Morphophysiological response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) to various farmyard manure and irrigation frequency

This study aims to assess the decomposition of manure biodegraded by fly larvae and the nutrient mineralization rates to understand the efficiency of the biodegraded manures for further use as soil amendment. A litter bag experiment was carried out over 75 d in an Acrisol in Benin using poultry manure, pig manure, mixture of poultry and sheep manure, mixture of poultry and cow manure, and mixture of poultry and pig manure, biodegraded by Musca domestica larvae. Nutrients content in the manures during the different stages of decomposition was analyzed. The mono-component exponential model Yt = Y0 × e−kt best described the manure decomposition and nutrients mineralization. The manures decomposed fast in the soil, and their nutrients were released fast in the poultry manure, the mixture of poultry and pig manure, and the mixture of poultry and cow manure. Nutrient mineralization increased in the order of P < N < K or N < P < K. Biodegradation of animal manures by fly larvae produced high-quality organic fertilizer through fast N and P release. This could aid in reducing the quantities of these elements applied as mineral fertilizer by farmers for sustaining agricultural soil productivity.

Wheat–soybean is one of the most dominant cropping systems on the Vertisols of central India. Cultivation of durum wheat in winter season (November to April) has a considerable potential due to congenial climate, while soybean in rainy season (June to October) has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the last two decades in the region. Beside including a legume (soybean) in sequence with a cereal crop (wheat), combined use of available organic sources along with chemical fertilizers may prove beneficial for long-term productivity and sustainability of the system. A long-term experiment was conducted during 1995–2000 on the fine-textured Vertisols at Indore, India to study the effect of combined use of farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure, vermicompost and biofertilizers (Azotobacter + phosphate solubilizing bacteria) with 0.5 and 1.0 NPK (120 kg N + 26.2 kg P + 33.3 kg K ha−1) on wheat, and residual effect on following soybean. Grain yield of aestivum wheat in the initial 2 years and durum wheat in the later 3 years was significantly increased with 0.5 NPK + poultry manure at 2.5 t ha−1 or FYM at 10 t ha−1 compared with 0.5 NPK alone, and was on par with 1.0 NPK. However, the highest productivity was obtained when these organic sources were applied along with 1.0 NPK. Quality parameters of durum wheat viz protein content, hectolitre weight and sedimentation value showed improvement, and yellow berry content was significantly lower with combined use of NPK + organic sources compared with NPK alone and control. Soybean did not show much response to residual effect of nutrient management treatments applied to wheat. Wheat gave higher profit than soybean, particularly in the later years due to lower grain yields and market price of soybean. However, the superiority of FYM as well as poultry manure along with 1.0 NPK was evident on the overall profitability of the system. Various soil fertility parameters including chemical and biological properties showed conspicuous improvement over the initial status under the treatments of FYM and poultry manure. Sustainability yield index was maximum under 1.0 NPK, followed by 1.0 NPK + poultry manure or FYM. It was concluded that application of available organic sources, particularly FYM and poultry manure along with full recommended dose of NPK fertilizers to wheat was essential for improving productivity, grain quality, profitability, soil health and sustainability of wheat–soybean system.

A faunistic survey was carried out on the manure-inhabiting mesostigmatic mites in Kerman County, South Eastern Iran, during 2011–2012. In this research, 36 species belonging to 23 genera and 14 families were collected and identified of which Ameroseius pavidus (C.L. Koch) (Ameroseiidae) and Trachytes baloghi Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol (Trachytidae) are considered here as new records for Iran mite fauna. The Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index was also calculated for these mite communities within cow, poultry, and sheep manures in nine different districts of the County. Mite community within cow manures, with 31 species, was more diverse than poultry and sheep manures which had 14 and 13 species, respectively. The highest (2.2±0.07) and the lowest (0) mean values of diversity index were calculated for Sekonj and Langar districts, respectively. Based on relative frequency, Uroobovella marginata (C.L. Koch), U. difoveolata Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol, and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese) were the most dominant species in cow, sheep, and poultry manures, respectively. On the other hand, Macrocheles merdarius (Berlese) and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese) were the most widespread species.

