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.
Pastures planted in soils where litter has been applied for several years will remain green and grow longer in dry years. Plant roots take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. A root will not grow without oxygen. Air exchange in the root zone is essential for root growth. A poor root system provides a poor top growth.