Combination Of Poultry Manure Research Articles

Impacts of poultry manure and biochar amendments on the nutrients in sweet potato leaves and the minerals in the storage roots

Poultry manure (PM) has demonstrated its potential to enhance crop nutritional quality. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of knowledge regarding its synergistic effects when combined with wood biochar (B) on the nutrient concentrations in sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L.) and the mineral content stored in sweet potato storage roots. Hence, a two-year field trial was undertaken during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons in southwestern Nigeria, spanning two locations (Owo—site A and Obasooto—site B), to jointly apply poultry manure and wood biochar as soil amendments aimed at enhancing the nutritional quality of sweet potato crop. Each year, the experiment involved different combinations of poultry manure at rates of 0, 5.0, and 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at rates of 0, 10.0, 20.0, and 30.0 t ha−1, organized in a 3 × 4 factorial layout. The results of the present study demonstrated that the individual application of poultry manure (PM), biochar (B), or their combination had a significant positive impact on the nutrient composition of sweet potato leaves and minerals stored in the sweet potato storage roots, with notable synergistic effects between poultry manure and biochar (PM × B) in enhancing these parameters. This highlights the potential of biochar to enhance the efficiency of poultry manure utilization and improve nutrient utilization from poultry manure. The highest application rate of poultry manure at 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at 30.0 t ha−1 (PM10 + B30), resulted in the highest leaf nutrient concentrations and mineral composition compared to other treatments at both sites. Averaged over two years, the highest application rate of poultry manure at 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at 30.0 t ha−1 (PM10 + B30) significantly increased sweet potato leaf nutrient concentrations: nitrogen by 88.2%, phosphorus by 416.7%, potassium by 123.8%, calcium by 927.3%, and magnesium by 333.3%, compared to those in the control (PM0 + B0). The same treatment increased the concentration of sweet potato root storage minerals: phosphorus by 152.5%, potassium by 77.4%, calcium by 205.5%, magnesium by 294.6%, iron by 268.4%, zinc by 228.6%, and sodium by 433.3%, compared to the control. The highest application rate of poultry manure at 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at 30.0 t ha−1 yielded the highest economic profitability in terms of gross margin (44,034 US$ ha−1), net return (30,038 US$ ha−1) and return rate or value-to-cost ratio (VCR) (263). The results suggested that the application of poultry manure at 10 t ha−1 and biochar at 30 t ha−1 is economically profitable in the study areas and under similar agroecological zones and soil conditions.

EFFECTS OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND THE YIELD OF Amaranthus species IN A CONTINUOUSLY CROPPED ULTISOL

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of poultry manure and NPK (20:10:10) fertilizer on soil chemical properties and yield of Amaranthus species. The treatments were: T1-Control (no fertilizer), T2-NPK 20:10:10 (200kg/ha), T3-Poultry manure (5 tons/ha), T4-NPK 20:10:10 (100kg/ha) + Poultry manure (2.5 tons/ha), T5-NPK 20:10:10 (100kg/ha)+ Poultry manure (5 tons/ha), T6-NPK 20:10:10 (200kg/ha)+ Poultry manure (5 tons/ha. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The soil was strongly acidic, having a pH of 5.1 and low in % total Nitrogen (0.10), % organic carbon (1.13) and the exchangeable bases. From the study, the poultry manure 5t/ha + NPK (20:10:10) 100kg/ha gave the best yield of Amaranthus species, followed by poultry manure 5t/ha + NPK (20:10:10) 200kg/ha which gave an increase in soil chemical properties. It is recommended that the combination of poultry manure 5t/ha + NPK (20:10:10) 100kg/ha fertilizer could be used for profitable Amaranthus production in the study area.

Growth and yield of bell pepper as influenced by combination of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer

Growth and yield of bell pepper as influenced by combination of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer

Influence of Organic Manures and Organic Sprays on Productivity and Economics of Summer Greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of organic fertilizers and organic sprays on the productivity and economic parameters of summer greengram (Vigna radiata) cultivation. The experiment was designed as a split-plot design with three replications. The primary plots encompassed four organic fertilizer treatments: Control (M1), Farm yard manure (M2), Vermicompost (M3), and Poultry manure (M4). The sub-plots included three organic spray treatments: Control (S1), Panchagavya (S2), and Jeevamrutha (S3).
 The results of the experiment revealed that the combination of poultry manure as the organic fertilizer in conjunction with the application of Panchagavya spray had the most significant impact on both seed yield (779 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (1909 kg ha-1) for summer greengram cultivation. Furthermore, this specific combination demonstrated notably higher gross returns (₹48,648 ha-1), net returns (₹30,125 ha-1), and a favourable B C ratio of 2.60.

