Any producer considering using broiler litter should gather as much information as possible before making the final decision. Using broiler litter as a fertilizer requires careful application and thoughtful planning. Researchers at Auburn are exploring many questions related to the use of broiler litter, but much information is still to be determined. This publication presents the most commonly asked questions concerning the use of poultry litter on crops and the best answers available at this time. For more information, call your county Extension agent .
All crops can use poultry litter as a source of fertilizer.
However, because one of the main fertility values of poultry litter is nitrogen, legume crops will not benefit as much as non-legumes. Commonly grown legume crops in Alabama include peanuts, soybeans, alfalfa, and clovers. If fertilizer nitrogen or poultry litter is applied to legumes, they will use the applied nitrogen and not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Therefore, pastures with clover-grass mixtures will not respond as well as to poultry litter as pure grass pastures. Non-legume crops that respond well to poultry litter include corn, sorghum, millet, small grains, cotton, grass pastures, and hayfields.