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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 #421781
Research Project: Dynamic, Data-Driven, Sustainable, and Resilient Crop Production Systems for the U.S.

Location: Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research

Title: Optimization of poultry litter as a fertilizer for cotton production in a marginal upland soil

Author
item Tewolde, Haile
item Way, Thomas
item GARRETT, TREVOR - Mississippi State University
item SHANKLE, MARK - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2025
Publication Date: 4/11/2025
Citation: Tewolde, H., Way, T.R., Garrett, T., Shankle, M.W. 2025. Optimization of poultry litter as a fertilizer for cotton production in a marginal upland soil. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 71(4):433-442. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2025.2488794.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2025.2488794

Interpretive Summary: This study investigated whether applying poultry litter weeks after crop establishment is as effective as applying it before planting and whether the rate can be reduced if applied below the soil surface in narrow bands (often referred to as by subsurface banding) relative to the traditional surface broadcast for optimal cotton production in a marginally productive upland soil. The results show that applying poultry litter by subsurface banding offers the flexibility to apply it before or up to six weeks after planting in addition to the opportunity to reduce the rate needed for optimal cotton yield by as much as 26% relative to surface broadcasting. The results also show that applying agricultural lime to marginally acidic soils may not be necessary if poultry litter is applied regardless of the application method. These results overall show that cotton growers may realize substantial cost savings if they can find a way to apply poultry litter by subsurface banding in addition to the flexibility to apply the litter before or after planting cotton.

Technical Abstract: Opportunities to optimize the timing and rate of poultry litter (PL) when applied by the relatively new subsurface banding method have not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to test the effectiveness of applying PL after crop stand establishment relative to applying before planting and determine if the PL rate for optimal cotton lint yield can be reduced if applied by subsurface banding compared to broadcast application. Up to six PL rates ranging from 1.7–11.2 Mg/ha (26–198 kg/ha plant available N) applied by surface broadcast (Broad) or subsurface banding before (Sub-b) or after (Sub-a) planting cotton were compared with synthetic N rates ranging from 0–101 kg/ha in a no-till marginal soil. The results showed, relative to the Broad treatment, the Sub-b treatment was more efficient and led to a 26.1% reduction of the PL rate needed for optimal cotton yield. The Sub-b and Sub-a treatments were equally efficient suggesting applying PL by subsurface banding 5 to 6 wk after planting is as effective for cotton yield as PL applied 1 to 4 weeks before planting. Approximately 50% of the total N from PL can be assumed to become plant available during the cotton growing season if applied by subsurface banding, but not if applied by surface broadcast. These results show that applying PL by subsurface banding offers the flexibility to apply it before or weeks after planting in addition to reducing the rate needed for optimal cotton yield.