Cattle Manure Fertilizer Research Articles

Control mechanism of short-term fertilization with cattle manure on the release characteristics of soil colloids in farmland: grain size and physicochemical properties

BackgroundUnderstanding the release characteristics of soil colloids is a prerequisite for studying the co-transport of colloids and pollutants in subsurface environment. As a crucial agricultural management measure, fertilization not only alters the material composition of farmland soil, but also significantly regulates the properties and release patterns of soil colloids. This study systematically investigated the regulatory mechanism of short-term cattle manure fertilization on the macroscopic release and microscopic properties of soil colloids with different particle sizes, providing a theoretical foundation for subsequent research on the fate and transport of agricultural non-point source pollutants.ResultsThe colloids in natural agricultural soil primarily consist of inorganic components. Graded extraction of the colloids has revealed that the combined proportion of colloids with particle sizes of 1–2 μm and 0.45–1 μm accounts for approximately 80.5%. Applying cattle manure inhibits the release of soil colloids, and the content of large particle size (1–2 μm) components increases. The content of organic colloids is increased due to the high total organic carbon (TOC) in cattle manure, particularly those with a particle size less than 1 μm. The characterization of organic colloid components revealed a significant increase in aromatic carbon and oxygen-containing functional groups, while the aliphatic content decreased. The response sequence regarding changes in functional groups within organic colloids induced by fertilization was as follows: –CH3, –CH2 > C–O > –OH > C=C. Fertilization promotes the release of 1:1-type inorganic mineral colloids, increasing the content of poorly crystalline minerals. The retention of aromatic carbon and oxygen-containing functional groups by poorly crystalline mineral colloids served as the primary mechanism leading to their increased content levels. Changes in environmental factors significantly impacted the release and properties of soil colloids. Conditions such as low cationic valence, high ionic strength, and high pH promoted the release of soil colloids.ConclusionsThe short-term fertilization resulted in a reduction in the release of soil colloids and brought about significant alterations in their particle size composition and properties. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into understanding the impact of fertilization-induced colloid release on the environmental behavior of agricultural non-point source pollutants.

Research on the Composting Technology of Cattle and Sheep Manure Based on Intelligent and Efficient Composting Equipment and the Evaluation Standard of Decomposition Degree

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a crucial area in China with a significant advantage in animal husbandry, particularly in cattle and sheep farming. However, the disposal of the large quantities of manure produced during farming has severely impacted the industry’s healthy development. Proper treatment of the manure can convert it into organic fertilizer beneficial to farmland; otherwise, it will cause substantial environmental pollution. This study focuses on existing composting equipment and addresses the issues of cattle and sheep manure mixture ratios and compost maturity evaluation. Through experiments on the mixture of cattle and sheep manure, the optimal ratio for converting cattle and sheep manure into organic fertilizer was determined. Additionally, a fuzzy mathematical evaluation model was employed, along with experimental data, to establish a comprehensive evaluation system for aerobic compost maturity based on multiple indicators, revealing the variation patterns of maturity levels under different mixture ratios. The test results revealed that the composting equipment effectively controls the composting process, shortens the composting cycle, ensures the complete decomposition of organic matter, and meets national standards for livestock and poultry manure treatment. Regarding temperature and humidity, oxygen concentration, seed germination rate, pH value, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium content, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, the mixed compost of cattle and sheep manure in various ratios met the relevant standards for agricultural application. Various ratios of organic fertilizers containing cattle and sheep manure significantly promoted the growth of maize, wheat, and mung bean crops. Specifically, the compost decomposition cycle was shortest when sheep and cattle dung were mixed at a ratio of 2:1, while it was longest for all cattle dung. Finally, a fuzzy mathematical comprehensive evaluation model was established by selecting four indicators: water content, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, apparent score, and germination index. The study demonstrates that the equipment and method offer significant advantages in efficiently treating cattle and sheep manure and producing organic fertilizer, thereby providing strong support for the sustainable development of animal husbandry.

