Direct speciation of phosphorus in alum-amended poultry litter:: Solid-state 31P NMR investigation

Amending poultry litter (PL) with aluminum sulfate (alum) has proven to be effective in reducing water-soluble phosphorus (P) in the litter and in runoff from fields that have received PL applications; it has therefore been suggested as a best management practice. Although its effectiveness has been demonstrated on a macroscopic scale in the field, little is known about P speciation in either alum-amended or unamended litter. This knowledge is important for the evaluation of the long-term stability and bioavailability of P, which is a necessary prerequisite for the assessment of the sustainability of intensive poultry operations. Both solid-state MAS and CP-MAS P-31 NMR as well as P-31{Al-27}-TRAPDOR were used to investigate P speciation in alum-amended and unamended PL. The results indicate the presence of a complex mixture of organic and inorganic orthophosphate phases. A calcium phosphate phase, probably a surface precipitate on calcium carbonate, could be identified in both unamended and alum-amended PL, as wellas physically bound HPO42-. Phosphate associated with Al was found in the alum-amended PL, most probably a mixture of a poorly ordered wavellite and phosphate surface complexes on aluminum hydroxide that had been formed by the hydrolysis of alum. However, a complex mixture of organic and inorganic phosphate species could not be resolved. Phosphate associated with Al comprised on average 40 +/- 14% of the total P in alum-amended PL, whereas calcium phosphate phases comprised on average 7 +/- 4% in the alum-amended PL and 14 +/- 15% in the unamended PL.