Maryland's Eastern Shore is the home to one of the largest poultry industries in the country. Over 750,000 tons of poultry litter and manure are produced each year. Concerns with over application of poultry manure to agricultural lands has led to an interest in application of poultry litter to pine plantations that are common to the Eastern Shore. Forest application is a developed science in the southeast states, especially Georgia. The University of Maryland is cooperating with other partners and the University of Georgia to implement research studies that will determine the suitability of sites for poultry litter application.

To learn more about recent research work on the application of poultry litter to forests contact Robert Tjaden.

Resources

• Economic Value of Poultry Litter Supplies In Alternative Uses by Erik Lichtenberg, Doug Parker, and Lori Lynch; October, 2002; Center for Agricultural and Natural Resource Policy

• Nutrient and Poultry Litter Management; University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

• Poultry Litter Application Recommendations in Pine Plantations - The Bugwood Network
  http://www.bugwood.org/fertilization/PLARPP.html

• Willingness of Forest Landowners To Use Poultry Litter as Fertilizer by Lori Lynch and Robert Tjaden; Working Paper No. 01-09