Nitrogenated Fertilization In Pasture Brachiaria Brizantha Cv. Marandu Via Organic Compounds

The objective was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative effect of fertilization of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu using nitrogen from liquid cattle manure and organomineral fertilizer. The experiment was developed in a pasture already established and soil analysis of this area was made for the necessary corrections. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of control with 0 kg/ha of N, 3 treatments with application of bovine liquid manure and 3 treatments with organomineral fertilizer in the dosages of 60, 120 and 180 kg/ha of N. Three cuts were made in Marandu grass when the pasture reached 30 cm in height, leaving a residue of 15 cm, the production of DM, leaf production, stem, CP, NDF and ADF were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, the cost of fertilizing with manure and organomineral fertilizer was done. To compare the averages obtained and the morphological components of each sample, the Tukey test at 5% significance was used, with the aid of the SISVAR statistical program. With the highest nitrogen levels of organomineral fertilizer and the bovine liquid manure, a higher CP content was obtained, reaching 9.30; 7.78 and 7.90% in the first cut, with organo 180, 120 and manure 180 respectively. Fertilizations with manure 60 and 180, organomineral 120 and 180 showed the lowest values for NDF in the first cut, the ADF only showed a significant difference in the second cut with organo 60, manure 120 and 60 with the highest values. Organomineral fertilizer in different doses provided higher production, but at a higher cost. Fertilization improved the quality of the forage.

Cattle dry manure fertilization increases forage yield of grass‐legume mixtures, while maintaining the legume proportion and root‐associated microbiota

AbstractThe aim of this study was to find ways to improve the forage yield of grass‐legume mixtures without compromising soil biodiversity. In Argentinean Patagonia, the effects of applying cattle dry manure (M) and urea (U) (0, 60, 120, or 240 kg N ha−1 year−1) were assessed on herbage production of irrigated fescue‐lotus mixtures, as well as on the activity/abundance of autochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and N‐fixing rhizobium bacteria. We hypothesised that manure has advantages over urea in increasing forage yields while maintaining the proportion of legumes and root‐associated microbiota. The 120 U, 240 U, and 240 M resulted in the greatest forage production; however, yield varied depending on the source applied. The high productivity of the 120 U and 240 U was probably due to the fast grass growth immediately after fertilization, which resulted in a depressed growth of the legume. The high yield of the swards fertilized with 240 M was probably due to slight and delayed growth of grass without legume yield decline. The highest radiation interception was found in swards with a low legume proportion, suggesting a light competition from grass fertilized with the highest urea doses, which were also consistent with the highest N and P nutritional status. The microbial activity/abundance were not affected by fertilization, but the final number of nodules was positively associated with the legume proportion. In conclusion, manure fertilization increased forage yield of the mixtures, while preserving the legume proportion and the root‐associated microbiota. Our findings aid in reducing synthetic‐N fertilizers applied in pasture‐based livestock systems.

Cattle manure application for 12 and 17 years enhanced depth distribution of soil organic carbon and X-ray computed tomography-derived pore characteristics

Long-term fertilizer application in row crops may influence soil pore characteristics, thereby impacting soil aggregation and structure. Therefore, understanding the influences on soil pore characteristics is useful for adopting suitable conservation practices. However, the impact of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer application at varied rates on soil pore characteristics in the soil profile at a microscale level remains limited. This study quantifies the impacts of manure and inorganic fertilizer amendments under a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.)-spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) rotation system on soil pore characteristics using the X-ray computed tomography (XCT). Treatments included: low manure (LM; 4.4 and 3.3 Mg ha−1), medium manure (MM; 27.4 and 18.7 Mg ha−1), high manure (HM; 54.8 and 37.4 Mg ha−1), medium fertilizer (MF; 136 kg N ha−1, 49 kg P2O5 ha−1, and 91.5 kg K2O ha−1), high fertilizer (HF; 204 kg N ha−1, 73.5 kg P2O5 ha−1, and 137.3 kg K2O ha−1), and control (CK), respectively, at Brookings (initiated in 2008) and Beresford (2003) in South Dakota. Four intact soil cores were collected from each treatment at 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm depths. Results showed that the HM treatment increased the SOC by 8–68% compared to the CK and MF at 0–20 cm at the study sites. Both HM and MM treatments increased the macroporosity and mesoporosity in 0–20 cm soil depths at both study sites. Treatment did not always improve soil pore characteristics below 20 cm soil depth. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the XCT-derived macroporosity, total number of macropores, and SOC for all the treatments. Therefore, this study encourages the adoption of the XCT technique in quantifying soil pore characteristics and suggests that long-term medium manure application enhances soil structure as compared to an equivalent inorganic fertilizer application.

