The effects of in ovo injection of different carbohydrate solutions on hatchability of fertilized eggs (HF), rate of hatch, BW, body moisture, yolk sac weight, and yolk sac moisture of Ross × 708 broiler chicks, hatched from eggs laid by a 34-wk-old breeder flock, were investigated. Eggs containing live embryos were injected, using an automated multiple-egg injector, in the amnion on d 18.5 of incubation with 0.1, 0.4, 0.7, or 1.0 mL of commercial diluent or a carbohydrate dissolved in diluent. The commercial diluent containing 0.25 g/mL of one of the following carbohydrates was injected into eggs: glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, or dextrin. The results showed that no carbohydrate type or solution volume affected rate of hatch. Absolute and proportional BW on day of hatch were positively related to injection volume (P < 0.001). However, HF was negatively related to injection volume (P < 0.001). To realize an HF of 90%, the injection volume could not exceed 0.4 mL for fructose or sucrose and could not exceed 0.7 mL for glucose, maltose, or dextrin. Yolk-free BW was negatively related to injection volume of fructose and sucrose (P < 0.004), but was not related to injection volume of diluent, glucose, maltose, and dextrin. Conversely, absolute and proportional yolk sac weights were positively related to injection volume of fructose, sucrose, and dextrin (P < 0.01), but were also not significantly related to injection volume of diluent, glucose, and maltose. Yolk sac moisture was positively related to injection volume for all injectables, including the diluent (P < 0.03). However, body moisture and yolk-free body moisture were not related to injection type or volume. In conclusion, the use of carbohydrates added to a commercial diluent for the in ovo injection of broiler hatching eggs requires the use of appropriate volumes to promote growth and nutrient utilization without adversely affecting HF.

potential for decreasing the amount of symbiotic N 2 fixation. In contrast, Lory et al. (1992) reported that Although most of the N required by soybean [Glycine max (L.) topdressed manure addition to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Poultry litter is generated in large quantities in the same southeastern U.S. states where cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a dominant field crop, but is rarely used as a primary cotton fertilizer partly because of lack of adequate management recommendations. This research was conducted to determine adequate rates of broiler litter and whether supplementation with inorganic N would be necessary for optimum cotton lint yield and fiber quality. The research was conducted from 2002 to 2004 on two commercial farms representing conventional‐till (CT) and no‐till (NT) systems. The treatments consisted of an unfertilized control, a farm standard (STD) fertilized with inorganic fertilizers, and broiler litter of 2.2, 4.5, and 6.7 Mg ha−1 in an incomplete factorial combination with 0, 34, or 67 kg ha−1 N as urea–ammonium nitrate solution (UAN). Litter without supplemental UAN–N increased yield by 23 to 110 kg lint ha−1 for every 1.0 Mg ha−1 litter under both CT and NT. The often‐recommended litter rate of 4.5 Mg ha−1 was not adequate to increase yield to be equivalent to that of the STD that received 101 to 135 kg ha−1 as UAN. It was necessary to supplement this or the other litter rates with 34 or 67 kg ha−1. UAN–N to support yield equal to or greater than the yield of the STD. The most consistently well‐performing treatment under both tillage systems in all years was the 4.5 Mg ha−1 litter supplemented with 67 kg ha−1. UAN–N. Lint yield was highly correlated (r2 = 0.83–0.97) with applied total plant‐available N (NTPA) under both systems. Fiber quality, fiber length and micronaire in particular, also responded to NTPA, but the responses were smaller than lint yield. Litter when adequately supplemented with UAN–N did not adversely affect fiber quality. These results show broiler litter as much as 4.5 Mg ha−1 should be supplemented with inorganic N fertilizers when used as a primary cotton fertilizer and when the expected yield is ≈1700 kg ha−1 under CT and ≈1500 kg ha−1 under NT.

Understanding manure nutrient dynamics in soil with any crop is an important management practice for farmers and producers to document accountability and to use manure resources optimally. A field experiment was conducted to quantify input, output, and the year‐round major plant nutrient dynamics in a fine sandy loam soil supplied with 15.75 Mg ha−1 yr−1 broiler litter. Soil samples were collected from pre‐established plots of common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] and hybrid bermudagrass cultivars Coastal and Tifton 85 for nutrient analysis. Coastal and Tifton 85 produced significantly greater annual dry matter yield (16948 and 18772 kg ha−1) than common bermudagrass (11238 kg ha−1). Tifton 85 was most efficient and removed 344, 58, and 472 kg ha−1 N, P, and K, respectively. The removal efficiency of these nutrients for Tifton 85 was 73, 18, and 114%, respectively. Soil pH varied from 6.0 to 6.6 until it decreased unexpectedly to 5.6 by the end of 2001. Total soil C increased from 11.4 g kg−1 to 17.9 g kg−1 by the end of the second year. At all sampling dates, the NO3–N concentration was greater than NH4–N while total N decreased during the maximum uptake in late spring and summer. Both total P and Mehlich‐3 extractable P concentrations increased mainly in the 5‐ to 10‐cm depth, indicating slight leaching of P. Results indicated that top yield from hybrid bermudagrass cultivars is possible with broiler litter as a sole fertilizer source. However, considerable nutrient imbalances in soil may occur in the long term if improper litter rates are used.

Maximizing utilization of effluent nutrients by forage grasses requires a better understanding of irrigation rate and timing effects. This study was conducted in 1998 and 1999 on a Vaiden silty clay (very-fine, smectitic, thermic Aquic Dystrudert) soil to determine the effects of swine lagoon effluent irrigation rate and timing on bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] growth, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recovery, and postseason soil profile NO3(-)-N. Treatments consisted of swine effluent irrigation at the rates of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 ha-cm. Two additional treatments included 2.5 ha-cm applied on 1 September and 1 October in addition to a base summer rate of 10 ha-cm. In both years for early to mid-season irrigation, bermudagrass dry matter yield quadratically increased with increasing swine effluent irrigation rates. Averaged across years, effluent irrigation in October resulted in 30% less dry matter than in September. For late-season irrigation, apparent N recovery averaged 59% less and P recovery averaged 46% less with a delay in irrigation from 1 September to 1 October. The greatest quantity of soil NO3(-)-N was associated with both the greatest effluent rate and October irrigation treatments. Minimal yield benefit was obtained when effluent was applied at rates greater than 10 ha-cm during the summer months. Late-season irrigation, especially after 1 October for areas with similar climatic conditions, should be avoided to maximize synchronization of nutrient availability with maximum growth rates to minimize potential offsite movement of residual soil N and P.