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Integration of poultry litter and mineral nitrogen on growth and yield of winter canola
Author(s) -
Lin Yaru,
Watts Dexter B.,
Torbert H. Allen,
Howe Julie A.,
Feng Yucheng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.1002/agj2.20158
Subject(s) - canola , loam , poultry litter , agronomy , fertilizer , randomized block design , urea , rapeseed , brassica , nitrogen , field experiment , biomass (ecology) , crop , nutrient , biology , zoology , chemistry , soil water , ecology , organic chemistry , biochemistry
Canola ( Brassica napins L.) has the potential to be used as a winter crop in the southeastern United States, but little is known about its nitrogen management when grown in this region. Increasing fertilizer costs have increased interest in using poultry litter (PL) as an alternative nutrient source for crops in this region. However, evaluation of the use of PL on canola growth and yield is lacking. Thus, a field study was conducted at Shorter, AL (loamy sand soil) and Prattville, AL (fine sandy loam soil) using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertility treatments consisted of an unfertilized control (P 0 U 0 ), commercial fertilizer N (urea, 180 kg N ha −1 , P 0 U 180 ), PL at 68 kg N ha ‐1 with 112 kg N ha −1 urea (P 68 U 112 ), PL at 112 kg N ha −1 with 68 kg N ha −1 urea (P 112 U 68 ), and PL at 180 kg N ha −1 (P 180 U 0 ). Overall, the combination of PL and urea application significantly increased canola growth (plant height and aboveground biomass) and elevated grain yield compared with PL application alone or with the control. The P 68 U 112 treatment resulted in an equivalent aboveground biomass, grain yield, and N uptake compared with the recommended urea treatment. This study suggests that a combination of PL and commercial fertilizer N could provide sustainable canola yield production in the southeastern United States.