Phosphorus forms in manure and compost and their release during simulated rainfall

The large accumulation of P in manure from animal feeding operations in loc alized areas has increased the potential for P export following land applic ation. impairment of freshwater quality by accelerated eutrophication has f ocused attention on manure management and the potential For P loss in runof f. Thus, we investigated the amounts and relative solubilities of P in manu res and their composts using a modified Hedley fractionation and release of P during simulated rainfall (70 mm h(-1) for 30 min) in laboratory columns (15-cm diameter). Twenty-four samples each of dairy manure, dairy manure c ompost, poultry manure, poultry manure compost, poultry litter, and swine m anure were collected over 2 yr, Total P concentration ranged from 2600 to 4 0 000 mg kg(-1), mostly as inorganic P (63 to 92%). The distribution of ino rganic and organic P fractions depended on manure and compost type. Most of the inorganic P, 80%, was water extractable (2030 mg kg(-1)), while 55% wa s hydroxide extractable in swine slurry (16 620 mg kg(-1)) and 38% acid ext ractable in poultry manure (9320 mg kg(-1)). The dissolved inorganic P conc entration in leachate from manure and compost (10 Mg ha(-1) manure applicat ion rate) during a 30-min rainfall ranged from 34 (poultry Litter) to 75 mg L-1 (poultry manure). The amount of P leached by five simulated rainfall e vents was significantly correlated to respective water extractable inorgani c (r(2) = 0.98) or organic P (r(2) = 0.99) of each material. This suggests that water extractable P may be used to estimate the potential for land-app lied manures or composts to enrich leachate and surface runoff P.