Project Number: 6406-12630-004-06
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 15, 2007
End Date: Aug 14, 2009

Objective:
Test whether uncomposted fresh poultry litter can be used as an effective fertilizer for no-till cotton under real farm conditions by comparing it against farm standard conventional fertilizers. Test the long-term impact of repeated litter applications on litter management as a fertilizer, on soil nutrient accumulation, and on other soil chemical and physical properties.

Approach:
Poultry litter brought directly from local chicken farms and applied at different rates, with or without supplemental conventional nitrogen fertilizers, will be compared against farm standard fertilization on continuous cotton in relatively large plots using established research procedures. After 3 to 5 yearly litter applications, plots will be split into subplots to study long-term effect of repeated applications and to develop methods of managing nutrient buildup in the soil. Measurements of lint yield and fiber properties, soil and tissue analysis for nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu) will be used to compare litter against farm standard fertilization. End-of-season and periodic plant biomass production and chlorophyll meter readings will be used to support these determinations.