2019
Effects of Poultry Litter Application on Soybean Yield and Quality
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Stephanie Kulesza, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
19-043
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

Limited information exists on the impact of poultry litter application on yield and quality of soybeans. This research seeks to determine the optimum poultry litter application rate for soybean production in North Carolina. It monitors soil nutrient status, soybean yield and soybean quality throughout the growing season. Trials also assess the nitrogen availability and lime equivalence of poultry litter rates compared to inorganic fertilizer.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

Over the past few decades, the poultry industry has increased drastically in North Carolina, which has increased the supply and availability of poultry litter for farmers to utilize as a fertilizer source. While poultry litter has traditionally been applied to corn and/or wheat within a rotation that includes soybean, prior to soybean in North Carolina. Unfortunately, there is little information available regarding the optimal rate of poultry litter applied directly before soybean or if adding poultry litter will elicit a consistent yield response in this crop. Our study, funded by the North Carolina Soybean Growers Association, aims to determine the optimum application rate for poultry litter prior to soybean to help farmers maximize yield while minimizing the potential for nutrient accumulation and/or nutrient loss to the environment. In the 2019 growing season, various rates of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (SUPERU™) and poultry litter were applied to soybean research plots on three research stations across the state, with poultry litter application four weeks prior to planting and fertilizer application the day of planting. Initial data indicate nodule formation decreased with increasing inorganic nitrogen application and slower release of nitrogen from poultry litter than anticipated. While nitrogen application rate did affect biomass nitrogen concentrations, yield was not significantly affected. This project will continue in the 2020 growing seasonto further investigate the impact of poultry litter application on soybean production.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.