Source: AUBURN UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
HORTICULTURAL UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, MUNICIPAL, AND RESIDENTIAL RESIDUES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1005403
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 26, 2014
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2019
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849
Performing Department
Horticulture
Non Technical Summary
Agriculture and industrial wastes are an ever-growing concern at federal and state levels where landfill regulations are becoming more stringent. High fuel cost coupled with the publics' desire for a greener and more sustainable society has continued to push industries toward recycling these wastes through agriculture. Through the years, land application of these materials has been a viable means of disposal. In many cases these materials have improved the soil quality of crop and forage lands. In some cases when the material is highly dissoluble it can negatively impact soil nutrition and the surrounding ecosystem. This has been observed with over applications of poultry litter resulting in high phosphorus and nitrate concentrations found in associated water sheds and ground water.Ornamental horticulture involves the sale and distribution of plants grown in man-made soilless substrates all over the U.S. for use in residential and commercial landscapes. The green industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and represents a large percentage of Alabama's agriculture industry. There is something to be said about the saying "Dilution is the solution to pollution" and the horticulture industry provides just that. Waste that would otherwise cause a problem when left unchecked in high concentrations can be used to make negligible impacts when diluted through the horticulture distribution channels. Opportunities currently exist in horticultural distribution channels for the development of new sources of materials for horticultural substrates, manufactured top-soils, mulches, fertilizers, substrate amendments, soil conditioners and biofilters to utilize untapped, underused or otherwise wasted materials with the potential for synergistically and simultaneously improving sustainability and reducing horticulture crop production cost. Research is needed to determine suitable/optimal combinations of animal wastes, agricultural processing residues, industrial and forestry byproducts, residential trimmer trash, biosolids from sewage effluent, food scraps and dredge materials. This research will also investigate use of poultry litter and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum for horticultural use. Poultry house bedding materials will be manipulated to improve subsequent use for horticultural applications.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
40%
Developmental
40%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1330650106030%
1230699107020%
2052110106020%
4032123106030%
Knowledge Area
403 - Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse; 133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
2110 - Ornamental trees and shrubs; 0650 - Wood and wood products; 2123 - Bedding/garden plants; 0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
1. To evaluate agricultural and industrial waste as potential horticulture substrates.2. To determine the influence of blended materials from agricultural and industrial residues on growth and development of horticultural crops.3. To evaluate, characterize, and quantify the environmental and economic benefits of using agriculture and industrial waste.
Project Methods
Standard research method protocol will be followed via experiments using technical support and graduate students. Physical and chemical properties of residue materials will be evaluated before and after processing and during the use of subsequent materials. Plant/animal growth and development, including marketability and use will be evaluated as appropriate. For example, if the residue is an agricultural waste the following would be the approach:In order to evaluate agriculture waste such as poultry litters controlled experiments in the greenhouse and in an outdoor nursery setting will be conducted to optimize the amount of agriculture waste that can be blended with conventional substrate materials such as PB, PM and perlite. These experiments will be conducted in a stepwise fashion that will allow evaluation in a series of blends with conventional substrates. These blends will begin with incremental broad ranges in blend ratios (i.e. 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) and then through additional studies further narrow these ratios to pinpoint the most appropriate ratio of an agricultural waste with conventional materials. Standard means to measure plant growth response such as Growth Index (GI) where the average of two widths and the height are taken to produce a unit-less number that allows for growth comparison. Due to the wide range of ornamental horticulture crops, these ratios will have to be established for several species representing plant groups that require similar growing conditions (i.e Myrica cerifera and Ilex glabra; Juniperus spp. and Berberis spp.). Materials such as FGD Gypsum that are used in small quantities will be evaluated in a similar manner but instead of volume to volume comparison rates will be evaluated based off of weight to volume (i.e. lbs. per yd3). Preliminary studies have evaluated rates of FGD gypsum up to 16 lbs. per yd3 with little impact on selected plant species.

