ARS | Publication request: NUTRIENT ACCUMULATION IN COTTON FERTILIZED WITH POULTRY LITTER

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 3, 2006
Publication Date: January 6, 2006
Citation: Tewolde, H., Sistani, K.R., Rowe, D.E. Nutrient accumulation in cotton fertilized with poultry litter. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN. PP. 2056-2060.

Technical Abstract: Accumulation of nutrients in the soil due to poor crop removal is a concern when using poultry litter as a primary cotton fertilizer. The ability of cotton to remove litter-supplied nutrients is poorly documented. The objective of this research was to quantify the amount of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg absorbed and bound in plant parts of cotton fertilized with poultry litter with or without supplemental conventional N fertilizers under conventional and no-tillage systems. N, K, Ca, and Mg uptake under conventional tillage equaled or exceeded applied amount regardless of the treatment. The uptake of these nutrients under no-till was less than applied when 6.7 Mg/ha litter was applied. P uptake, regardless of the tillage, was much less than applied when '4.5 Mg/ha litter was applied. P uptake was approximately equal to applied amount only when 2.2 Mg/ha litter was applied.