Influence of broiler litter band positioning on cotton growth and yield in a Blackland Prairie soil

Abstract

AbstractSubsurface band application of broiler litter in soil is being evaluated across the United States as a potential management practice for curbing phosphorus loss and improving nutrient retention. This management practice also shows promise for increasing yields of row crop systems. Determining the optimum plant distance from the subsurface banded broiler litter (BL) could be useful to optimize crop yields. Thus, a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) experiment was established to investigate the distance of a subsurface BL band from the planted row on cotton growth and yield. Treatments consisted of subsurface banding BL at 0, 10, 20, 30 cm from the crop row plus a non‐fertilized check, broadcast BL, and banding of urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN) at 20 cm to the side of rows as controls. Subsurface band placement of BL and UAN occurred just prior to sowing at a depth of 10 cm. Placing BL in subsurface bands tended to increase cotton yield compared to surface broadcasting the litter. When comparing BL band positions, cotton lint yield was generally greatest when BL was placed in subsurface bands 20 cm or less from the planted row. Minimal differences in cotton fiber quality were observed among treatments. Results suggest the reduced distance between the cotton row and a subsurface BL band can increase cotton growth and yield.