Progress 11/26/14 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Nursery crop producers, poultry producers, users of coal fired power generation systems, certified waste haulers, horticultural professionals, soil-less substrate baggers, colleagues at other universities and USDA. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous graduate students were trained in basic research methods. Many of the studnets were able to matriculate from MS level to PhD level. Studnets learned how to assess a problem and solve the problem through the scientific methos. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, through the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference, the International Plant Propagators Society, Journals appropriate to the field, and at numerous conferences and meetings of horticultural growers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? All goals presented were addressed over the course of the project. Numerous publications were developed and shared through appropriate Journals and Research Conferences. The work conducted in the scope of the project provided significant answers to pressing problems regarding agricultural and industrial wastes and uses thereof in various horticultural applications in positive ways.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2020 Citation: Pickens, J., J. Danaher, J. Sibley1, J. Chappell, and T. Hanson. 2019. Integrating greenhouse cherry tomato production with biofloc Tilapia production. Horticulturae-669675. Special Issue: Advances in Knowledge of Hydroponic and Aquaponic Systems. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae/special_issues/Hydroponic_Aquaponic
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Vinson, E.L. III, E.D. Coneva, J.M. Kemble, J.R. Kessler, Jr., E.G. Fonsah, P.M. Perkins-Veazie, F.M. Woods and J.L. Sibley. 2019. Reflective mulch application and cover crop usage to stimulate earlier banana flowering. J. Amer. Pomological Society. (Accepted 2019)  to be published October 2020).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Murphy, A.M., G.B. Runion, S.A. Prior, H.A. Torbert, J.L. Sibley1, G.B. Fain, and J.M. Pickens. 2019. Effects of fertilizer placement on greenhouse gas emissions from a sun and shade grown ornamental crop. J. Environ. Hort. 37:74-80.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pickens, J.M., D.E. Wells, and J.L. Sibley. 2019. Effects of sodium chloride on hydroponically grown lettuce from high salinity irrigation sources. Southern Region, American Society for Horticulture Science. Jan. 31  Feb. 5, Birmingham, AL HortScience 54 (Abstr.).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Murphy, A.M., S.A. Prior, G.B. Runion, H.A. Torbert, J.L. Sibley, G.B. Fain and J.M. Pickens. 2019. Greenhouse Gas Emissions as Impacted by High Wood Fiber Substrate in the Production of Three Annual Crops. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 63:51-56.


Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Horticulture Greenhouse and Nursery Growers,Poultry Producers, Certified Waste Haulers, Nursery & Greenhouse Conferences and Field Days, Administrators of electric power utilities, Horticulture colleagues at other Universitiesand USDA. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have added 2new graduate students that will be working onprojects associated with this Hatch Project. Our work has been presented by the PI or graduate students at conferences for nursery, greenhouse, and landscape professionals as well as the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, the Southern Nursery Association Research Conference,and the International Plant Propagators Society Southern Region meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Most of our work in greenhouse and nursery crops was presented at conferences or seminars at meetings. We have demonstrated to the poultry industry that gypsum can be added to poultry bedding materials withmultiple benefits whether the bedding be shavings or pinebarkthrough the National Poultry Technolgy Center and at Poultry Conferences. This is important in that pinebark is a desirable substrate for greenhouse and nursery growers, whereas, pine shavings or sawdust have not been as desirable to greenhouse and nursery growers. Our aquaponic facilities have allowed us to demonstrate the effective, symbiotic integration of talipia production and plant production using the waste from talipia to fertigate the plants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will investigatestability of gypsum in organic substrates and evaluate some new waste materials for substrate component suitability. We will also initiate projects with a new-to-us waste stream from a local factory with waste from the manufacturing of industrial insulation material from mineral wool.