Integration of poultry litter and mineral nitrogen on growth and yield of winter canola

Canola (Brassica napins L.) has the potential to be used as a winter crop in the southeastern United States, but little is known about its nitrogen management when grown in this region. Increasing fertilizer costs have increased interest in using poultry litter (PL) as an alternative nutrient source for crops in this region. However, evaluation of the use of PL on canola growth and yield is lacking. Thus, a field study was conducted at Shorter, AL (loamy sand soil) and Prattville, AL (fine sandy loam soil) using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertility treatments consisted of an unfertilized control (P0U0), commercial fertilizer N (urea, 180 kg N ha(-1), P0U180), PL at 68 kg N ha(-1) with 112 kg N ha(-1) urea (P68U112), PL at 112 kg N ha(-1) with 68 kg N ha(-1) urea (P112U68), and PL at 180 kg N ha(-1) (P180U0). Overall, the combination of PL and urea application significantly increased canola growth (plant height and aboveground biomass) and elevated grain yield compared with PL application alone or with the control. The P68U112 treatment resulted in an equivalent aboveground biomass, grain yield, and N uptake compared with the recommended urea treatment. This study suggests that a combination of PL and commercial fertilizer N could provide sustainable canola yield production in the southeastern United States.