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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195932
Title: Cropping system and broiler litter application impacts on soil nutrient dynamics and soil quality

Author
item Adeli, Ardeshir
item Sistani, Karamat
item Tewolde, Haile
item Rowe, Dennis

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2006
Publication Date: 11/12/2006
Citation: Adeli, A., Sistani, K.R., Tewolde, H., Rowe, D.E. 2006. Cropping system and broiler litter application impacts on soil nutrient dynamics and soil quality [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts. Paper No. 278-2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Crop rotation and broiler litter applications can influence and maintain high yield production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), but relative impact of these management practices on soil nutrient dynamics and soil quality is lacking in the literature. The effects on soil of broiler litter fertilization rate (0, 4.5, 9.0 and 13.4 Mg ha-1) in three cropping systems: CCC, continuous cotton; MCC, corn-cotton-cotton; CMC, cotton-corn-cotton were studied for three years. The experimental site was in a replicated split-plot design and managed with conventional tillage. In all cropping systems, soil surface (0-15 cm) total C and N concentrations increased with increasing broiler litter applications and their magnitudes strongly decreased with increasing soil depth possibly due to the clayey textured soil. At high broiler litter application, surface soil (0-15 cm) C concentration increased by 4 % and 18% as compared to control with continuous cotton and corn-cotton systems, respectively. At the end of the third year, averaged across broiler litter rates, soil C concentration was 8% greater with inclusion of corn in the rotation than continuous cotton cropping system. At high broiler litter application and with inclusion corn in the system, soil residual NO3-N at the surface 0-15 cm depth was 20% lower than those with continuous cotton system indicating greater N extraction from the soil by corn. In term of management of soil quality, broiler litter application to cotton with inclusion of corn in the rotation may improve soil quality and crop production.