Effects of farmyard manure, sawdust and npk 15-15-15 fertilizer on growth and yield of (cucumis satius l)

A study was carried to determine the effect of inorganic and organic fertilizer for cucumber production. This is to access and establish the type that will produce optimum yield. The fertilizer types evaluated were poultry manure, sawdust NPK 15-15-15.The study was conducted on Alfisol soil at kabba. The experimental design used was Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments. The treatment were poultry manure (25 tons/h), sawdust 25 tons/h, NPK 15.15-15 (400kg/ha), poultry manure (25 tons/ha) + NPK 15-15-15 (400kg/ha) and control (No fertilizer application).All the treatments were replicated four times to give a total of twenty (20) experimental plots. The result of this study showed that the combination of poultry manure and NPK 15-15-15 significantly increased (P<0.05) the Number of leaves, Number of fruits and weight of fruits (fruit yield). The yield performance sequence was in the order poultry manure+ NPK 15-15-15> poultry manure> sawdust> NPK> control.

A Comparative Study on the Bioremediation of Spent Engine Oil Contaminated Soil Using Cow Dung, Poultry Manure and Saw Dust

The contamination of the soil with spent engine oil has become a threat on the health of the public as hazardous chemicals are released into the environment. In this study, three organic wastes (cow dung (CD), poultry droppings (PD) and saw dust (SD)) were used for bioremediation of spent engine oil contaminated soil to determine the potential of these organic wastes in enhancing biodegradation of spent engine oil in the soil. This research was undertaken in eight phases. These wastes were added to the spent engine oil contaminated soil individually and in combination (SD ONLY, CD ONLY, PD ONLY, CD+SD, PD+CD, SD+PD, CD+SD+PD) and oil contaminated soil only as control. The rates of bioremediation of the spent engine oil was studied for a period of 8 weeks under laboratory conditions. Physicochemical analysis, isolation and enumeration of bacteria and fungi were done. Characterization and identification tests of isolates revealed that a microbial consortium comprising of the following Hydrocarbon Utilizing Bacteria genera; Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeriginosa, Proteus vulgaris, and Klebsiella aerogenes Similarly, the Hydrocarbon Utilizing Fungi encountered were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Mucor sp. Hydrocarbon-utilizing bacterial and fungal counts were high in all the organic waste-amended soil when compared to unamended control soil throughout the 8 weeks of study. Spent engine oil-contaminated soil amended with a combination of cow dung and poultry manure as biostimulant showed the highest spent engine oil loss in 8 weeks compared to other treatments. These results revealed that a combination of poultry manure and cow dung was the best of the organic wastes used. The results obtained demonstrated the potential of organic wastes for oil bioremediation in the order PM+CD>PM>CD>PM+SD>SD+PM+CD >CD+SD >SD. Hence, all the biostimulants showed the ability to stimulate the growth of microorganisms for used engine oil degradation.

Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and economics of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Jalandhar (Punjab)

The field experiment laid out in randomized block design with three replications of ten different combinations of organic and chemical fertilizer i.e., (FYM, poultry manure, vermicompost) and the chemical fertilizers at different levels, using kufri Pukhraj variety of potato, showed that the growth parameters like percentage of plant emergence, percent tubers emerged, plant height at 30 and 75 DAP, number of haulms plant-1 (75 DAP), number of compound leaves plant-1 at 75 DAP as well as the yield attributing characters (ie., number of tubers plant-1, tuber weight plant-1, marketable yield plot-1, and non-marketable yield plot-1 and total yield plot-1) were significantly influenced by different treatment combination of FYM, NPK, poultry manure and vermicompost. However, the combination of poultry manure and the RDF applied @10t h-1 + 50 per cent R.D.F exhibited maximum weight of tuber plant-1, marketable yield plot-1, non marketable yield plot-1, total yield plot-1, gross income (Rs. 2,79.666), net income (Rs 163914) and B: C ratio (141), minimum weight of tubers plant-1, marketable yield plant-1, the total yield gross income, net income and the Benefit: Cost and the lowest was recorded in T4 (vermi compost @ 20 t ha-1).

Breakdown of dry aggregates by water drops after applications of poultry manure and spent mushroom wastes