Response of soil antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial communities to fresh cattle manure and organic fertilizer application

Livestock manure use in agriculture contributes to pollutants like antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and resistant bacteria. This practice could potentially facilitate ARGs development in soil ecosystems. Our study aimed to explore ARGs and bacterial communities in cattle manure from Ningxia beef cattle farms with varying breeding periods. We also assessed the impact of different application rates of cattle manure compost, created by mixing manure with different growing periods, on soil's physicochemical and heavy metal properties. High-throughput PCR and sequencing were used to analyze ARGs and bacterial communities. We aimed to understand ARGs dynamics in cattle manure during breeding stages and the impact of different fertilizer application rates on soil bacteria and resistance genes. We found 212 ARGs from cattle manure, spanning tetracycline, aminoglycoside, multidrug, and MLSB categories. Relative ARGs abundance was presented across breeding stages: lactation (C1), breeding (C3), pre-fattening (C4), calving (C2), and late fattening (C5). pH, total nitrogen (TN), electrical conductivity (EC), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) presence significantly impacted ARGs quantity and microbial community structure in manure. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were the primary factor altering ARGs in manure (65.56%). Heavy metals contributed to 18.60% of ARGs changes. Manure application changed soil ARGs abundance, notably in soils with high application rates, primarily associated with aminoglycoside, multidrug and sulfonamide resistance. Soils with higher manure rates had elevated MGEs, positively correlated with most ARGs, suggesting MGEs' role in ARGs dissemination. Soil microbial community structure was influenced by fertilization, particularly with the highest application rate. Heavy metals (specifically Cd, contributing to 23.12%), microbial community changes (17.42%), and MGEs (17.38%) were the main factors affecting soil antibiotic resistance. Our study establishes a framework for understanding ARGs emergence in manure and treated soils. This informs strategies to mitigate environmental ARGs transmission and guides diverse livestock manure application and management.

Effects of cattle manure and soil parent material on shallow groundwater quality

AbstractLivestock are a critical agricultural commodity in the Midwestern United States and are directly linked to row crop production. Chemical and manure nutrient application for row crop production has resulted in significant losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to downstream ecosystems causing environmental crises like seasonal hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. However, the use of cattle manure has multiple benefits over commercial fertilizer including increased soil carbon levels and improved nutrient cycling and should be considered a critical component for future agricultural production in Iowa. In this study, we evaluated influences of bedded cattle manure and commercial fertilizer on groundwater quality in a field with varying soil parent material of glacial till and colluvium in eastern Iowa. We found that soil parent material predominately influenced groundwater quality. Multiple water quality parameters including nitrate varied significantly (p < 0.0001). Nitrate concentrations were nearly double in colluvium compared to glacial till (13.2 ± 6.7 compared to 7.0 ± 3.6 mg/L, respectively). Further, nitrate concentrations averaged 12.2 ± 8.1 mg/L in areas receiving bedded cattle manure and were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) compared to areas receiving commercial fertilizer only, which averaged 8.6 ± 4.7 mg/L. Dissolved P was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in areas receiving bedded cattle manure averaging 0.13 ± 0.12 mg/L compared to 0.07 ± 0.04 mg/L in commercial fertilizer‐only areas. However, higher nitrate concentrations were likely linked to 70 kg/ha of additional N applied to manure areas by farm managers above corn removal rates. Overall, our results stress the importance of appropriate nutrient application rates and placement over nutrient source.

Oribatid mites in different Mediterranean crop rotations fertilized with animal droppings.