Use of organic manures for crop productivity not only improve crop production but also improving soil physicochemical properties. It also reduces soil and water pollution by acting as chelating agent for inorganic nutrients. Keeping these things in view an experiment was carried out aiming the use of different organic manures for improving crop productivity and to select a potential organic manure that improve crop productivity compared to others. All the manures were applied at the same rate 5 tons ha-1. The results revealed that all the wheat parameters were significantly affected by differences in nature of organic manures except days to emergence. Plots receiving Poultry manures has high Spikes m-2 (274), Grains spike-1 (60), more 1000 grain weight (42.287 g), high biological yield (11435 kg ha-1) and high grain yield (3996 kg ha-1). Similarly, Sheep manure had also great effect on wheat parameters such as higher emergence m-2(103), Tillers m-2 (308), plant height (104.50 cm), Grains spike-1 (60) and similar 1000 grain weight compared to poultry manures (42.200). Cattle and Farmyard manure were also found better compared to legume residue but were found less important in improving wheat quality compared to poultry and sheep manure. Similarly, legume residues showed very poor performance in improving wheat quality compared to other organic manures. Wheat parameters were found better performed when poultry or sheep manures applied at the rate of 5 tons ha-1. Therefore, it is recommended that application of sheep or poultry manures at the rate mentioned above improve wheat components under the agro-climatic conditions of Pakistan.

Investigating the response of soil and vegetable crops to poultry and cow manure using ground and satellite data

Sustainable cotton production is under threat due to poor soil health, exhaustive nature of cotton crop in terms of depleting soil fertility and conventional farming practices. Hence, we investigated the role of soil amendments like biochar, poultry and farmyard manures with synthetic fertilizers to improve the soil mineral nutrients uptake, cotton productivity and overall reduction in nutrients losses. Two year field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of soil amendment of biochar, poultry and farmyard manures with synthetic fertilizers in improving the soil fertility and cotton productivity under arid climate of South-Punjab, Pakistan in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Experimental findings showed that highest values of soil available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and soil organic matter (SOM) were recorded with the soil incorporation of 5 Mg ha−1 poultry manure (PM) with 80:45:30 kg ha−1 NPK which was followed by soil incorporation of 10 Mg ha−1 farmyard manure (FYM) with 80:45:30 kg ha−1 NPK and soil incorporation of 3.5 Mg ha−1 biochar (BC) with 80:45:30 kg ha−1 NPK and ultimately improved soil fertility. Similarly, highest values of plant height, leaf area index (LAI), monopodial, sympodial branches and total bolls plant−1, boll weight, seed cotton and biological yield were recorded with amendment of 5 PM Mg ha−1 with 80:45:30 kg NPK ha−1 which was followed by 10 Mg FYM ha−1 with 80:45:30 kg NPK ha−1 and soil incorporation of 3.5 Mg BC ha−1 with 80:45:30 kg NPK ha−1 and ultimately improved cotton productivity. Conclusively, soil incorporation of biochar, poultry and farmyard manures with synthetic fertilizers as integrated nutrient management strategy might be a promising adaptation strategy for improving soil mineral nutrients uptake, cotton productivity and overall reduce the nutrients losses under arid environmental conditions

Effects of sodic water on soil sodicity and nutrient leaching in poultry and sheep manure amended soils

This study investigates the effects of poultry and cow manure on the performance of melons under the environmental conditions of Samangan and aims to determine the appropriate amount of fertilizer for improving poor soils and enhancing crop yields. The experiment was conducted in 1403 (2024) at the Samangan Institute of Higher Education using a randomized complete block design with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments included poultry manure at three levels (0, 5, and 15 tons per hectare) and cow manure at three levels (0, 30, and 60 tons per hectare). Results showed that cow manure, particularly at a rate of 60 tons per hectare, had the greatest effect on fruit characteristics and plant growth, leading to increases in weight, length, diameter, and number of fruits. Additionally, cow manure at 30 tons per hectare also demonstrated positive effects. Poultry manure at 15 tons per hectare positively influenced the weight, length, diameter, and number of fruits, but its impact was less than that of cow manure. In terms of plant growth, poultry manure at 15 tons per hectare significantly affected the number of leaves, while the lowest results were observed under no-fertilizer (control) conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to use cow and poultry manures appropriately to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products, with the amount and type of fertilizers adjusted based on production goals and crop characteristics.

