The use of poultry litter and poultry litter compost as a soil amendment in Delta cotton production was investigated. Yield responses and crop development were monitored in 1991 and 1992 for irrigated cotton (Stoneville 453) on a Desha silt loam in Rowher, Arkansas. In a randomized split-plot experiment, litter treatments of 0, 900, 2700 lbs/A and composted litter treatments of 0, 900 and 2700 lbs/A were compared. In addition, applications of 2700 and 8100 lbs/A of fresh litter and 2700 lbs/A of composted litter in 1991 were included. Differences from untreated controls in yield and earliness were generally detected for most litter/compost treatments. However, yield increases were not generally large enough to cover expected costs of use. There was little evidence that the derive demand four poultry litter and poultry litter compost for use as a soil amendment on productive cotton soil is consistently great enough to offset the likely costs of acquisition, transportation and processing. The most promising soils to target poultry use in cotton are likely to be soils graded for irrigation management.