Unsustainable soil management is one of the drivers of soil degradation, but impact assessment requires the development of indicators. Oribatids might be considered as early indicators of disturbances due to the stability of their community. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of oribatids as bioindicators of sustainable agricultural practices. Under a dry Mediterranean climate, three fertilization experiments - two under a two-crop rotation system and one under maize monoculture and established 12 years earlier - were sampled 3× for oribatid identification during the last annual cropping cycle. The hypothesis was that different nutrient and crop managements affect the number of oribatid species and individuals present, and these parameters could be used as indicators of soil degradation. In total, 18 oribatid species were identified, and 1974 adult individuals were recovered. Maximum abundance was found prior to sowing. Pig slurry (PS) vs. control, and dairy cattle manure (CM) vs. mineral fertilization increased oribatid abundance. This increase was evident when the average applied rates with PS were ca. 2 Mg of organic matter (OM) ha- 1 yr- 1, or higher than ca. 4 Mg OM ha- 1 yr- 1 for CM. When the preceding crop was wheat and PS or CM were used, Oribatula (Zygoribatula) excavata (which reproduces sexually) predominated. In maize monoculture fertilized with CM, Tectocepheus sarekensis and Acrotritia ardua americana (which can reproduce through parthenogenesis) prevailed vs. Oribatula, which indicated a heavily disturbed soil. Under this specific Mediterranean environment, the predominance of certain parthenogenic oribatid species and the number of individuals provide advanced warning on soil degradation.

Yield and grain quality of winter wheat under traditional and modern fertilization systems

Aim. The study of the patterns of formation of relationships between the yield and quality of winter wheat grain when using traditional and latest fertilizer systems, including resource-saving and environmentally-saving technologies, various types of a new generation of organic-mineral bioactive fertilizers with fertilizer, reclamation propertie. Methods. Field, laboratory-analytical, statistical. The studies were carried out in a long-term experiment on gray forest soil of the Department of Agrochemistry of the NSC «Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences» in a 5-field crop rotation. Results. The impact of various traditional and new types of fertilizers on the quality and yield of winter wheat has been assessed. It was found that the highest yield was obtained with the traditional organo-mineral fertilizer system, which included the combined use of cattle manure and mineral fertilizers at a dose of 12 t/ha of cattle manure + N100P60K100 against the background of double feeding with complex chelate fertilizer – 2 l/ha – 5.67 t/ha. With organic systems, the grain yield was the highest for the introduction of OMBD at a dose of 2 t/ha against the background of pea straw 3 t/ha, where it was 5.10 t/ha with an increase of 47% compared to the control: straw. A downward trend in protein content was determined depending on the yield and moderate nitrogen nutrition, so with a control yield without fertilizers of 3.31 t/ha, the protein content was 12.4%. The use of pea straw led to the lowest protein levels - 8.99%. At the maximum dose of mineral fertilizers, the highest protein content was determined - 13.6%. The gluten content was the highest for foliar application of chelated fertilizers, 12 t/ha of cattle manure + N100P60K100 - 21.4%. Conclusions. Tendencies to maintain quality indicators at the same level for the content of starch, phosphorus and potassium for all fertilization systems were determined.

Assessment of the Effects of Farmyard Manure and NPK Fertilizer application on Banana Yields in Shuuku Town Council, Sheema District, Western Uganda

The Experiment was on the effect of Farmyard Manure and NPK Fertilizer on banana yields in Shuuku Town council, Sheema district. It was guided by three objectives which were, determining the effect of Farmyard Manure and NPK Fertilizer on plant girth, plant height, establishing the effect on leaf and sucker development and also determining hands formation on banana bunches in the 3 selected Sites. 
 The experiment was set using an incomplete randomized block design to evaluate the effects of Farmyard Manure and NPK fertilizer on banana yields, with an aim of determining the effect of Farmyard manure and NPK fertilizer on plant girth, plant height, establishing the effect on leaf and sucker development and also determining Hands formation on banana bunches in the 3 selected farms. Each block consisted of 30 banana stools, each farm with 4 blocks, one block cattle manure, another for NPK fertilizer, another one for a combination of both and the last one as a control in a randomized form. 
 Data was collected from at least 15 banana stools from each block. Data was used to give conclusions to the experiment objectives. Data was coded, edited and analyzed using SPSS to give meaning. After data processing, it was presented in tables. The researcher recommended the combined application of cattle manure and NPK fertilizers in banana production since they provide different nutrients to the soil hence ensuring increased yields.
 The researcher recommended utilization of cattle manure for the average Farmers. For the farmers involved in production of the banana crop, the researcher recommended cattle manure to enhance plant heights for both the maiden plants and suckers.