Vol. 80 (2009) No. 3 (pp. 219–333) Original Papers Determination of major and trace-element concentrations in farmyard manure using an energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF) Hisaya MATSUNAMI*1, Kenji MATSUDA*2 and Yoshinori MIURA*1 *1Fukushima. Agric. Tech. Centr., *2Spectris Co. Ltd., PANalytical Division (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 219–225, 2009) We have developed a quick and simple method of determining major and trace- element concentrations in farmyard manure using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF) employing Cartesian geometry and equipped with secondary targets. A total of 122 farmyard manure samples (75 cattle manure, 23 poultry manure, 24 swine manure) were used to obtain calibration curves for 24 elements (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, Pb, Cd, As, Na, Al, Ti, V, Rb, Sr, Ba, Ce, Cr, Co, Ni and Zr). A sample briquette obtained by applying pressure to manure powder packed into a plastic ring was used for the fluorescence X-ray analysis, and calibration curves showing good linearity for 20 of the elements (all except Cr, Co, Ni and Zr) were obtained. The values determined using EDXRF showed close agreement with those determined using ICP-AES/MS. These results indicated that the XRF technique is suitable for practical analysis of major and trace-element concentrations in farmyard manure. The time needed to measure five elements (P, K, Ca, Cu, Zn) was thirty minutes per sample, and it also appears possible to reduce the measurement time if the precision requested by the user is lower. Determination of nutrients and hazardous heavy metals in farmyard manure prior to its application can be a useful technique to avoid excess accumulation of these elements on farmland. Key words: heavy metal, farmyard manure, trace element, major element, fluorescence X-ray analysis. Quantity of organic waste resources in Japan and capacity of local farmland to receive composted wastes Shin-Ichiro MISHIMA*1, Akira ENDO*2, Yasuhito SHIRATO*1 and Sonoko D. KIMURA*3 *1National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, *2Akita Prefectural University, *3Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 226–232, 2009) We estimated the quantities of fresh and composted livestock excreta, food refuse, and sewage sludge on a national and prefectural scale in Japan in 2005. The total amount of livestock excreta produced was 89 Tg fresh weight (FW), which contained 680 Gg N and 116 Gg P. The amount of compost produced from it was 11.9 Tg FW, which contained 184 Gg N; that is, composting reduced the N content to less than one-third. The total amount of food refuse produced was 22 Tg FW, which contained 185 Gg N and 26 Gg P. The amount of compost produced from it was 5.8 Tg FW, which contained 79 Gg N; that is, composting reduced the N content to less than half. The total amount of sewage sludge produced was 75 Tg FW, which contained 106 Gg N and 20 Gg P. The amount of compost produced from it was 2.0 Tg FW (1/40), which contained 40 Gg N; that is, composting reduced the N content to 2/5. Thus, composting is effective at reducing the amount of refuse. Japanese farmland has the capacity to receive 40 Tg FW of composted cattle manure: at 0 to 5.62 Mg FW ha–1 to paddy fields (depending on the prefecture), 10 Mg FW ha–1 to upland fields, 7.5 Mg FW ha–1 to orchards, and 20 Mg FW ha–1 to forage fields. The quantities of composted livestock manure, food refuse, and sewage sludge equated to 17, 15, and 5 Tg cattle manure. Therefore, Japanese farmland has the capacity to receive all composted wastes produced nationally. However, the amounts produced and the capacities to use them vary widely among prefectures. By our estimation, 6 prefectures out of 47 cannot use all the composted manure produced within them, and 14 can receive composts from outside. Our estimation did not take into account any limitations on nutrients in excess of needs or the heavy metal load. Therefore, nutrient imbalances might occur. The amount of compost made from organic wastes and the capacity of farmland to use it could be used to decide the fate of the wastes. Key words: compost, food refuse, livestock excreta, receiving capacity, sewage sludge. Time course transition of soil solution composition and its cation balance during repeated vegetable production using salt-concentrated compost Munehiro EBATO*1,3, and Mitsue KURIBARA*2 *1National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Nasu Research Station, *2Livestock Industry Research Center, Fukushima Agricultural Technology Center, *3present address: National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Miyota Research Station (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 233–240, 2009) On the grounds that salt-concentrated compost is a valuable organic fertilizer, we investigated the effects of successive applications on the growth of komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. peruviridis) and on soil by investigating the time course transition of the soil solution composition and its cation balance, and crop yield. In the first pot experiment, komatsuna was grown 4 times in succession in an Andosol and a Brown Lowland soil (Fluvisol) with chemical fertilizer, ordinary compost, or salt-concentrated compost. Although aboveground dry-matter yields with salt-concentrated compost tended to be higher than those with ordinary compost from the first to the third crop on both soils, they were significantly lower in the fourth crop. As the amount of salt-concentrated compost increased, the concentrations of Ca and Mg in komatsuna decreased. Soil electrical conductivity increased with the amount and number of applications of salt-concentrated compost. The values of ARK+Na, which were used to estimate the cation composition of the soil solution, decreased to a steady level by the beginning of the third crop. The results suggest that the yield decline caused by repeated application of salt-concentrated compost was due to both an increased soil solution concentration and its unsuitable composition, which prevented the komatsuna from absorbing Ca and Mg from the soil solution. In the second pot experiment, in which komatsuna was grown in the Andosol with salt-concentrated compost applied at 10 or 20 Mg ha–1, co-application of dolomite at 5 Mg ha–1 improved the soil solution ARK+Na immediately, and the yield of komatsuna increased accordingly. Key words: ARK+Na, komatsuna, salt-concentrated compost, soil solution composition, successive application. Effects of the stage of maturity and timing of application of cattle manure compost on the nitrogen fertilizer effect in forage rice cultivation Yoshitaka HARA*1, Kazunari TSUCHIYA*1,2 and Keiko NAKANO*1 *1Chikugo Research Station, National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, *2present address: Daisen Research Station, National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 241–249, 2009) We examined the effects of the stage of maturity of cattle manure compost and the timing of application on the N-fertilizer effect in forage rice. Rice plants were grown in several plots to which cattle manure compost of different stages of maturity was applied 0–4 weeks before soil puddling. In plots that received compost early or that received mature compost, the N concentration of the puddled-soil solution and the amount of N uptake by the rice plants were low. When compost at the midpoint