The application of broiler litter to growing crops has a two-fold purpose. It provides a means of disposing of litter and it also provides nutrients to the plants and organic matter to soils. The application of broiler litter should be determined by the nutrients in litter and the nutrient needs of the crop. Broiler litter has several advantages when applied to growing crops. Broiler litter improves soil fertility.
Litter contains many plant nutrients that are beneficial to soils.
Broiler litter helps increase organic matter content of soils. Organic matter is the life of a soil. Organic matter will increase the water holding ability, improve soil aeration, improve soil structure, increase the plant nutrient-holding ability and increase microorganisms. Sandy soils of East Texas have a low water-holding ability. Organic matter has good water retention abilities which help sandy soils.