Soil physical and hydrological properties as affected by a five‐year history of poultry litter applied to a cotton–corn–soybean rotation system

Abstract

AbstractFew studies were conducted to ascertain poultry litter (PL) and its residual influence on soil physical and hydrological properties. A field study was conducted on a sandy loam soil for 8 yr in corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotations at Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station in Verona, MS. Poultry litter treatment was applied to the three crops at an average of 7.6 Mg ha–1 yr–1 in the first 5 yr. The inorganic fertilizer treatment was 224 and 100 kg ha–1 yr–1 for corn and cotton. Inorganic P and K fertilizers applied were based on soil analysis, but no synthetic N was applied to soybean. Soil properties and yields were measured in the first year (2015) and third years (2017) after stopping PL application and planting all plots with soybean. Applying PL for 5 yr significantly improved soil aggregate stability by 17%. Infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity was two to three times greater in soil amended with PL than with inorganic fertilizer. Poultry litter addition significantly increased field capacity and plant available water content by 20%. Those soil properties were not affected by the rotation treatments. Total soil C did not differ between PL and fertilizer treatment. Soybean yield was continuously increased by 8% in 2015 and 11% in 2017 after stopping PL application. Poultry litter application is capable of improving soil physical and hydrological properties, and its residual could sustain soybean yield for 3 yr after stopping applications.