POULTRY LITTER APPLICATIONS IN PINE PLANTATIONS

摘要

There are environmental, growth, pine straw production, increased revenue, and cost reduction benefits to poultry litter applications in pine plantations when applied properly. The principle limitation is pine stand access. Other limiting factors include hauling distance and number of acres applied/day. Poultry litter application rate/level determination depends upon pine species, age, stocking, current site fertility, poultry litter characteristics, frequency of application, and soil test-P levels over time. Pine stands where poultry litter is to be applied should have low (<25-30%) stem fusiform canker incidence and low hardwood stocking (<10 ft~2 BA/acre) to maximize the growth benefit to the crop pine trees. Preliminary research has shown that large growth increases occur when poultry litter is applied to pine plantations.