With crop prices low and inputs high, it is important to discover ways to grow a crop more economically without sacrificing yield. In northeast Alabama, chicken litter is readily available. It is an economical, nutritional supplement for crops and can be used in place of expensive conventional fertilizer. Chicken litter releases nutrients to the plant more slowly. Its release into the soil is dependent upon rain and temperature. A study explored whether chicken litter could be used on winter wheat during preplant in the fall instead of a conventional 5-20-20 fertilizer.

Methods

The study was conducted on a winter wheat field in north Alabama in winter 2024 and spring 2025. The field was split into two treatments:

• Field 1 had 5-20-20 applied at 350 pounds of product per acre in the fall preplant. This is 17.5 pounds of nitrogen, 70 pounds of phosphorus, and 70 pounds of potassium.
• Field 2 had 2.5 tons per acre of chicken litter applied in the fall preplant for an analysis of 3-3-2. This was 150 pounds of nitrogen, 150 pounds of phosphorus and 100 pounds of potassium.

In early February, both fields also received an application of 250 pounds per acre of urea, which is 115 pounds of actual nitrogen. Tissue samples were taken once every week from February 10 to April 9. The results are included as graphs.

Results

Based on tissue samples, the results showed chicken litter could be used during preplant in place of a conventional 5-20-20 fertilizer. While final harvest and yield results will not be available until May, the study showed both fertility strategies supplied ample nutrients to the wheat field. Of note, the chicken litter provided more of the secondary elements that are not in a traditional blend of conventional fertilizers.

Charts

Figure 1. Comparison of Chicken Litter to Conventional Fertilizer by Sample Date: Potassium (K) and Nitrogen (N)

Figure 2. Comparison of Chicken Litter to Conventional Fertilizer by Sample Date: Phosphorus (P)

Figure 3. Comparison of Chicken Litter to Conventional Fertilizer by Sample Date: Magnesium (Mg)

Figure 4. Comparison of Chicken Litter to Conventional Fertilizer by Sample Date: Calcium (Ca)

Figure 5. Comparison of Chicken Litter to Conventional Fertilizer by Sample Date: Sulfer (S).