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Poultry Manure Nitrogen Availability Influences Winter Wheat Yield and Yield Components
Author(s) -
Savala Ca E. N.,
Crozier Carl R.,
Smyth T. Jot
Publication year - 2016
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 - 10.2134/agronj2015.0355
Subject(s) - agronomy , manure , mathematics , fertilizer , ammonium nitrate , yield (engineering) , field experiment , nitrogen , zoology , chemistry , biology , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Standard poultry manure use recommendations in North Carolina consider waste analysis but not differences among manure types, cropping seasons, or application timing. This study evaluated poultry manure source, N rate strategy, and application time effects on soft red winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) tiller density, yield components, grain yield, and N availability coefficients. Coefficients included fertilizer N equivalence based on grain yield and plant‐available N based on aboveground plant N content. Four field experiments used broiler litter (BL) and composted layer manure (CLM), two rates (67 and 134 kg total‐N ha −1 ), and three different application times (incorporated in October preplant, Feekes’ 3 in December/January, or Feekes’ 4 in February). Dual‐source treatments received 67 kg N ha −1 of manure plus 67 kg N ha −1 as urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution at Feekes’ 5. Fertilizer‐N (UAN) rate treatments (0, 39, 78, 117, and 156 kg N ha −1 ) were also included. Yields responded to N inputs but were lowest when BL and CLM were applied at 67 kg N ha −1 either preplant or at Feekes’ 3. Grain yield and N availability were greater with CLM than with BL (3.0 vs. 2.8 t ha −1 grain and 58 vs. 52 kg ha −1 N uptake, respectively). Availability coefficients ranged from 12 to 32%, lower than the standard assumed values of 50 to 60%. The feasible poultry manure application window includes preplant until Feekes’ 4, but fertilizing winter wheat crops solely with poultry manure may supply less N than intended.