Evaluation of soil properties that enable aggregates to resist breakdown from impacting water drops is useful in modeling soil erosion process and tillage of some tropical soils. The effect of applications of poultry manure and spent mushroom wastes on soil properties related to resistance of aggregates of a degraded ultisol to water drops detachment energy (D) in southern Nigeria was studied. The area was under continuous field trials for maize crop. The treatments were: control (PM0SM0), 5 and 10 t ha−1 poultry manure (PM5 and PM10, respectively), 5 and 10 t ha−1 spent mushroom wastes (SM5 and SM10, respectively), and 5 t ha−1 poultry manure plus 5 t ha−1 spent mushroom wastes (PM5 + SM5) applied in seven consecutive years. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in five replications. Soil samples were analyzed for texture, organic matter, aggregate stability, water retention, bulk density, clay mineralogy and water drop test. Results revealed that seven-year applications of PM5, SM5, SM10, and PM5 + SM5 treatments had significant positive effects on soil structural and hydraulic properties than PM10. However, in comparison to PM0SM0, applications of 10 t ha−1 PM had significant positive effects on these properties. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was 46.6, 35.4, 32.6 and 25.5 cm h−1 in PM5 + SM5, SM10, SM5 and PM10 soils, respectively; compared to 9.6 cm h−1 in PM0SM0. A low aggregate ratio (AR) obtained for PM10 compared to higher values for SM10 and PM5 + SM5 suggest that PM10 in this case had a disaggregating effect on the soil aggregates. Sand content accounted for 81.2% of negative effect on water drop detachment energy (D), while clay content accounted for 86.8% of the positive correlation with D. Only water-stable aggregates (WSA) 0.5–0.25 mm had a significant positive correlation with D (r = 0.661, p < 0.05). Clay dispersion index (CDI) had a highly negative correlation with D (r = − 0.896, p < 0.01). Volumetric water content at FC (− 10 kPa) and PWP (− 1500 kPa) correlated positively with D (r = 0.618, P < 0.05 and r = 0.614, p < 0.05). There was a non-significant positive correlation of Muscovite and Berlinite with D. Significant positive correlations of calcite with D (r = 0.694, p < 0.05), and between mica and D (r = 0.731, p < 0.05), revealed their strong linkage with macro-aggregate stability. It was found that high rates of poultry manure alone could increased erodibility and decreased water retention at FC and PWP, while a combination of poultry manure and spent mushroom wastes could reduce erodibility. These properties could be used to make a quick inference on the resistance of soil aggregates to water drop impact.

Effects of different soil amendments and age of transplant on the post-harvest quality and shelf life of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruits

BackgroundTwo separate experiments were conducted in the minor season from September to November, 2019 and major season from March to May, 2020 to determining the type of soil amendment and transplanting age that can best improve the post-harvest quality and shelf life of sweet pepper fruits at Benso oil palm plantation of Adum Banso Estate in the Mpohor District of the Western Region of Ghana. The experiments were conducted as a 4 × 2 factorial, arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Four fertilizer treatments including no fertilizer (control), 10 tons/ha of poultry manure, 300 kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 and 5 t/ha of poultry manure + 150 kg/ha of NPK 15-15-15 and two ages of transplants including 6-week-old seedlings and 7-week-old seedlings were applied during the cultivation periods and were later evaluated of their effects on the post-harvest quality and shelf life of harvested fruits after a two-weeks storage period. Data collected on weight loss, shrinkage, decayed fruits and shelf life of harvested fruits were subjected to analysis of variance using the Genstat Statistical package. The least significant difference criterion was used to separate treatment means at 5% probability.ResultsPost-harvest qualities of sweet pepper fruits were not significantly influenced by age of transplant throughout the study. Fertilizer application generally increased percentage fruit weight loss, fruit shrinkage, fruit decay and reduced shelf life of sweet pepper fruits in the major season. Sole application of poultry manure mostly enhanced post-harvest quality of sweet pepper fruits in the minor rainy season, but fruit shelf life was improved if no fertilizer was applied. Application of a combination of poultry manure and NPK 15-15-15 to 6-week-old transplants gave relatively low fruit weight loss and shrinkage values. Generally, fruit quality and shelf life were enhanced in 6-week-old transplants treated with no fertilizer.ConclusionsThe use of poultry manure alone should be encouraged to probably increase yield while improving the quality and shelf life of harvested sweet pepper fruits. Transplanting of 6-week-old seedlings is also encouraged for quality harvested fruits and extended shelf life.

Effect of Different Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Onion Grown in Sandy Soil under The New Valley Governorate Conditions تأثیر الأسمدة العضویة والمعدنیة المختلفة على نمو ومحصول وجودة البصل المزروع فی التربة الرملیة تحت ظروف محافظة الوادی الجدید

The current study was performed at the Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons in order to evaluate response of onion cv. Giza 6 to some organic fertilizers, i.e., cattle manure and poultry manure in addition to mineral fertilizers as control treatment. The results obtained showed that the vegetative growth characters and yield components of onion plants were significantly influenced by fertilizers kinds. Combination of poultry manure at 75% of recommended fertilizers and 25% of mineral fertilizers recorded the highest values for both vegetative growth characters and yield components, i.e., plant height, leaves number, plant fresh and dry weight, crop growth rate, bulb fresh weight, bulb diameter, bulb dry matter, marketable yield and total yield in a comparison to mineral fertilizers (control) in both seasons. While, the content of chlorophyll a, b, total carotenoids, N, P and K in onion leaves and vitamin C, sulfur volatile oil and TSS in onion bulb were increased significantly by application of poultry manure at 25% of recommended fertilizers plus 75% of mineral fertilizers compared to mineral fertilizers (control) in both seasons. It can be concluded that application of poultry manure at 75% of recommended fertilizers plus 25% of mineral fertilizers increased growth , yield and improved bulb quality of onion plants cv. Giza 6 under the New Valley Governorate conditions.

