2020
Effects of Poultry Litter Application on Soybean Yield and Quality
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
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

Poultry litter is a great source of macro and micronutrients for soybean production. While we found higher N in the biomass of soybean as we increased N rate, we did not see that correlate to yield. In fact, we saw a slight decrease in yield with increasing inorganic nitrogen rates at two locations. While we saw an increase in yield and grain protein at one location, this appears to be driven by the late planting at that location in 2020, indicating these nutrient applications might have more value in late planted soybeans. More research is needed to fully investigate the interaction of planting date and nitrogen application in soybean.

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.