Impacts of Different Fertilizers on Restoration Establishment of East Texas Equine Pastures

Carolina De Leon¹, Brian Oswald^2*, Candis Scallan¹and Leland Thompson¹

¹Department of Agriculture, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, Texas, USA.

²Department of Forestry, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, Texas, USA.

Corresponding Author E-mail:boswald@sfasu.edu

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.13.2.23

Article Publishing History

Received: 08 Jul 2025
Accepted: 02 Sep 2025
Published Online: 04 Sep 2025

Review Details

Reviewed by: Dr. Satyam
Second Review by: Dr. Rishikesh Singh
Final Approval by: Dr. Surendra Singh Bargali

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Abstract:

In Texas, USA, approximately 6475 km² are used for horse-related purposes, supporting an equine population of over 748,000. Due to overgrazing or lack of active management, many pastures not reaching maximum forage production. This study evaluated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments on improved Bermudagrass and other vegetation in equine pastures in East Texas. The experiment was conducted at the Stephen F. Austin State University Equine Center in Nacogdoches, Texas, on three overgrazed pastures. Organic treatments consisted of equine/horse manure and broiler poultry litter, while the inorganic fertilizer treatment was a commercial 13-13-13 fertilizer; all rates were adjusted based on pasture-specific nutrient requirements. Initial vegetation cover was assessed using Daubenmire cover classes in September 2024. After treatment application, followed by a 60-day growing period (September 2024 to November 2024). Final measurements included biomass and percent cover measurements. Data analysis was conducted using R Studio, with α = 0.10. Biomass results showed that vegetation type was a significant factor in all cases except in pasture 3, where no variables (treatment, vegetation, or their interaction) were significantly different, while in the other two pastures, all other vegetation combined (Mean = 868 kg ha^-1) was significantly less than Bermudagrass (2253 kg ha^-1) biomass. Pasture 2 had a significant negative interaction between Poultry litter and other vegetation. Assessing all pastures together also found Bermudagrass was significantly greater (2053 kg ha^-1) that the other vegetation combined 1209 kg ha^-1.). Bermudagrass increased in cover at the expense of the other vegetation, with the horse manure-vegetation interaction being significantly positive for pasture 3 and for the combined pastures, with the horse manure plots supporting greater other vegetation, possibly because the manure contained viable seeds.  While commercial fertilizer was effective in establishing bermudagrass, the use of organic fertilizers such as poultry litter or horse manure for long-term pasture maintenance may be a more cost-effective and sustainable method.

Keywords:

Bermudagrass; Biomass; Commercial Fertilizer; Horse Manure; Poultry Litter; Vegetation Cover

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