Effects of long-term poultry litter application to cotton on succeeding corn crop production
2002
Malik, R.K. | Reddy, K.C.
Long-term application of organic manures in crop production often leads to environmental problems. After applying poultry litter on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) from 1994 to 1998, a test crop of corn (Zea mays L.) was planted in 1999 to understand the poultry litter's long-term effects on succeeding crop. The experiment was conducted on a Decatur silt loam soil (Clayey, Kaolinitic thermic, Typic paleudult) at Belle Mina, AL. Treatments on cotton included three sources of nitrogen: urea, fresh poultry litter (FPL), and composted poultry litter (CPL); three nitrogen rates: 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha(-1); with and without nitrification inhibitor carboxymethyl pyrazole (CMP). The test crop, corn, received no fertilization except for super imposed N treatments in the control plots. The residual effects of 40 kg N ha(-1) FPL and CPL increased corn yields by 9% and 24%, respectively, compared to control; similar responses at 120 kg N ha(-1) of FPL and CPL were 81% and 202%, respectively. The differences between the previous 80 and 120 kg N ha(-1) were also significant. There was no effect of CMP on corn yield and N uptake in 1999 or on cotton in the previous 5 years of application. Rotation of cereal crops like corn, with fibrous root systems, helps to remove any residual nitrogen from long-term poultry litter application to dicots like cotton, thus reducing any environmental concerns.
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