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Several projectswith colleagues at the USDA Soil Dynamics Lab addressing potential uses for gypsum generated from coal fired power plants in horticultural channels were completed. Usegypsum for greenhouse plant production was finished. Use of gypsum in the substrate for container-grownChristmas trees was completed. Our goal on the Christmas trees was to see if needle casting might be slowed after cutting the trees. We could not determine differences amongtreatments, however, gypsum treatments wereonlypre-plant incorporatedthree years prior to harvest. There were differences in tree growth and form in the first year among treatments. It would be worthwhile to evaluate the same treatments in a field study with repeat applications of gypsum annually.Work using gypsum with poultry house bedding materials continues. So far, we can seethat when gypsum was added to bedding material such as pine shavings, sawdust or pine bark in poultry broiler houses, that ammonia in the houses isreduced, and in some materials caking isreduced. Incidence of foot pad dermatitus and breast blisters were less with birds grown on gypsum bedding than some other materials evaluated. This is a big project involving the USDA, the Poultry Science Department, and the National Poultry Technology Center here at Auburn. In 2018 I had4 PhD students underway (Beauchamp, Brown, Murphy & Hoffman), all of whom are expected to be complete in2018 or 2019. In addition, Iadded 2 new Masters students. Much work is currently underway and some work was completed evaluating methods of carbon sequestration in nursery crops.Several projectswith colleagues at the USDA Soil Dynamics Lab addressing potential uses for gypsum generated from coal fired power plants in horticultural channels were completed. Usegypsum for greenhouse plant production was finished. Use of gypsum in the substrate for container-grownChristmas trees was completed. Our goal on the Christmas trees was to see if needle casting might be slowed after cutting the trees. We could not determine differences amongtreatments, however, gypsum treatments wereonlypre-plant incorporatedthree years prior to harvest. There were differences in tree growth and form in the first year among treatments. It would be worthwhile to evaluate the same treatments in a field study with repeat applications of gypsum annually.Work using gypsum with poultry house bedding materials continues. So far, we can seethat when gypsum was added to bedding material such as pine shavings, sawdust or pine bark in poultry broiler houses, that ammonia in the houses isreduced, and in some materials caking isreduced. Incidence of foot pad dermatitus and breast blisters were less with birds grown on gypsum bedding than some other materials evaluated.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: C.J. Paul,C.W. Robinson, J.R. Kessler, D.E. Wells, J.L. Sibley, H.A. Torbert, D.B Watts. 2018. Evaluation of flue-gas desulfurization gypsum in poultry litter as a substrate component for greenhouse horticultural crops. Agricultural Research & Technology 13(3):1-12. 555886. DOI:10.19080/ARTOAJ.2018.13.555886.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Sibley, J.L.,1 X. Yang, W. Lu, D.J. Eakes, C.H. Gilliam, W.G. Foshee, III, J.M. Pickens, and B. Zinner. 2018. Effects of a nonionic surfactant on growth, photosynthesis, and transpiration of New Guinea impatiens in the greenhouse. J. Environ. Hort. 36:73-81.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Murphy, A.M., G.B. Runion, S.A. Prior, H.A. Torbert, and J.L. Sibley1 and C.H. Gilliam. 2018. Greenhouse gas emissions from an ornamental crop as impacted by two best management practices: Irrigation delivery and fertilizer placement. J. Environ. Hort. 36:58-65.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Hand, L.C., W.G. Foshee, III, T.A. Monday*, and J.L. Sibley3. 2018. Long-term weed control for landscape pecan (Carya illinoinensis) trees. J. Environ. Hort. 36:82-84.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Murphy, A.M., S.A. Prior, G.B. Runion, H.A. Torbert, and J.L. Sibley. 2018. Trace gas emissions from a sun and shade grown ornamental crop. Southern Region American Society for Horticulture Science. Jacksonville, FL HortScience 53:S476 (Abstr. and presented as a poster).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Pickens, J.M., D.E. Wells, J.R. Kessler, Jr. 3, and J.L. Sibley2. 2018. The effect of shade cloth color on greenhouse cooling efficiency. Southern Region American Society for Horticulture Science. Jacksonville, FL HortScience 53:S491 (Abstr. and presented as a poster).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Brown, B.W., J.L. Sibley, J.M. Pickens, and H.A. Torbert. 2018. Results using flue gas desulfurization gypsum in soilless substrates for greenhouse crops. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 62:26-28.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Vinson, E.L. III*, E.D. Coneva1, J.M. Kemble, F.M. Woods, J.L. Sibley3, E.G. Fonsah, P.M. Perkins-Veazie, and J.R. Kessler. 2018. Prediction of Flower Emergence and Evaluation of Cropping Potential in Selected Banana Cultivars (Musa sp.) Cultivated in Subtropical Conditions of Coastal Alabama. HortScience 53:1634-1639.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Coneva, E., E. Vinson, J. Kemble, F. Woods, J. Sibley, G. Fonsah, P. Perkins-Veazie, J.R. Kessler. 2018. Reflective mulches improve sustainability of non-cavendish banana cultivars in the subtropics of Coastal Alabama. ACTA (Oral Presentation, Abstr. and presented as a poster).
