Effects of Long-Term Poultry Litter Application to Cotton on Succeeding Corn Crop Production

ABSTRACT Long-term application of organic manures in crop production often leads to environmental problems. After applying poultry litter on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) from 1994 to 1998, a test crop of corn (Zea mays L.) was planted in 1999 to understand the poultry litter's long-term effects on succeeding crop. The experiment was conducted on a Decatur silt loam soil (Clayey, Kaolinitic thermic, Typic paleudult) at Belle Mina, AL. Treatments on cotton included three sources of nitrogen: urea, fresh poultry litter (FPL), and composted poultry litter (CPL); three nitrogen rates: 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha−1; with and without nitrification inhibitor carboxymethyl pyrazole (CMP). The test crop, corn, received no fertilization except for super imposed N treatments in the control plots. The residual effects of 40 kg N ha−1 FPL and CPL increased corn yields by 9% and 24%, respectively, compared to control; similar responses at 120 kg N ha−1 of FPL and CPL were 81% and 202%, respectively. The differences betwee...