Effect and Mechanism of Rice-Pasture Rotation Systems on Yield Increase and Runoff Reduction under Different Fertilizer Treatments

This study investigated the effects of crop rotations and different ratios of dairy manure fertilizer on nitrogen loss and rice yield in the Erhai Lake basin. Two kinds of herbages were set in the rotation: Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum cv.‘Tetragold’) (R) and Villose Vetch (Vicia villosa var. Glabresens) (V). The experiment involved two-year field tests with nine management treatments. The results showed that the rice-Vicia villosa rotation with 70% chemical and 30% dairy cattle manure fertilization increased rice yield significantly, while reducing nitrogen runoff losses and increasing microbial abundance with nitrification and nitrogen fixation. The microbial abundance varied among tested soils, with Alphaproteobacteria, Rhodopseudomonas, Rhizobiales, Bradyrhizobium, and Azotobacter Vinelandii being the highest in 70% chemical fertilizer + 30% manure rice Villose Vetch (R-V) to ameliorate plant growth and strengthen the efficiency of nutrient uptake, whereas that of Planctomycete was comparatively lower to promote long-term N stabilization in soil. The 70% F—30% M R-V treatment also significantly decreased nitrate reductase and ammonia monooxygenase enzyme activity, potentially improving fertilizer use efficiency, and reducing gaseous losses. The LEfSe analysis results indicated that 70% F—30% M R-V fertilizers significantly enhanced the abundances of metabolic genes related to energy and nitrogen. These findings suggested that appropriate agricultural management using rice-Vicia villosa rotation and 70% chemical + 30% dairy cattle manure fertilization can improve the soil quality and sustainability of agroecosystems.

Long-term cattle manure addition enhances soil-available phosphorus fractions in subtropical open-field rotated vegetable systems.

Evaluation of the changes in phosphorus (P) fractions (various P forms) and their availability at different soil layers is critical for enhancing P resource use efficiency, mitigating subsequent environmental pollution, and establishing a suitable manure application strategy. However, changes in P fractions at different soil layers in response to cattle manure (M), as well as a combined cattle manure and chemical fertilizer application (M+F), remain unclear in open-field vegetable systems. If the amount of annual P input remains the same, identifying which treatment would cause a higher phosphate fertilizer use efficiency (PUE) and vegetable yield while simultaneously reducing the P surplus is especially warranted. Based on a long-term manure experiment that started in 2008, we used a modified P fractionation scheme to analyze P fractions at two soil layers for three treatments (M, M+F, and control without fertilizer application) in an open-field cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) system, and assessed the PUE and accumulated P surplus. The concentrations of the soil P fractions were higher in the 0-20-cm soil layer compared to the 20-40-cm layer, except for organic P (Po) and residual-P. M application significantly increased the inorganic P (Pi) (by 8.92%-72.26%) and the Po content (by 5.01%-61.23%) at the two soil layers. Compared with the control and M+F treatments, M significantly increased residual-P, Resin-P, and NaHCO3-Pi at both soil layers (by 31.9%-32.95%, 68.40%-72.60%, and 48.22%-61.04%), whereas NaOH-Pi and HCl-Pi at 0-20 cm were positively correlated with available P. Soil moderately labile-P was the predominant P component in the two soil layers (accounting for 59%-70%). With the same annual P input amount, M+CF created the highest vegetable yield (117.86 t ha-1), and PUE (37.88%) and M created the highest accumulated P surplus (128.80 kg ha-1yr-1). Collectively, a combined manure-chemical fertilizer application has great potential to yield a long-term positive outcome both in terms of vegetable productivity and environmental health in open-field vegetable systems. This highlights the methods' benefits as a sustainable practice in subtropical vegetable systems. Specific attention should be given to a P balance to avoid excessive P input if a rational strategy for manure application is to be attained. This is especially the case for stem vegetables that require manure application and decreases the environmental risk of P loss in vegetable systems.

