Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/06
Outputs
In urban developments, turf is often established under sub-optimal soil conditions opportune for weed infestations. Experiments were completed in 2004 to evaluate the incorporation of composted poultry litter on turfgrass establishment, soil properties, and weed pressure. To simulate construction disturbance, 20 cm of topsoil was removed. Composted poultry litter, a waste product derived from the poultry industry, was incorporated to a depth of 12.5 cm at 10, 20, and 40% vol/vol (4.4, 8.8, and 17.5x104 Kg ha-1, respectively) prior to seeding or sodding Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). Composted plots were compared to fertilized plots (20-27-5, N-P2O5-K2O, to provide 146 kg/ha of Nitrogen), or control plots. Composted poultry litter elevated the soil organic matter and its water holding capacity. It also raised the soil pH along with levels of extractable K, Ca, and Mg. Besides, composted poultry litter increased CEC by 15-68%, and decreased the bulk density up to
42%. In spring 2004, 85% turfgrass cover was recorded in plots with 20% compost. One year after seeding, all compost-treated plots exhibited 100% turf cover. Only one-third and two-third of the control plots were covered by turf during spring and fall of 2004, respectively. Weeds monitored included common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata), yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta), and white clover (Trifolium repens). Plots with 20 and 40% compost had six percent and 72% fewer total weeds, respectively, than control. Fertilized plots exhibited weed pressure similar to control. Overall, compost treatments were able to maintain superior turf cover and quality and lower weed populations compared to conventionally fertilized or control plots.
Impacts
The research determined the usefulness of composted poultry litter to establish turfgrass in compacted soils typical of housing developments. After the results are published in refereed and popular journals, it is expected to provide an option to to effectively recyle poultry wastes also reduce the use of pesticides in lawns as result of healthier turfgrass competition with weeds and other pests.
Publications
- Mandal, M. and R.S. Chandran, 2006. Amending subsoil with composted poultry litter: effect on turf cover, soil physical and chemical properties, and weed pressure. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 60:13.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Field experiments were established in 2003 at West Virginia University to evaluate the effect of composted poultry litter on the establishment of turfgrasses in disturbed soils. To simulate typical construction disturbance, existing topsoil was stripped off to a depth of 20 cm and the nutrient-deficient subsoil was exposed. A commerical composted poultry litter (Borderline Products, Baker, WV) was incorporated at a depth of 12.5 cm at 10, 20, and 40% (vol/vol). These treatments were compared to conventionally fertilized plots and untreated plots (control). Plots were seeded, at recommended rates, or sodded. Turf was maintained at a mowing height of 8 cm. Percent bare area was estimated using transect lines in April and Sep. 2004. Weed counts by species were also recorded. In seeded plots, highest turfgrass cover (85%) recorded in April was in plots that received 20% compost followed by 76 and 64% cover in plots that received 40 and 10% compost, respectively. By Sep.
2004, all compost-treated plots exhibited 100% turf cover. Turf cover in fertilized plots increased from 11 to 76% while that in control plots increased from 26 to 67% at this time. The most dominant weed species were white clover [Trifolium repens] and dandelion [Taraxacum officinale] followed by buckhorn plantain [Plantago lanceolata], red clover [Trifolium pratense], yellow woodsorrel [Oxalis stricta], large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis], and wild carrot [Daucus carota]. No weeds were present in any of the sodded plots in April 2004 while seeded plots that received compost had <1 weed/plot. In Sep., seeded plots with 20 and 40% compost had 6 and 72% fewer total weeds, respectively, than control. However, plots that received 10% compost had twice the number of white clover compared to control whereas those that received 40% compost had 80% fewer white clovers. Interestingly, dandelion numbers in composted plots were higher than that of control. Fertilized plots had a weed
pressure similar to control plots. Overall, compost treatments were able to maintain superior turf cover and quality compared to fertilized and control plots.
Impacts
This research will determine the usefulness of composted poultry litter to establish turfgrass in compacted soils typical of housing developments. It is expected to have an environmental impact through effective recyling of wastes from poultry industry and a reduction in pesticide use as a result of healthier turfgrass competition with weeds and other pests.
Publications
- Mandal, M. and R. S. Chandran. 2005. Turfgrass cover and weed pressure in subsoil amended with composted poultry litter. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 59:94
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The project was initiated in Fall 2003. Field studies have been established at the Agronomy Farm. Laboratory studies are ongoing to evaluate the effect of compost on weed seed germination. In laboratory studies, compost extract at three different ratios were used to measure inhibition in 13 weed species. Weed species used were annual ragweed [Ambrosia artemisiifolia (L.)], barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.], common lamsquarters [Chenopodium album (L.)], giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm., SETFA), green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., SETVI], ivyleaf morningglory [Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq.], johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.], large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.], pigweed [Amaranthus hybridus (L.)], small flower morningglory [Jacquemontia tamnifolia (L.) Griseb.], tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.)],yellow foxtail [Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv.], and yellow nutsedge [Cyperus esculentus (L.)]. Experiments designed as
a completely randomized design were carried out using petri-dishes in growth chamber maintained at 25 0 C with 12-hr day length. Twenty-five seeds of each weed species were placed on filter papers moistened with 8-ml solutions of compost extracts in each petri-dish. The different extracts included dilutions at ratios (compost to water w/w) 1:8 (low), 1:5 (medium), and 1:2 (high). The highest concentration of the extract arrested the germination of annual ragweed, giant foxtail, ivyleaf morningglory, johnsongrass, tall morningglory, yellow foxtail, and yellow nutsedge completely. This concentration also inhibited barnyardgrass, green foxtail, and small flower morningglory germination > 80%, and crabgrass and pigweed germination by 60%, compared to control. The medium concentration inhibited > 80% germination of annual ragweed, johnsongrass, and tall morningglory while the low concentration inhibited > 50% germination of johnsongrass and yellow nutsedge.
Impacts
This research will determine the usefulness of composted poultry litter to establish turfgrass in compacted soils typical of housing developments. It is expected to have an environmental impact through effective recyling of wastes from poultry industry and a reduction in pesticide use as a result of healthier turfgrass competition with weeds and other pests.
Publications
- Mandal, M. and R. S. Chandran. 2004. Effect of Composted Poultry Litter on the Germination of Different Weed Species. Proc. Norteast. Weed Sci. Soc. 58:112.
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