Does Fertilizing Corn with Poultry Litter Enrich the Grain with Mineral Nutrients?

Abstract

Whether poultry litter (PL) increases concentration of selected mineral elements in corn (Zea mays L.) grain has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether fertilizing corn with PL enriches the grain and other plant parts with selected mineral elements. Corn was grown in the field in northern Mississippi with no fertilization (UTC) or fertilization with 9 or 18 Mg ha–1 PL, or 202 kg ha–1 NH4NO3–N applied in the fall vs. spring. Poultry litter, regardless of application timing, increased soil total N and extractable P, K, Mg, Cu, Mn, and Zn by up to twofold relative to NH4NO3–N. Litter also increased concentration of N, P, Cu, and Zn in leaves and stems but did not particularly enrich the grain with any of the measured elements. Grain N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations were highest in corn fertilized with 202 kg ha–1 NH4NO3–N applied in the spring. Poultry litter increased grain concentrations of these elements to equal those of the NH4NO3–N fertilized corn only if it also increased the N level in the plant and the grain. High positive correlation of grain N with grain P, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn suggests that conditions that increase grain protein level would also increase the levels of P, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the grain and that the level of mineral elements in corn grain is dependent on the level of N nutrition of the corn plant. Core Ideas Nitrogen accumulates in corn grain in proportion to its availability in the soil. Phosphorus, K, and other elements do not accumulate in the grain in proportion to their soil levels. Mineral element level in grain depends on grain N level. Poultry litter elevates grain nutrient levels only when it also elevates N level. Optimal N fertilization may be the best approach to produce optimal yield and nutritious grain.

Managing soil nutrient buildup by rotating crops and fertilizers following repeated poultry litter applications

“…However, the average amount of K removed from the soil in harvested plant parts by the N5L treatment was an average across years and the four rotation treatments of 43 kg ha −1 yr −1 (21-63 kg K ha −1 yr −1 ) (Tewolde, unpublished data, 2021). This K removal amount is consistent with reported K removal amounts for the three crops: 20-30 kg ha −1 for cotton (Tewolde, et al, 2010), 40-45 kg ha −1 for corn (Heckman et al, 2003;Nathan et al, 2006;Tewolde, et al, 2019), and 50-65 kg ha −1 for soybean (Bender et al, 2015;Nathan et al, 2006). The highest PL rate (N5L) supplied an average of 192 kg ha −1 yr −1 K, which implies that 149 kg ha −1 yr −1 remained in the soil because an average of only 43 kg ha −1 yr −1 was removed at harvest.…”

“…Nutrient removal from the soil in the harvested plant parts of the three crops selected for this study is known to vary substantially. For example, with yields typical for the southeastern United States, cotton removes 15–19 kg ha −1 P in harvested seedcotton, an amount that is less than half that is removed in harvested corn grain (40 kg ha −1 ) (He et al., 2013; Heckman et al., 2003; Nathan et al., 2006; Rochester, 2007; Tewolde et al., 2007, 2010,; 2019). Soybean removes about 18.0 kg ha −1 P in harvested seed.…”

“…The concentration of most mineral elements in the corn grain is far less than the concentration in cotton or soybean seed. For example, the concentration of P averaged across several sources is 4.05 g kg −1 in corn compared with 7.67 g kg −1 in cotton seed and 5.15 g kg −1 in soybean seed (He et al, 2013;Heckman et al, 2003;Nathan, Sun, & Dunn, 2006;Rochester, 2007;Tewolde et al, 2007;Tewolde et al, 2010;Tewolde et al, 2019). Corn, however, removes more than twice the P amount in harvested grain (40.5 kg ha −1 ) than in harvested cotton seed (15.5 kg ha −1 ) or soybean (18.0 kg ha −1 ) with yields typical for the southeastern United States (He et al, 2013;Heckman et al, 2003;Nathan et al, 2006;Rochester, 2007;Tewolde et al, 2007Tewolde et al, , 2010Tewolde et al, , 2019.…”

Soil‐test biological activity with the flush of CO2: V. Validation of nitrogen prediction for corn production

“…Reduction in the need for N fertilizer inputs with application of animal manures has been oft observed due to significant N mineralization (Eghball, 2000; Jokela, 1992; Mitchell & Tu, 2005; Tewolde, Sistani, Feng, & Menkir, 2019). Determining the appropriate level of N fertilizer reduction with animal manure application is complicated by source of manure, variation in nutrient concentration of manures from the same source, handling of manure prior to application, and weather conditions following application that affect decomposition and release of nutrients (Eghball, Wienhold, Gilley, & Eigenberg, 2002; Larney & Hao, 2007; Zavattaro et al., 2017).…”

Broiler litter application rate and time impacts on corn ear mineral composition

“…Previous studies have assessed corn grain composition relative to N fertilizer rates, crop hybrids, planting density, tillage practices, irrigation, and crop rotation (Ciampitti et al., 2013; Fiel et al., 2005; Houx et al., 2016; Hussaini et al., 2008; Reidell et al., 2009). Only one study, to our knowledge, conducted in 2006 and 2007, has explored the effect of BL on corn grain nutrient composition by application rate and time (Tewolde et al., 2019). Therefore, with this limited information, we established our field study to determine how BL application affects corn ear (grain + cob) mineral concentrations.…”