Bioaccumulation of antibiotics and resistance genes in lettuce following cattle manure and digestate fertilization and their effects on soil and phyllosphere microbial communities

The degradation and bioaccumulation of selected antibiotics such as the sulfonamide sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and the fluoroquinolones enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were investigated in soil microcosm experiments where Lactuca sativa was grown with manure or digestate (1%) and spiked with a mixture of the three antibiotics (7.5 mg/kg each). The soil, rhizosphere and leaf phyllosphere were sampled (at 0 and 46 days) from each microcosm to analyze the antibiotic concentrations, main resistance genes (sul1, sul2, qnrS, aac-(6’)-Ib-crand qepA), the intI1and tnpA mobile genetic elements and the microbial community structure.Overall results showed that SMX and CIP decreased (70-85% and 55-79%, respectively), and ENR was quite persistent during the 46-day experiment. In plant presence, CIP and ENR were partially up-taken from soil to plant. In fact the bioaccumulation factors were > 1, with higher values in manure than digestate amended soils. The most abundant gene in soil was sul2 in digestate- and aac-(6’)-Ib-cr in the manure-amended microcosms. In soil, neither sulfamethoxazole-resistance (sul1 and sul2), nor fluoroquinolone-resistance (aac-(6’)-Ib-cr, qepA and qnrS) gene abundances were correlated with any antibiotic concentration. On the contrary, in lettuce leaves, the aac-(6’)-Ib-cr gene was the most abundant, in accordance with the fluoroquinolone bioaccumulation. Finally, digestate stimulated a higher soil microbial biodiversity, introducing and promoting more bacterial genera associated with antibiotic degradation and involved in soil fertility and decreased fluoroquinolone bioaccumulation.

Soil nutrients and plant uptake parameters as related to greenhouse gas emissions.

Fertilizer and water management practices have short- and long-term effects on soil chemical and physical properties and, in turn, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The goal of this 4-yr field study was to establish the relationships between soil properties, agronomic practices, and GHG (CO2 and N2 O) emissions under different fertilizer and water table management practices. There were two fertilizer treatments: inorganic fertilizer (IF) and a mix of solid cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer (SCM), combined with tile drainage(DR) and controlled drainage with subirrigation(CDS). The cropping system was a maize (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation. Nitrogen in biomass (BMN) and N in grain (GRN) were measured and used to calculate other plant N parameters. Nitrous oxide and CO2 fluxes were collected weekly, and their respective cumulative emissions were calculated. The results show that soil organic matter (OM), soil total carbon (C), and soil total nitrogen (N) were greater in SCM than IF by 23.7, 35.2, and 24.4%, respectively. Water table management did not significantly affect soil N and C. Increased CO2 emissions were witnessed under higher soil OM, soil total C, and total N. Plant N uptake parameters were negatively correlated with N2 O and CO2 emissions. Higher plant N uptake can reduce environmental pollution by limiting N2 O and CO2 emissions.

Integrated Use of Cattle Manure and NPS Fertilizer to Improve the Yield of Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.) in Southwest Ethiopia

There is a need to optimize the modus operandi of fertilizer beneath farmers’ situations, mainly its application alongside organic resources. The study is aimed at investigating the effect of combined application of NPS blended fertilizer and cattle manure on growth, yield attributes, and yield of grain amaranth. The experiments were conducted in 2020 main cropping season in 3 localities, i.e., Guraferda, Menitgoldiya, and Menitshasha woredas in Southwest Ethiopia. The treatments were consisted of four NPS blended fertilizer levels (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg·ha−1) and four cattle manure series (0, 4, 8, and 12 t·ha−1). The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a factorial arrangement and was replicated 3 times. The effects revealed that the combined efficacy of NPS blended fertilizer and cattle manure significantly affected the days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, panicle length, number of panicles per plant, weight of thousand-grain, above-ground biomass yield, and grain yield. The highest amaranth grain yield of 1264.4 kg·ha−1 was recorded with 60 kg NPS fertilizer ha−1 and 12 t cattle manure ha−1 in combination followed by 60 kg NPS fertilizer ha−1 + 8 t cattle manure ha−1. The partial budget analysis indicated that the highest price 22759 ETB ha−1 was received from 60 kg·ha−1 NPS fertilizer and 12 t·ha−1 cattle manure. The results of this study indicated that application of 60 kg·NPS ha−1 in mixture with 12 t·ha−1 cattle manure is the best combination to achieve the maximum yield in the study areas. Therefore, in light of the significant response of amaranth to organic and inorganic fertilizer, further studies aimed at promoting integrated soil fertility management and formulation of fertilizer recommendation on yearly soil and plant test bases over locations will be useful.

