Use of chicken litter for Bermuda grass production in south Texas
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Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter was applied to Coastal Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) at various rates based on N and P requirements of the soil at two different locations in south-central Texas. One site was located on coarse sandy soil (fine, montmorillonite, thermic Udertic Palcustolls) while the other site was a finer heavier soil (fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Udic Pellusterts). At the sandy site, Bermuda grass yields were consistently greater with the 2 N (500 to 650 lb/A N) rate of chicken litter compared with that of the commercial fertilizer (200 lb/A N). When chicken litter application was based on 1/2 or 1 N (250 to 325 lb/A N), Bermuda grass yields were comparable. The 1 (28 to 115 lb/A N) and 2 P (56 to 226 lb/ A N) rates of chicken litter resulted in reduced yields when compared with that of the commercial fertilizer. At the heavier soil site, the 2 N rate of chicken litter produced greater Bermuda grass yield than that of the commercial fertilizer in 2 of 7 cuttings. At both sites, crude protein content of the Bermuda grass increased as chicken litter rate increased but crude protein content of Bermuda grass treated with chicken litter was not higher than that of the commercial fertilizer. Concentrations of P in forage increased as chicken litter rate increased and was higher in forage treated with chicken litter compared to commercial fertilizer. The movement of P in soil water increased as the rate of chicken litter increased. Nutrient levels in the soil of P and K were higher in chicken litter treated plots than commercial fertilizer at the heavier soil site, but this was not true at the sandy soil site. 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