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Essentials of Nursery Administration. Ken McNabb, W. Kelly Mosley Professor Emeritus, School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University; Tom Starkey, Southern Forest Nursery Management Cooperative (Retired), Auburn University; Jeff L. Sibley, Barbara and Charles Bohmann Endowed Professor, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University; Dan Bremer, President of AgWorksH2, LLC in Lake Park, GA. Chapter 12. IN: Bareroot Hardwood Nursery Handbook for the Eastern United States. U.S. Forest Service. 2018. K. McNabb, Editor.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Boatwright, L., W. Foshee, T. Monday, J. Sibley, and E. Blythe. 2018. Combinations of Soil Dimpling and Mulch Type to Reduce Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) Punctures in Polyethylene Mulched Beds. Poster presentation. Auburn University Graduate School. 10/25/2018. Auburn Alumni Center.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Murphy, Anna-Marie*, Ph.D. 2018. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing Carbon sequestration via horticultural systems. Dr. Murphy is a Research Scientist with the USDA Soil Tillage Lab, Auburn, AL. I directed this student as Chair of this committee.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Brown, Brian W.*, Ph.D. 2018. Development of horticultural uses for FGD Gypsum. Dr. Brown Associate Director of the American Nursery and Landscape Association, SE Region, USA. I directed this student as Chair of this committee.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Boatwright, Logan, D.**, M.S. 2018. Combinations of soil dimpling and mulch type to reduce nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) in polyethylene mulched beds. Mr. Boatwright is employed with the University of Florida Extension System.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: ? Vaughan, Mitchell G.**, M.S. 2018. Effect of container geometry on plant growth and water use of nursery crops. Public Horticulture emphasis. Mr. Vaughan works with the City of Birmingham Municipal Golf Course.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Warren, T.J., D.E. Wells, J.L. Sibley, W.G. Foshee, III, J.D. Williams, C. Browne, J. Burkett. 2018. Pecan cultivar nut and foliar quality in low and high input orchards in Alabama. Intl. J. Fruit Sci. (Submitted 7/17/2018).


Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Poultry Producers, Certified Waste Haulers, Nursery & Greenhouse Conferences and Field Days, administrators of electric power utilities and USDA. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have added 4new graduate students that will be working on the project. Our work has been presented by the PI or graduate studentsat conferences for nursery, greenhouse, and landscape professionals as well as the American Society for Horticultural Sciens and the International Plant Propagators Society Southn Region meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have demonstrated to the poultry industry that gypsum can be added to poultry bedding materials and has multiple benefits whether the bedding be shavings or pinebark. Pine bark is a suitable substrate as a bedding material for broiler production through the National Poultry Technolgy Center and at Poultry Conferences. This is important in that pinebark is a desirable substrate for greenhouse and nursery growers, whereas, pine shavings or sawdust have not been as desirable to greenhouse and nursery growers. Our aquaponic facilities have allowed us to demonstrate the effective, symbiotic integration of talipia production and plant production using the waste from talipia to fertigate the plants with What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will conclude a several studieson the effects of gypsum inChristmas Tree production. We will complete greenhouse and nrusery trials using gypsum at various rates in production. We will also look at the stability of gypsum in organic substrates and evaluate some new waste materials for substrate component suitability.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Work continued this year with colleagues at the USDA Soil Dynamics Lab addressing potential uses for gypsum generated from coal fired power plants in horticultural channels. Wecompleted several studiesusing gypsum for greenhouse plantproduction in 2016 and 2017, as well as continuance and initiation of new tests evaluatinguse of gypsum when growing Christmas trees, and work using gypsum with poultry house bedding materials. We found that when gypsum was added to bedding material such as pine shavings, sawdust or pine bark in poultry broiler houses that ammonia in the hoses was reduced, and in some materials caking was reduced. Incidence of foot pad dermatitus and breast blisters were less on gypsum bedding than some other materials evaluated. Thisis a big project involving the USDA, the Poultry Science Department, and the National Poultry Technology Center here at Auburn. I have4PhD students underway (Beauchamp, Brown, Murphy & Hoffman), all of whom are expected tobe completein 2017 and 2018. In addition, I Chaired 2 M.S. students to completionin early 2017 (Greenwell & Paul) and added 2 new Masters students.