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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 #305787
Title: Soil with a short history of poultry litter fertilization remains superior to normally fertilized soil for cotton

Author
item Tewolde, Haile
item Sistani, Karamat
item Adeli, Ardeshir
item McLaughlin, Michael

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2014
Publication Date: 11/4/2014
Citation: Tewolde, H., Sistani, K.R., Adeli, A., Mclaughlin, M.R. 2014. Soil with a short history of poultry litter fertilization remains superior to normally fertilized soil for cotton. Agronomy Abstracts American Society of Agronomy, November 2-5, 2014, Longbeach, CA. https://scisoc.confexcom/scisoc/2014am/webprogramschedule/Paper87630.html, Abstract no. 304-12.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Research has shown poultry litter is a superior fertilizer for cotton and other row crops. The productivity of soil that had received poultry litter as a fertilizer is not known after cessation of litter application and returning to conventional fertilization with inorganic fertilizers. This study investigated the productivity of a silt loam soil with a short history (3 to 5 yr) of litter fertilization 1 to 3 yr after ending the litter application. Lint yield of cotton fertilized with 135 kg/ha inorganic N was measured in soil that had received litter rates of 0 to 6.7 Mg/ha broiler chicken litter with or without supplemental inorganic N in the previous 1 to 3 yr. The results showed that cotton fertilized with 120 lbs/ac UAN-N performed better if planted in soil that had received in the previous 6 yr 4.5 or 6.6 Mg/ha litter than the cotton planted in soil that had received conventional inorganic fertilizers. This suggests litter benefits extend beyond the same year of application which may be related with better soil health if fertilized with manures. The results also showed that returning the productivity of severely depleted soil, due to continuous cotton production without adequate fertilization, to normal production may not be easy.