ABSTRACT

Poultry litter which is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other essential plant nutrients can be an inexpensive fertilizer for cotton and a valuable means of disposal and possibly a source of income for poultry producers. We conducted a study to determine whether litter should be supplemented with inorganic fertilizers for optimum cotton growth and yield. The study was conducted in large plots at a commercial farm in Mississippi. Poultry litter rates of 1, 2, and 3 ton/acre were tested in combination with 0, 30, or 60 lbs/acre UAN-N as supplements. These treatments were also compared against an untreated control and the farm standard practice which consisted of 120 lbs/acre of UAN-N and 150 lbs/acre of K2O as KCl. Lint yield increased linearly with increasing rates of litter up to 3 ton/acre with no supplemental UAN-N. Litter at 2 ton/acre supplemented with 60 lbs/acre UAN-N produced the largest yield-1544 lbs/acre-which is 3.7% greater than that of the farm standard. The results suggest that 2 ton/acre litter with about 2.3% total N may not be adequate for cotton and, therefore, should be supplemented with inorganic N at least in the first year of use.