of the first fermentation was applied just before soil puddling, rooting was delayed by a few days. However, there was no damage to the growth of the rice in any plot, and the whole crop yield was high (depending on the uptake of N). Yield was resistant to delays in rooting or to improper N supply, because the whole plant is harvested for forage, not just the grain. In addition, the degree of nitrate leaching into the subsoil was low when the compost was immature or was applied late. Consequently, in forage rice cultivation, cattle manure compost can be a highly effective N fertilizer if it is applied after the first fermentation and near soil puddling. Key words: application time, manure compost, degree of maturity, forage rice, paddy field. Trace elements of farmyard manure in Fukushima Prefecture Hisaya MATSUNAMI*1, Yasumasa OGAWA*2, Shin-ichi YAMASAKI*2 and Yoshinori MIURA*1 *1Fukushima. Agric. Tech. Centr., *2Sci., Grad. Sch. Environ. Std. Tohoku Univ. (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 250–256, 2009) A total of 122 farmyard manure samples (75 cattle manure, 23 poultry manure and 24 swine manure) collected in Fukushima Prefecture were analyzed for trace elements. The results obtained are summarized as follows: (1) The trace element concentrations were in the order of Na, Fe and Al (the median in all farmyard manure: 4194-4985 mgkg-1) > Ti, Mn and Zn (222-578 mg kg-1) > Cu, Rb, Sr and Ba (19-87 mg kg-1) > Li, V, Cr, Ni, Ga, As, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Pb, La, Ce and Nd (0.32-7.53mg kg-1). (2) The concentrations of Li, Al, Ti, V, Fe, Ga, As, Zr and Ba in cattle manure were higher than those in poultry manure, and highly positive correlation coefficients were observed among these elements in many combinations. In contrast, the contents of N, Mg, P, Ca, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr and Mo in poultry manure were higher than those in cattle manure. The swine manure possessed the chemical properties of both cattle manure and poultry manure, with some exceptions. (3) The concentrations of Cd, As and Pb were generally low in farmyard manure. Although Zn was used as an index to monitor the accumulation of other harmful elements stemming from the application of farmyard manure, higher correlation coefficients were not found among Cu, Zn, Cd, As and Pb when all kinds of manure from different types of domestic animals were taken into consideration. (4) Cu and Zn concentrations were high in poultry manure and particularly high in swine manure, suggesting that care should taken to avoid soil pollution caused by the application of these manure types. Key words: heavy metal, farmyard manure, trace elements. Change in nutrient content and solubility by carbonization or heat treatment of cattle manure Hiroyuki MAKI, Satoshi KONO and Kousuke NAGAI Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 257–262, 2009) We investigated the content and solubility of nutrients in cow manure compost heat-treated at 80–180 °C for 2 h or carbonized at 200–900 °C for 2 h. (1) Carbonization reduced the weight of the compost by between 21.9% at 200 °C and 66.9% at 900 °C. P, K, Ca, and Mg contents remained almost the same, but N was volatilized by between 17.7% at 200 °C and 88.4% at 900 °C. (2) Heat treatment reduced the content of NH4 +-N by between 6% at 80 °C and 72.4% at 180 °C. It similarly reduced the content of acetic acid–soluble N by 34.5%–71.7% and of phosphoric acid–soluble N by 12.8%–46%. Carbonizing at 400 °C or higher eliminated elutable N. (3) Carbonization reduced the content of water-soluble P. Most P was insoluble in water but soluble in citric acid. Carbonization had little effect on water-soluble K. Increasing carbonization temperature increased the content of citric acid-soluble (water insoluble) K and citric acid–insoluble K. Key words: carbonization, cattle manure, solubility. Notes Can plants absorb and use high molecular soil organic nitrogen without its prior mineralization? Kae MIYAZAWA*1 and Tohru MURAYAMA*1 *1National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region, Cover crop research team (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 263-267, 2009) Preferential uptake of fermented-manure nitrogen over chemical fertilizer nitrogen by Komatsuna plants in pot culture Akira MATSUDA*1,2, Kyoko YAMAZAKI*1 and Toru MATOH*1 *1Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, *2Yamagata General Agricultural Research Center (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 268–270, 2009) Rapid determination of cadmium in brown rice by heating block digestion systems and ICP-MS Yasuhiro BABA*1 and Itsuo GOTO*1 *1Fac. Appl. Bio-Sci., Tokyo Univ. Agric. (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 271–274, 2009) Rapid determination of nutrient concentrations in animal manure composts using the wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) Teppei KOMIYAMA*1, Eiji FUJISAWA*1 and Hiromasa MORIKUNI*1 *1JA ZEN-NOH R&D Cent. (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 275-279, 2009) Current Topics Efficiency of waste media compost include corncob of the main ingredient in mushroom culture Kazuyoshi YAMADA*1, Takayoshi UEHARA*1, Tatsuji SAITO*1,2, Kazuhiko KOMATSU*3,4 and Seishi YOSHIDA*5 *1Nagano Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Experimental Station, *2present address: Nagano Nanshin Agricultural Experiment Station, *3Nagano Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Experimental Station, *4present address: Nagano Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Experiment Station Saku Branch, *5Nagao Chushin Agricultural Experiment Station (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 280–284, 2009) Simplified analysis of soil nitrate nitrogen using soil water extract of saturated soil paste Masako TAKEBE*1,2, Keiki OKAZAKI*1, Norikuni OKA*1 and Tuyomi MIZUOCHI*3 *1National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region, *2present address: National Agricultural Research Center, *3Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution KAIHATUHIRYOU CO.,LTD. (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 285–287, 2009) Lecture The latest research works in pedology in Asian countries 2. Experiment on the replicated rice straw compost application on paddy field and remediation of degraded environment on acid sulfate soil in the Mekong Delta Takeshi WATANABE*1 and Hiroaki SUMIDA*2 *1Crop production and environmental division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, *2Faculty of agro-chemistry, Nihon Univ. (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 288–296, 2009) Review Speciation analysis of arsenic in rice and soil Koji BABA National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 297–303, 2009) Chemical forms of soil organic nitrogen Mihoko MORIIZUMI*1 and Toshiro MATSUNAGA*1 *1Research Team for Soil Management in Paddy-Upland Rotation Systems, National Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 304-309, 2009) Miscellaneous Recent activities of the Science Council of Japan Masato KIMURA Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences and School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 310–311, 2009) Impression of the Soils 2008 Conference: Soil - the living skin of planet earth Yudzuru INOUE Center of Advanced Instrumental Analysis, Kyushu University (Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 80, 312–313, 2009)