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beauchamp, W.R., J.M. Pickens, J.L. Sibley, J.A. Chappell, N.R. Martin, and A.F. Newby. 2017. Salt level in a simulated aquaponic system and effects on bibb lettuce. Inter. J. Veg. Sci. 23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2017.1378787.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Watts, D.B., J.B. Hess, S.F. Bilgili, H.A. Torbert, J.L. Sibley, and J.D. Davis. 2017. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum: Its effectiveness as an alternative bedding material for broiler production. J. of Applied Poultry Research 26:50-59. Manuscript ID JAPR-16-01344.R1.; https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfw045.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Robinson C.W., C.J. Paul, D.E. Wells, J.R. Kessler, H.A. Torbert, D.B Watts and J.L. Sibley. 2017. Evaluation of flue-gas desulfurization gypsum in poultry litter as a substrate component for greenhouse horticultural crops. Agricultural Research & Technology 12(4):(in press).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hess, J.B., D.B. Watts, H.A. Torbert, J.L. Sibley, and J.D. Davis. 2017. Gypsum as a bedding source for broiler chickens. SASS ASA-SR Branch Proceedings (Abstr.). Mobile, AL.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Greenwell, D.P., J.L. Sibley, A.F. Newby, C.W. Robinson, and D.J. Eakes. 2017. Effects of Tween�20 on growth and drought tolerance of Coleus Wasabi (Plectranthus scutellarioides). Com. Proc. Int. Plant Prop. Soc. 67:365-370. 41st Annual Conf. SR, Virginia Beach, VA.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Poultry Producers, Certified Waste Haulers, Nursery & Greenhouse Conferences and Field Days, administrators of electric power utilities and USDA. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have added 2 new graduate students that will be working on the project. Our work has been presented at Train the Trainer Conferences, and has been presented at appropriate conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Hess, J.B., S.F. Bilgili, K.S. Macklin, W.D. Berry, J.L. Sibley, H.A. Torbert, D.B. Watts, J.D. Davis and O. Cengiz, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA, 2USDA-ARS-NSDL, Auburn, AL, USA, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. 2016. Influence of various alternative bedding materials on foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens raised in a built-up litter system. Proceedings of the 25th World's Poultry Congress. Beijing, China (Abstr., and presented as a poster in the Environmental Management session). S6-0012:497. Hess, J.B., D.B. Watts, H.A. Torbert, J.L. Sibley, and J.D. Davis. 2017. Gypsum as a bedding source for broiler chickens. SASS ASA-SR Branch Proceedings (Abstr.). Mobile, AL. We have demonstrated to the poultry industry that pine bark is a suitable substrate as a bedding material for broiler production. This is important in that pinebark is a desirable substrate for greenhouse and nursery growers, whereas, pine shavings or sawdust have not been as desirable to greenhouse and nursery growers. Preliminary results also suggest that addition of gypsum to bedding offers benefits when using the litter for horticultural substrates. Our aquaponic facilities have allowed us to demonstrate the effective, symbiotic integration of talipia production and plant production using the waste from talipia to fertigate the plants with. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will conclude a study on the effects of gypsum on Christmas Tree production. We will complete greenhouse and nrusery trials using gypsum at various rates in production.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Continued progress this year, including funding, in conjunction with the USDA Soil Dynamics Lab addressing potential uses for gypsum generated from coal fired power plants. Implemented and completed a study using gypsum for greenhouse plant production in 2016, as well as continuance of tests funded by DUKE Energy to look at use of gypsum when growing Christmas trees, and work with poultry house bedding using gypsum funded by the Southern Company. Funding and projects have been extended through 2017. Using pine bark as a bedding material in poultry broiler houses is a big project involving the USDA, the Poultry Science Department, and the National Poultry Technology Center here at Auburn. Continued collaborative work with the Natl. Poul. Tech. Center and colleagues in Poultry Sci. Dept.on bedding material for broiler houses. 3 PhD students underway (Beauchamp, Brown, Warren) with expected Completionin 2017. Chaired 2 M.S. students expected to complete in early 2017 (Greenwell & Paul).

