmental PollutionSoil PollutionEnvironmental RemediationPoultry LitterLand ApplicationSoil ContaminationWater QualityLitter Application RatesMetal ToxicityWaste ManagementAnimal Waste Management
Aluminum sulfate applied to poultry litter reduces phosphorus runoff and ammonia volatilization. The study aimed to assess metal runoff from plots receiving different rates of alum‑treated versus untreated poultry litter. Alum‑treated (10 % by weight) and untreated litter were broadcast onto tall‑fescue plots at rates from 0 to 8.98 Mg ha⁻¹, and runoff was simulated twice—immediately after application and after seven days. Metal concentrations and loads increased linearly with litter rate, but alum treatment lowered As, Cu, Fe, and Zn while raising Ca and Mg; untreated litter produced very high Cu, and overall alum‑treated litter reduced trace‑metal runoff and posed lower environmental risk.
Abstract Aluminum sulfate [Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ·14H 2 O] applications to poultry litter can greatly reduce P concentrations in runoff from fields fertilized with poultry litter, as well as decrease NH 3 volatilization. The objective of this study was to evaluate metal runoff from plots fertilized with varying rates of alum‐treated and untreated (normal) poultry litter. Alum‐treated (10% alum by weight) and untreated litter was broadcast applied to small plots in tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Litter application rates were 0, 2.24, 4.49, 6.73, and 8.98 Mg ha −1 (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 tons acre −1 ). Rainfall simulators were used to produce two runoff events, immediately after litter application and 7 d later. Both concentrations and loads of water‐soluble metals increased linearly with litter application rates, regardless of litter type. Alum treatment reduced concentrations of As, Cu, Fe, and Zn, relative to untreated litter, whereas it increased Ca and Mg. Copper concentrations in runoff water from untreated litter were extremely high (up to 1 mg Cu L −1 ), indicating a potential water quality problem. Soluble Al, K, and Na concentrations were not significantly affected by the type of litter. Reductions in trace metal runoff due to alum appeared to be related to the concentration of soluble organic C (SOC), as well as the affinity of SOC for trace metals. Metal runoff from alum‐treated litter is less likely to cause environmental problems than untreated litter, since threats to the aquatic environment by Ca and Mg are far less than those posed by As, Cu, and Zn.