Aluminum toxicity is a major limitation to leguminous crop production in acidic soils but mineral and organic fertilizer applications could ameliorate the condition. Thus, the focus of this study was to evaluate the influence of manures on post-harvest soil fertility quality, yield and agronomic efficiencies of soybean (Glycine max). The study had six fertilizer treatments: poultry manures, rabbit manures, pig manures, sheep manures, cattle manures, single super phosphate and the control (no soil additive) laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with four replicates. The experiment was conducted at the greenhouse of the Wesley University, Ondo, Nigeria. The treatments were applied at the rate of 40 kg P205ha-1 and the effects of treatments on yield parameters (biomass, grain yield and total dry weight), relative agronomic efficiencies, as well as soil fertility status were observed. Data analysis using ANOVA at 5% level of probability showed the application of poultry manure to have enhanced soybean grain yield and yield component. Poultry manure treatment had the highest mean total dry weight of 11.5 g while SSP resulted in the lowest yield (4.7g). The efficiency of available P released from the applied poultry manure was 2 times higher than the referenced single super phosphate fertilizer in Ondo. Poultry manure application again had higher RAEDSW than to chemical fertilizer. Thus, applications of poultry or pig manures at 40 kg P205ha-1 could be excellent materials as alternatives to mineral fertilizer (single super phosphate) for improving soil fertility, yield of soybean and its agronomic efficiencies.