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Watts, D.B., J.B. Hess, S.F. Bilgili, H.A. Torbert, J.L. Sibley, and J.D. Davis. 2016. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum: Its effectiveness as an alternative bedding material for broiler production. J. of Applied Poultry Research. Manuscript ID JAPR-16-01344.R1.; https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfw045.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Marble, S., S. Prior, B. Runion, A. Torbert, C. Gilliam, G. Fain, J. Sibley, P. Knight. 2016. Species and media effects on soil carbon dynamics in the landscape. Scientific Reports. Man. SREP-16-00288.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Danaher, J.J., J.M. Pickens, J.L. Sibley, J.A. Chappell, T.R. Hanson, and C.E. Boyd. 2016. Tomato seedling growth response to different water sources and a substrate partially replaced with dewatered aquaculture effluent. Intl. J. of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agric. 5:25-32. Manuscript Number IRWA-D-15-00031R2.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hess, J.B., S.F. Bilgili, K.S. Macklin, W.D. Berry, J.L. Sibley, H.A. Torbert, D.B. Watts, J.D. Davis and O. Cengiz, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA, 2USDA-ARS-NSDL, Auburn, AL, USA, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. 2016. Influence of various alternative bedding materials on foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens raised in a built-up litter system. Proceedings of the 25th Worlds Poultry Congress. Beijing, China (Abstr., and presented as a poster in the Environmental Management session). S6-0012:497.


Progress 11/26/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Abstracts on work thus far werepresented at nursery and greenhouse conferences and field days, poultry industry conferences andadministrators of electric power utilities and USDA. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have demonstrated to the poultry industry that pine bark is a suitable substrate as a bedding material for broiler production. This is important in that pinebark is a desirable substrate for greenhouse and nursery growers, whereas, pine shavings or sawdust have not been as desirable to greenhouse and nursery growers.Preliminary results also suggest that addition of gypsum to bedding offers benefits when using the litter for horticultural substrates. Our aquaponic facilities have allowed us to demonstrate the effective, symbiotic integration of talipia production and plant production using the waste from talipia to fertigate the plants with. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The following paperwaspresented at the Sunbelt Ag Expo: Hess, J.B. (Presenter), J.D. Davis, K.S. Macklin, S. Bilgili, H.A. Torbert, D.B. Watts, J. Sibley, and W.D. Berry. 2015. Bedding materials for broilers. Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie, GA. (October 21, 2015). The following article was printed in a Industry Trade Magazine with a circulation of 3,000.: Danaher, J., J. Pickens, J. Sibley, J. Chappell, and T. Hanson. 2015. Aquaculture effluent partially replaces growing mix for plant production. Global Aquaculture Advocate May/June: 72-74. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I have added 2 new Masters level graduate students that will be working on the project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Made much progress this year, including funding, in conjunction with the USDA Soil Dynamics Lab addressing potential uses for gypsum generated from coal fired power plants. Implemented and completed a study using gypsum for poultry litter bedding in 2015, as well as putting in a test funded by DUKE Energy to look at use of gypsum when growing Christmas trees. Funding and projects will extend through 2016. Using pine bark as a bedding material in poultry broiler houses is a big project involving the USDA, the Poultry Science Department, and the National Poultry Technology Center here at Auburn.Continued collaborative work with the Natl. Poul. Tech. Center and colleagues in Poultry Sci. Dept. on bedding material for broiler houses.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Danaher, J.J., J.M. Pickens, J.L. Sibley, J.A. Chappell, T.R. Hanson, C.E. Boyd. 2015. Tomato seedling growth response to different water sources and a substrate partially replaced with dewatered aquaculture effluent. Intl. J. of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agric. Manuscript Number IRWA-D-15-00031R2. 2. Vandiver, T.A., G.B. Fain, A.M. Murphy, C.H. Gilliam, and J.L. Sibley. 2015. Distilled eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) as an alternative substrate in the production of greenhouse-grown annuals. J. Environ. Hort. 33:166-172.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Pickens, Jeremy M., Ph.D. Integrating effluent from recirculating aquaculture systems with greenhouse cucumber and tomato production. August, 2015. (Sibley Chair for 3 years, then final Chair was T. Hanson in Fisheries).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Vandiver, T.A., G.B. Fain, A.M. Murphy, C.H. Gilliam, and J.L. Sibley. 2015. Distilled eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) as an alternative substrate in the production of greenhouse-grown annuals. J. Environ. Hort. 33:166-172.