Corn Response to Biosolids and Poultry Manure as N Source in East Arkansas.

Agricultural producers in eastern Arkansas have shown an interest in organic sources of N due to unstable synthetic fertilizer prices coupled with desire for improving soil quality. The objective of this two-year study was to evaluate the effect of fresh poultry litter (FPL), pelleted poultry litter (PPL), and a heat dried pelleted biosolids (marketed under the trade name of Top Choice Organic) on irrigated corn yield, leaf N concentration, and grain nutrients’ uptake. Field experiment was conducted on a Calloway silt loam in eastern Arkansas in 2009 and 2010. The FPL, PPL, TCO, and urea each were applied at five equal rates of 60-300 lb total N/acre and compared to a no N fertilized control. All the other nutrients were applied as recommended by soil test results. The same type and rate of amendments were applied to the same plots in both years. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replications of each treatment. In 2009 N application significantly (P <0.0001) increased corn ear-leaf N concentration, grain yield and grain N, P, and K uptake. Grain yield of non-fertilized corn was 20 bu/acre, yields of urea treated corn ranged from 50 to 153 bu/acre and yields of corn fertilized with organic-N ranged from 32 to 101 bu/acre. The data indicated that FPL, PPL, and TCO are high organic matter, low-grade sources of N that could be used in corn fertilization programs. Corn grain yields were increased similarly by FPL, PPL, and TCO, but not to the same extent as corn fertilized with urea. Therefore, these organic soil amendments should be combined with conventional N fertilizers for producing maximum crop yields and preventing application of excessive P rates. The data for 2010 will be added to the presentation.