Soil Quality Indicators After Sequential Applications of Poultry Litter

Abstract

Application of poultry litter may lead to major changes in the structural and functional properties of soil. Understanding these alterations is crucial for assessing the effect of organic wastes on the soil quality and attributes. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of use of poultry litter on increased organic matter, microbiological activity and physicochemical properties of soils in the Brazilian Cerrado and identify a group of expressive indicators of changes for the assessed attributes. The research was conducted in Fazenda Alvorada, a farm located in Portelândia/GO (Brazil), consisting of the following accumulated doses of turkey litter: T0 (without application); T1 (26.32 Mg ha-1); T2 (43.15 Mg ha-1); T3 (57.6 Mg ha-1). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks and four replications. Sequential applications of poultry litter provide increases in the variables related to organic matter, mainly in particulate nitrogen and total nitrogen stocks. Applications of lower doses resulted in increases of microbial biomass carbon and microbial quotient. Concerning soil physicochemical properties, available phosphorus, the sum of bases and base saturation were the variables that exhibited the most significant changes with increased doses of poultry litter. The metabolic quotient was the most expressive indicator to represent soil alterations resulting from application of poultry litter.