Abstract
In Chile, the availability of poultry manure has recently increased as a result of expanding poultry production. The application of this organic waste on agricultural land is desirable since it not only helps recycle nutrients but also solves the problem of its disposal. A two year field study was undertaken to compare the effects of poultry litter (PL) and traditional mineral fertilizer on the growth of silage maize (Zea mays L.). The effects of adding mean annual PL rates of 10, 15 and 20 Mg haE-1, with and without mineral fertilizer, were compared with those of two rates of conventional mineral fertilizer and a control treatment (no fertilizer). Crop yield showed a positive response to the fertilized treatments and fluctuated between 26.30 and 37.13 Mg haE-1; values for the controls ranged between 17.12 and 23.80 Mg haE-1. The yield averages obtained with the PL treatments were 13.85 and 9.05 Mg haE-1 higher than the controls in the first and second year respectively. Nutrient uptake was similar with the PL and conventional fertilizer treatments. The mean of apparent efficiency of N recovery (AENR) for the PL treatments was higher than that of conventional fertilizer treatments, suggesting PL to be an appropriate N supply that suffers only small N losses. The highest AENR was obtained with the lowest PL dose, indicating this to be the most appropriate rate. In conclusion, PL is an efficient alternative to conventional mineral fertilizers for silage maize production.
Highlights
In Chile, 119,320 ha of silage maize (Zea mays L.) were cultivated in 2004 (INE, 2004a) — until the largest area ever devoted to this crop
The main commercial manure produced in Chile is poultry litter (PL), i.e., poultry excreta mixed with bedding material
The P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations (Table 5) of plants grown either with PL or inorganic fertilizer were adequate for silage maize production
Summary
In Chile, 119,320 ha of silage maize (Zea mays L.) were cultivated in 2004 (INE, 2004a) — until the largest area ever devoted to this crop. Silage maize is cultivated under irrigation between 29°20’ and 44°04’ S. It is commonly fertilized with conventional fertilizers (inorganic sources), but several authors have shown it to respond well to manures and composts (Parkinson et al, 1999; Adegbidi and Briggs, 2003; Ferguson et al, 2005). The main commercial manure produced in Chile is poultry litter (PL), i.e., poultry excreta mixed with bedding material. In 2004 the production of broiler chickens was 446,233 Mg (INE, 2004b), which generated an estimated 290,108 Mg of PL
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