Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2005DC75B

Effect of Pelletized Poultry Manure on Vegetable Production and Vadose Zone Water Quality

Institute: District of Columbia
Year Established: 2005 Start Date: 2005-06-01 End Date: 2006-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $13,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $26,000

Principal Investigators: James Allen

Project Summary: The Chesapeake Bay Agreement signed by leaders of Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia promises a 40% reduction in the Bays nitrogen and phosphorus level by the year 2010. This reduction campaign was initiated particularly because of a pfeisteria scare induced by the Bays excess phosphorus level from over application of chemical fertilizer and poultry manure in crop production areas. Eutrophication, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus, has also reduced the Bays sub-aquatic vegetation significantly. The most recent Chesapeake Bay report, July 2002, indicates no improvement in the Bays water quality. On a scale of 100, the Bays environmental quality was graded as 27, which is extremely low. In fact, this grade did not change from the previous year regardless of clean up efforts. Poultry manure produced from the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (DELMARVA) poultry industries is applied on farmland along with chemical fertilizer for crop production. However, a significant amount of unused manure is stored for future usage or remains to be disposed of. Perdue AgriRecycle, Inc. has cleaned, sterilized, and pelletized poultry manure for easy handling and movement in crop and vegetable production. This material has been analyzed for nutrient content; however, not much data is available to demonstrate its effectiveness in crop and vegetable production as well as its effect on ground water quality or pfeisteria proliferation. Residents of Washington, DC grow vegetable in their backyard and could potentially use this material as a soil amendment. Therefore, this experiment is designed to determine the effectiveness of pelletized poultry manure as a soil amendment in vegetable production and its potential effect on DC water resources. Information generated will be used for extension and outreach to benefit the residents of Washington DC.