Miguel
L. Cabrera
Professor
Ph.D.,
Kansas State University, 1986
3111
Miller Plant Sciences Bldg
Athens, GA 30602-7272
Phone:
(706)542-1242 FAX: (706)542-0914
mcabrera@uga.edu
My research is focused on agronomic and environmental issues related to the application of animal manures (especially poultry litter, a mixture of poultry manure and bedding material) to cropland and pastureland as fertilizer. The application of poultry litter to land is currently the best way of recycling nutrients, but must be done in a way that protects the environment. When manures are not used properly, nutrients present in the manure can be transformed into forms that may contaminate air and waters. Some of our current projects with poultry litter evaluate the effect of management practices on nitrogen transformations and processes, such as nitrogen mineralization, ammonia volatilization, nitrification, denitrification, and transport of inorganic N in surface runoff. Research efforts are also dedicated to the evaluation of P concentration in surface runoff as well as soil test P buildup in pastures that are routinely fertilized with broiler litter.