Subsurface banding poultry litter influences edamame yield, forage quality, and leaf greenness

Abstract

Poultry litter is generated in large quantities throughout the southeastern United States and is an excellent nutrient source for increasing crop yields. However, surface applications result in nutrient losses to air, soil, and water. Subsurface banding poultry litter is a promising technology for reducing nutrient losses to surface and groundwater, but information is needed on optimum crop seeding distance from bands. This study evaluated edamame [Glycine max (L.) Merr. 'Edamame'] yield (residue, pod, and total plant), crop quality, and leaf greenness. Subsurface banded poultry litter and crop row distances (13, 25, and 38 cm) were compared with surface-applied poultry litter (all received 168 kg ha −1 total N) under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions from 2019 to 2020. Both chlorophyll and edamame total yields were greatest (P ≤ .05) under subsurface banding litter, relative to surface applications, regardless of distance. Overall, greatest total crop yields were observed for 13-and 25-cm banding distances under irrigation and the 38-cm distance, irrespective of irrigation, relative to surface applications. Residue nutritive value for the 13-cm distance was greater under irrigation than dryland. Both systems provided high levels of nutritive residual mass, thus edamame could be used as a vegetable crop and a forage following harvest. Overall, subsurface banding poultry litter in conservation tillage systems is a viable replacement to surface applications for edamame production (vegetable and fodder), particularly in organic systems. Results can be used to develop nutrient management plans for organic edamame and other specialty crop production systems in the Mid-South.

Nutrient transformations based on sampling scheme and cropping system following subsurface‐banded poultry litter

“…Following deposition of litter in the trench, the injected litter was covered with soil. This no‐till band technique minimizes soil disturbance and has the added benefit of pulverizing the PL, thus precluding the need for pre‐grinding litter (Ashworth et al., 2022).…”

“…Previous row crop history can be found in Ashworth et al. (2022). Briefly, four edamame [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.…”

Agronomic and economic productivity of summer annual forage systems under different poultry litter application methods

“…In efforts to improve management, options that prevent ammonia losses and aid in optimum agronomic litter usage, a research team at the USDA‐ARS developed a tractor drawn implement for subsurface band application of dry litter in conservation tillage systems (Pote et al., 2011). Knifing the litter below the soil surface, “subsurface”, reduces NH 3 volatilization by 88% (Pote & Meisinger, 2014) leading to nutrient use efficiency gains in perennial (Nieman et al., 2021, 2023; Pote et al., 2003, 2011) and annual crops (Ashworth et al., 2022; Ashworth & Nieman, 2022). Observed forage yield increase under subsurface application can range from 25% to 40% (Pote et al., 2003, 2009), and crude protein increases are generally modest ranging from 1% to 7% (Kulesza et al., 2016; Nieman et al., 2023).…”