Long‐Term Tillage and Poultry Litter Impacts on Soybean and Corn Grain Yield

Abstract

Reduced tillage, poultry litter applications, crop rotations, and winter cover cropping are management practices that could be used with conservation tillage systems to increase yields compared to conventional monoculture systems. Th is study evaluated cropping sequences of corn (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and corn-soybean rotations with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) covers in conventional, strip, and no-tillage (no-till) systems, following poultry litter additions to wheat cover. Th e study was conducted from 1991 to 2001 on a Hartsells fi ne sandy loam (fi ne-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludults). Poultry litter (112 kg N ha −1 ) was applied to wheat each year in fall. Wheat not receiving poultry litter received equivalent inorganic N. Corn was fertilized with inorganic fertilizer in spring with 56 kg N ha −1 at planting followed by 168 kg N ha −1 3 wk aft er emergence; soybean received no fertilizer. Corn yields were infl uenced by tillage in Crop rotations increased corn yield for all years, except 2001. Soybean yields were not impacted by diff erences in tillage. Crop rotations signifi cantly impacted soybean yield in 1992, 1995, and 1998, with higher yields observed in 1992, and 1995, and lower yields in 1998. Poultry litter signifi cantly increased soybean yield 8 of the 9 yr evaluated. Th is study suggests that poultry litter use for these crop rotations in conservation tillage systems could increase sustainable yield production.

The Effect of Poultry Litter Application on Agricultural Production: A Meta-Analysis of Crop Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility

“…Hirzel et al (2007) found similar results with corn silage; yield averages obtained from PL additions were comparable to that of urea. Watts and Torbert (2011) also reported that soybean yields were increased 8 out of 9 years when PL was used as a nutrient source. In contrast, a 2.5-year bermudagrass field study showed that forage yield with broiler litter was 64, 48, and 67 % of yield with ammonium nitrate applied at the same N level in these three years, respectively (Woodard and Sollenberger, 2011).…”

“…Thus, poultry litter may be a valuable nutrient source for row crop production systems. Numerous studies have proven that poultry litter can be used as an effective fertility source (Hirzel et al, 2007;Mitchell and Tu, 2005;Reddy et al, 2004;Tewolde et al, 2009a;Watts and Torbert, 2011;Wiatrak et al, 2004). However, poultry litter may produce yields different to that of commercial fertilizer sources.…”

Impact of Crop Rotations and Soil Amendments on Long‐Term No‐Tilled Soybean Yield

“…Stabilization of soil aggregates by the use of soil amendments (or poultry litter and cover crops) can increase water-holding capacity of soils, and thus positively impact crop growth (Watts and Torbert, 2011). In a study by Kabir and Koide (2000), winter wheat increased soil aggregation compared to a winter fallow control.…”

Long‐Term Corn Yield Impacted by Cropping Rotations and Bio‐Covers under No‐Tillage

“…Studies comparing N accumulation using poultry litter and ammonium nitrate have demonstrated higher levels of total N as well as nitrate following poultry litter applications (Nyakatawa et al, 2001;Mitchell and Tu, 2006). In addition, cereal cover crops such as rye and winter wheat can reduce nitrate leaching by capturing N from the preceding crop (Strock et al, 2004;Costa et al, 2000); however, cereal covers may not return N to soils, resulting in no yield benefit to subsequent row crops (Watts and Torbert, 2011). However, the extent of this is unknown for long-term corn systems under no-tillage; therefore more region-specific data are needed.…”