ARS | Publication request: FIBER QUALITY OF COTTON FERTILIZED WITH POULTRY LITTER

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 2, 2004
Publication Date: November 2, 2004
Citation: Tewolde, H., Rowe, D.E., Sistani, K.R., Adeli, A., Johnson, J.R. 2004. Fiber quality of cotton fertilized with poultry litter. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Agronomy Abstracts CD-ROM

Technical Abstract: The objective of this research was to determine whether fiber quality of cotton grown with broiler litter with or without supplemental conventional N fertilizer is the same as the fiber quality of cotton grown with manufactured fertilizers. The research was conducted in 2003 in Mississippi at two commercial cotton farms managed as conventional or no-till systems. Litter rates of 2.2, 4.5, and 6.7 Mg/ha were tested in combination with 0, 34, or 67 kg/ha UAN-N as a supplement. These treatments were also compared against an untreated control and a farm standard fertilized with 112 or 135 kg/ha UAN-N and other conventional fertilizers as recommended for each farm. Litter with or without UAN-N resulted in a large lint yield response at both locations. Fiber length and micronaire also significantly responded to plant available N, but the responses were smaller than lint yield. Treatments that received a combination of litter and UAN-N that resulted in equivalent lint yield as the farm standard produced fibers that were as long as or longer than the farm standard treatment. However, litter and UAN-N treatments that increased fiber length and lint yield seem to result in weaker fibers. Fiber length was inversely related to strength, elongation, and micronaire. These results suggest that the effect of broiler litter on cotton fiber quality is similar to or better than the effect of conventional manufactured fertilizers.