Dr. Geoff Brink, USDA-Agriculture Research Service agronomist, said the work is divided into three phases. Results from the test plots at Newton will be compared to a similar soil on a poultry producer's farm in Mize. This farm, owned by David Ware, has received poultry litter for about 25 years and has much higher nutrient levels than the Experiment Station test plot. Our objectives are to assist the poultry producer in reducing the accumulation of nutrients in the soils and also to examine how different litter management practices affect plant nutrient uptake. The grazing experiment is practical because poultry and cattle production are closely linked.
Poultry litter is an excellent fertilizer for forage used to feed cattle.
A future phase will look at poultry production's impact on the water quality of an entire watershed. Hite is studying ways to avoid over applying poultry litter in an area. She is also looking at economical transportation of the litter and the environmental benefits of it leaving the area. In addition to offering nutrient value and serving as a good soil amendment, transporting it out of the area would avoid pollution by overapplication. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.