An experiment was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria to investigate the potentials of using poultry manure and cow dung as bioremediants for crude oil polluted soils. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design of a split plot fashion with four main plots represented by the levels of crude oil pollution (0 ml, 100 ml, 200 ml and 300 ml), while the organic manure (poultry manure and cow dung) and a control (no-treatment) plots constituted the subplots. The entire setup was replicated 3 times. Maize seeds (Oba super) were used as a test crop. Soil collected from the university’s farm site was used to fill the buckets for planting. Thirty-six pieces of 30 cm 3 capacity buckets were filled to 2/3 capacities with soil collected from the farm site, and polluted with the crude oil according to the levels. Organic manure was applied at 14days after pollution while the maize seeds were planted at 28days after pollution. Soil samples were collected at three intervals first, before pollution, secondly 14 days after pollution and then 14 days after manure application for physical and chemical analysis of the soil. At two weeks after germination, the germination percentage and plant height were determined while cob length, number of seeds per cob were determined at maturity (90 days after planting). Results revealed that crude oil pollution significantly affected the soil physical and chemical properties and also impaired maize plant growth. At increased level of pollution (300 ml), the soil chemical and physical properties were severely degraded, however, the application of poultry and cow dung manures significantly repaired the degraded soil. The results also revealed that poultry manure showed superiority over cow dung in amending crude oil degraded soil. Soil pollution also impaired the maize seed germination and growth. At 300 ml, crude oil pollution the lowest (58.50 %) germination percentage was recorded, but with application of poultry manure germination percentage was 100 %. It was recommended that poultry manure be employed in the amendment of crude oil polluted soils.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different irrigation levels and different tillage and sowing methods on the amount of irrigation water, evapotranspiration, water productivity (WP) and yield in the second crop soybean in Çukurova Region, Turkey. Three irrigation levels were applied (I100: completion to the field capacity of the available water of 60 cm soil depth weekly. I70: 70% of the water applied to I100, I50: 50% of the water applied to I100), five tillage and sowing methods were used (T1: traditional soil tillage, T2: reduced soil tillage, T3: reduced soil tillage, T4: ridge tillage, T5: no-tillage). The research was carried out in a randomized block split-plot design with three replications. The result of, the highest yield was obtained in I100xT1with 4990 kg/ha, while the lowest yield was obtained in I50xT3with 3150 kg/ha in irrigationxtillage interactions. When the water consumption values of plants were analysed, the highest was obtained with 632 mm I100and the lowest with 399 mm I50. When WP values were analysed, the highest was obtained with 8.7 in I50and the lowest in 6.6 and I100. As a result, full irrigation and direct sowing methods (I100T1) are recommended in soybean cultivation considering the highest water-yield relationship in the Mediterranean Region.

