ARS | Publication request: USE OF POULTRY LITTER AS A FERTILIZER SOURCE IN NO-TILLAGE COTTON PRODUCTION

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 26, 2005
Publication Date: January 11, 2005
Citation: Shankle, M.W., Tewolde, H., Garett, T.F., Sistani, K.R., Adeli, A., Rowe, D.E. Use of poultry litter as a fertilizer source in no-tillage cotton production. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference 2005. New Orleans, Jan 4-7, 2005 pp. 2568-2570

Technical Abstract: Research was conducted to evaluate the use of poultry litter as a fertilizer source in no-tillage cotton on an Atwood silt loam soil. Litter treatments were surfaced applied immediately prior to planting at 1.2, 2.8, 4.3, and 5.9 tons/ac. Treatment combinations included litter followed by a side-dress application of UAN (32%) solution. A treatment of UAN at 90 lbs N/ac side-dressed was included as the industry standard. Lint yield was at least 915 lb/ac with 2.8, 4.3, and 5.9 ton/ac of litter, equivalent to 70, 110, and 150 lbs/ac of plant-available N, respectively. Lint yield with all treatments that included litter was greater than the untreated check except for the 1.2 ton/ac litter alone and in combination with a side-dress application of 60 lbN/ac UAN solution. Fiber length and uniformity was not different among treatments. Fiber strength was higher with higher litter rates. Micronaire was in the base range for all treatments. Leaf tissue N, P, and K increased with an increase in litter rate.