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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #191089
Title: POULTRY LITTER INDUCES TILLERING

Author
item Miller, Helen
item ROBNETT, GARY - FARMER COOPERATOR

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Miller, H.B., Robnett, G.L. 2005. Poultry litter induces tillering [abstract]. In: Proceedings of Meristems 2005, June 2-5, 2005, Ames, Iowa.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Poultry litter (PL) is used as a soil amendment for numerous crops, including rice. While it is known that rice growth is improved by PL, little study has been carried out to identify the specific growth parameters that are altered. We have identified a marked increase in the number of tillers (shoots) in rice plants grown in soil containing PL. The tests have been done in the greenhouse and confirmed in the field. The beneficial effect of PL has been ascribed to its nutrient composition. However, we have found that the tiller number of plants grown in soil amended with both PL and complete fertilizer exceeds that of plants grown in soil amended with fertilizer alone. Thus, PL appears to contain a factor in addition to any fertilizer components that improves rice growth by inducing tillering.