The aim of this recent study was to investigate the effects of different ratios of poultry manure and sheep feces on the fermentation quality of fermented poultry and sheep manure (FPSM). This study used poultry manure, dry sheep feces, cassava flour, molasses, and the addition of multiple microbes (Saus Burger Pakan, SBP®). Dried and ground sheep feces, as adsorbents, were mixed with fresh poultry manure at different ratios, including 40% sheep feces and 60% poultry manure (T40), 50% sheep feces and 50% poultry manure (T50), and 60% sheep feces and 40% poultry manure (T60). Each treatment was replicated in triplicate, and 30 kg of each silo was fermented for 14 d. After fermentation, the samples from each treatment were analysed to determine their physical characteristics, chemical compositions, fermentation characteristics, and microbial contamination. The data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s test if any significant difference was detected. The FPSM results showed that T60 presented (P<0.05) higher amounts of dry matter, crude fibre, pH, and lactic acid bacteria colonies. This study recommended the addition of as much as 60% SBP® inoculum and absorbent poultry manure to produce optimum and effective fermentation quality in poultry manure processing.

Effect of saline water irrigation and manure application on the available water content, soil salinity, and growth of wheat

Integrating fertilizer N with organic manures is an important management strategy for sustainable agriculture production systems in subhumid, rainfed soils low in organic matter. A 2‐yr (2007–2008, 2008–2009) field experiment with rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Rawalakot), Pakistan to evaluate the effects of combined use of farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), and urea nitrogen (UN) on crop productivity, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and soil properties. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included one full N as UN, six combined treatments of UN, FYM and PM in 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 ratios and a control, applied at equivalent rate of 120 kg N ha−1. The results showed that UN with FYM and PM decreased soil bulk density (4–11%), increased organic carbon (10–22%), total N (9–25%), available P (13–26%) and available K (13–23%) compared to the control. Combined application of UN, FYM and PM in 75:25 ratios produced comparable grain yields to UN treatment. However, total N uptake in the combined treatments was higher (83 and 89 kg ha−1 vs. 77 kg ha−1, respectively). The NUE in UN+FYM, UN+PM (75:25 and 50:50) was 44, 49, 41, and 44%, respectively compared with NUE of 39% in UN treatment. Results of this study confirmed that UN+FYM and UN+PM in 75:25 ratios saved ≈25% (30 kg) of N fertilizer and represented a successful and sustainable management strategy for wheat production in the mountainous ecosystems.