The effects on the root and plant development of soybean of organic fertilizer applications

Organic fertilizers increase soil aeration, water and nutrient holding capacity, improve seed germination and encourage the production of thicker roots, increase the yield and quality of the crop. This study was aimed to determine the effects of organic fertilizer (vermicompost, sheep manure, cattle manure, poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer as control) applications on the root and plant development of soybean during two growth stages, namely third trifoliate stage (V3) and beginning of flowering of the plants (R1) in the pot condition. The experiment was established with a two-factorial randomized plot design with four replications. The fertilizer applications had a significant effect (p<0.01) on the V3 and R1 growth stages of soybean. The highest plant height (36.78 cm) and root length (41.18 cm) were achieved with vermicompost, and the lowest plant height (21.73 cm) was recorded with inorganic fertilizer. The number of nodules was highest for vermicompost and cattle manure applications (17.16 plant-1 and 16.76 plant-1, respectively), and lowest for poultry manure (0.22 plant-1). In the R1 growth stage, poultry manure produced the highest biological fresh and dry weights, root dry weight at 25.08 g plant-1 and 5.67 g plant-1, 3.99 g plant-1 respectively. As a result, it was demonstrated that vermicompost and poultry manure applications promote strong root and plant development due to high organic matter and phosphorus and can be used successfully without inorganic fertilize application in soybean farming.

Mechanism(s) Underlying Interactions Between Cattle Manure and Mineral Fertilizer in a Maize Field Soil in Ghana

A 70-day laboratory incubation study was conducted to unravel the mechanism(s) underlying synergistic interactions between organic and inorganic nutrient inputs to the soil. Soil from a maize farmer's field at Kpongu in the Upper West Region of Ghana was amended with a factorial combination of 0, 50% and 100% levels of the recommended rates (RR) of inorganic fertilizer and cattle manure and incubated at room temperature in plastic cups. Deionized water was added to maintain soil moisture at 70% field capacity throughout the incubation period. Cups were covered with gas-permeable parafilm. Soil sampling was done at 7, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after incubation. The soil was analyzed for available phosphorus, organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, nitrates, ammonium, soil urease activity, iron, and copper at each sampling. The addition of 100% RR NPK + 50% RR manure often results in higher amounts of the measured parameters,synergistic interactions and supply of nutrients to the soil, with longer residual effects. While all the under-studied mechanisms (improved nutrient synchrony, priming effects, general fertility improvement fertility) contribute to synergistic interactions, the improved nutrient synchrony mechanism is the most prominent. Farmers can therefore manage the timing of the nutrient inputs well to capitalize on this mechanism for improved soil fertility.

Effects of Organic Fertilizer Application on Strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) Cultivation

