title: Arsenic in soils and forages from poultry litter-amended pastures.
abstract: In regions of concentrated poultry production, poultry litter (PL) that contains significant quantities of trace elements is commonly surface-applied to pastures at high levels over multiple years. This study examined the effect of long-term applications of PL on soil concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and the uptake of these elements by bermuda grass grown on Cecil (well-drained) and Sedgefield (somewhat poorly-drained) soils. The results showed that concentrations of As, Cu, and Zn in soils that had received surface-applied PL over a 14-year period were significantly greater than untreated soil at 0-2.5 and 2.5-7.5 cm depths. However, the levels were well below the USEPA loading limits established for municipal biosolids. Arsenic fractionation showed that concentrations of all As fractions were significantly greater in PL-amended soils compared to untreated soils at 0-2.5 and 2.5-7.5 cm depths. The residual fraction was the predominant form of As in all soils. The water-soluble and NaHCO(3)-associated As were only 2% of the total As. Significant differences were found in concentrations of these trace elements and phosphorus (P) in forage from PL-amended soils compared to that in untreated plots. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, and P were significantly greater in forage from Sedgefield amended soil compared to Cecil soil, but were in all cases below levels of environmental concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia, 3111 Miller Plant Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30602, USA; sashjaei@uga.edu
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashjaei
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Miguel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Sayed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D031744:Cynodon / Q000737:chemistry; D031751:Festuca / Q000737:chemistry; D008372:Manure; D011200:Poultry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D001151:Arsenic