Interaction of Filth Flies and Epigeal Arthropods with Soil Nitrogen and Gas Emissions in Grazing Systems under a Legacy of Low Fertilization

Natalia Espinoza, Dorcas H. Franklin (), Miguel Cabrera, Nancy C. Hinkle, Lawton Stewart and Anish Subedi
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Natalia Espinoza: Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
Dorcas H. Franklin: Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
Miguel Cabrera: Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
Nancy C. Hinkle: Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Lawton Stewart: Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Anish Subedi: Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: During the summers of 2021 and 2022, we conducted a study in four Georgia Piedmont pastures to assess the effect of the presence of filth flies and epigeal arthropods on carbon and nitrogen emissions and soil nitrogen retention from lax rotational grazing systems under a legacy of low fertilization. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions were measured from dung on days 0, 4, 8, and 15 following depositions. Soil and manure samples were collected on days 0 and 16 and analyzed for ammonium (NH 4 + ), nitrate (NO 3 − ), plant-available nitrogen (PAN), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). Manure samples were analyzed for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). The numbers of filth flies ovipositing and emerging from manure, fire ants, and epigeal arthropods around the manure were determined. Our results indicated that more than 12 ovipositing filth flies per manure pat can reduce PMN by up to 14.7 kg of nitrogen per hectare, while an increase in the biodiversity and abundance of predators may help to increase PAN and PMN in grazing systems, as well as decrease the number of emerging filth flies.

Keywords: nitrous oxide emissions; ammonia volatilization; carbon dioxide emissions; filth flies; fire ants; cattle manure; grazing systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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