In the agricultural production process, the production and environmental costs of chemical fertilizers used to increase yield and quality and the question of how to evaluate the herbal and animal wastes that arise in the agricultural production process are important issues. The main purpose of using herbal and animal wastes that arise in the agricultural production process as an alternative fertilizer to chemical fertilizers is to reduce production costs and to ensure sustainability in agricultural production by reintroducing these wastes to the economy. In this study, the effects of vermicompost, chicken manure, farm manure, and chemical fertilizers on product yield and quality, plant nutrients, and economic profitability in strawberry cultivation were investigated. In the study, strawberries were used as the plant material and vermicompost, chicken manure, farm (cattle) manure, and chemical fertilizers were used as plant nutrition materials. In the study, statistically significant differences were found in the parameters of yield, quality, plant nutrient content in leaves, and economic profitability compared to chemical fertilizers. In terms of product yield and some quality parameters, organic fertilizers (worm manure and chicken manure in yield, total sugar and nitrate accumulation in fruit, chicken manure in vitamin C) gave better positive results than chemical fertilizers. In the macronutrient content of the leaves, chicken manure in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus; vermicompost, chicken manure, and farm manure in terms of potassium; and vermicompost and chicken manure in terms of calcium all gave better results than chemical fertilizers. In the micronutrient content of the leaves, chicken manure in terms of iron, vermicompost in terms of zinc, and chicken manure and farm manure in terms of copper gave better results than chemical fertilizers. In terms of economic profitability, while more profit was obtained from vermicompost, chicken manure and farm manure applications compared to chemical fertilizer applications, the highest profitability was obtained from vermicompost application. The findings of this study support the idea that vermicompost, chicken manure, and farm manure can be recommended as an alternative plant nutrition input to chemical fertilizers in strawberry cultivation.

Mineral Composition of Bread Wheat Cultivars as Influenced by Different Fertilizer Sources and Weed Management Practices

Mineral and vitamin deficiencies are one of the important threats especially in developing and under-developed countries. Wheat grain also contains a number of elements vital to our biological functions, but hazardous to our health in high concentrations. This research was carried out to determine the effects of agronomic practices on the mineral composition of organically grown bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. In terms of all nutrients evaluated, the mineral content of wheat showed significant differences according to crop years, varieties, weed management methods and fertilizer sources. As the average of all factors, the Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb contents of the ground wheat grain were 3.93, 42.8, 79.6, 0.549, 11.34, 0.012, 0.140, 0.194, 3.71 and 0.269 mg/kg, respectively. According to the wheat varieties, the Kirik was superior in terms of Cu (7.6%), Fe (3.8%), Se (57%), Zn (40.5%), Co (31.1%) and Cr (36.1%), and the Dogu-88 was superior in terms of Mn (5.5%), Cd (1.9%), and Ni (17.0%). The effect of weed management methods on mineral content was variable. According to fertilizer sources, the highest mineral content was obtained from the control plots without fertilizer treatments. The lowest mineral contents were obtained from chemical fertilization, cattle manure and organic fertilizer applications. There was no significant increase in the mineral content of wheat with organic fertilization, however, organic agriculture still preserves its place in terms of healthy food. As a result, it has been determined that the values obtained for all mineral elements were not at a level that pose a risk on the environment, human and animal health according to WHO. In order to identify wheat varieties with higher mineral content, which are beneficial for human health, new research should be done with different organic fertilizer sources with more varieties.

THE EFFECT OF POULTRY, CATTLE AND SWINE MANURE APPLICATIONS TO SOIL ON LETTUCE YIELD AND QUALITY AND GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION POTENTIAL

This study investigated the effect that poultry, cattle, swine manures, and artificial fertilizer have on the yield and quality of lettuce (Lactucasativa L.). The ground water contamination potential of these fertilizers when applied to calcareous soil was also studied. Lettuce plants were cultivated in pots containing soil amended with either of the fertilizers together with a no-fertilizer control. The amount of fertilizer applied to soil was in line with that used by the lettuce growers in Malta. The experiment, including 20 replicates for each treatment, was set up in a greenhouse and the crop height, width, fresh and dry mass, root length, sap NO3 - and K + , and heavy metal content were monitored. The drain water from the pots was analysed periodically for NO3 - content and salinity. The best crop performance was obtained from poultry manure followed by swine manure, cattle manure and artificial fertilizer. Yield from the control soil was poor and also resulted in a crop containing the highest NO3 - concentration in the sap. No significant difference was found in sap NO3 - concentration in plants grown in soil amended with the fertilizers. The heavy metal content concentration in the plants was not significantly different except for Ni, Mn and Cu. The highest NO3 - leaching was shown in the soil amended with manure, especially with that from poultry. Crops grown on cattle manure showed the highest variation in crop mass and also the lowest yield-to-ground water NO3 - contamination potential ratio.