Litter from houses cleaned after one or two flocks contains less manure and more bedding material. Although fall applications usually result in a positive response, spring applications provide the greatest benefit. Questions have been raised as to the number of applications necessary to completely restore productivity of these cut soils. Research suggests that 3 to 7 years of poultry litter applications with crop production and incorporating crop residues are required to return land to normal production. However, this varies with depth of cut, crop and land management and litter applications.
Poultry litter has some residual benefit.
Increased yields have been measured the second year after application compared to yields where no litter was applied. This is also illustrated by the greater benefit of spring applications versus fall applications. The decision to apply fresh or composted litter should be determined by a cost and availability comparison of the two materials. Top Fertilizer Management General fertility management on precision leveled soils does not differ from non-precision graded soils. While poultry litter is a source of nutrients, it is not a substitute for commercial fertilizer on cut soils.