Effects of Poultry Litter Application on Soil Physics and Hydraulic Properties for Increasing Crop Water Use Efficiency.

Keeping soil healthy is essential for sustainable crop production. Using soil health principles and integrated approaches that include no-till, cover crops, organic amendment and diverse rotations can improve soil health. Large amount of poultry litter is generated in the southeastern United States and has been used as an alternative to inorganic commercial fertilizer. It has been found that litter application increased soil organic matter, however, impact of poultry litter application on soil physical and hydraulic properties were not well documented. This study investigated soil physical and hydraulic properties twice in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 after precision sub-surface band placement of pelletized poultry litter on a Marietta loam soil for 4 years from 2010 to 2013. Comparisons were made among three complete block randomized treatments which composed of pelletized poultry litter sub-surface band at rate of 6.7 Mg ha^-1, urea ammonium nitrate at rate of 134 kg ha^-1, and unfertilized control. In comparison with the results of control treatment measured in fall 2014 and spring 2015, pelletized poultry litter application increased 10% and 17% for soil aggregate stability, 34% and 28% for plant available water, 22% and 18% for field capacity, 44% and one thousand times for saturated hydraulic conductivity, and 35% and three times for infiltration rate. Soil bulk density and penetration resistance were decreased by 4 and 6% in 2014. As compared with application of inorganic commercial fertilizer in Fall 2014, pelletized poultry litter application increased soil aggregate stability, plant available water, field capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and infiltration rate by 6%, 18%, 11%, 38% and 44%, respectively.