Effects of different combinations of poultry manure and urea on growth, yield and economics of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

A field experiment was carried out in garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and five treatments in horticulture farm of Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal to find out the efficacy of different combination of poultry manure and Urea as nitrogen fertilizers in its yield and yield attributes. The five treatments used for experiment were designed altering the recommended nitrogen dose through different sources i.e. (T1) 100% Urea, (T2) 7% Urea and 25% poultry manure, (T3) 50% Urea and 50% poultry manure, (T4) 25% Urea and 75% poultry manure and (T5) 100% poultry manure. The data regarding to the plant height, number of cloves, diameter of bulbs and fresh bulb weight were taken. In case of plant height, non-significant result was found between various treatments. The number of cloves was found highest in T5 (24.69±1.30), the diameter of bulb was found highest in T2 (3.93±0.39 cm), fresh bulb weight was found highest in T2 (14.32±0.39 gm) and total bulb yield was found highest in T2 (7.16±0.19 t/ha) which were significant at 5 % level of significance. The total bulb yield was found positively correlated (r=0.53) with diameter of bulb at 1 % level of significance. The benefit cost (B/C) ratio was found highest in T2 (1.54) and lowest in T3 (1.28). So 75% Urea and 25 % Poultry Manure stood one of the best combinations of nitrogen fertilizers providing higher economic yields.

Reducing N2O and NO emissions while sustaining crop productivity in a Chinese vegetable-cereal double cropping system

High nitrogen (N) inputs in Chinese vegetable and cereal productions played key roles in increasing crop yields. However, emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) and atmospheric pollutant nitric oxide (NO) increased too. For lowering the environmental costs of crop production, it is essential to optimize N strategies to maintain high crop productivity, while reducing the associated N losses. We performed a 2 year-round field study regarding the effect of different combinations of poultry manure and chemical N fertilizers on crop yields, N use efficiency (NUE) and N2O and NO fluxes from a Welsh onion-winter wheat system in the North China Plain. Annual N2O and NO emissions averaged 1.14–3.82 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (or 5.54–13.06 g N kg−1 N uptake) and 0.57–1.87 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (or 2.78–6.38 g N kg−1 N uptake) over all treatments, respectively. Both N2O and NO emissions increased linearly with increasing total N inputs, and the mean annual direct emission factors (EFd) were 0.39% for N2O and 0.19% for NO. Interestingly, the EFd for chemical N fertilizers (N2O: 0.42–0.48%; NO: 0.07–0.11%) was significantly lower than for manure N (N2O: 1.35%; NO: 0.76%). Besides, a negative power relationship between yield-scaled N2O, NO or N2O + NO emissions and NUE was observed, suggesting that improving NUE in crop production is crucial for increasing crop yields while decreasing nitrogenous gas release. Compared to the current farmers’ fertilization rate, alternative practices with reduced chemical N fertilizers increased NUE and decreased annual N2O + NO emissions substantially, while crop yields remained unaffected. As a result, annual yield-scaled N2O + NO emissions were reduced by > 20%. Our study shows that a reduction of current application rates of chemical N fertilizers by 30–50% does not affect crop productivity, while at the same time N2O and NO emissions would be reduced significantly.

Influence of Inorganic Fertilizers and Organic Amendments on Plant Nutrients and Soil Enzyme Activities under Incubation

An incubation experiment was carried out in the department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ANGRAU, Hyderabad, India during 2013−14 with 12 treatments including control to study the mineralization pattern and timely release of nutrients (N, P, K and soil enzymes) to plant from different sources and periods. Mineralization of nitrogen (NH4+-N and NO3−-N), phosphorus (P2O5) potassium (K2O) and soil enzymes (urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase) activities from different treatments were evaluated. During initial period 7 to 21 days after incubation (DAI), the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) had maximum release of NH4+-N and NO3−-N and later on decreased in the succeeding days but manures combination treatment has taken lead to release the N from 1 DAI to 70 DAI than control. Similar trends were followed in available P2O5 and K2O. The maximum quantity of urease and DHA were reached 203 to 227 μg NH4+-N g−1 soil h−1 and 10.6 to12.4 μg TPF g−1 soil h−1 from combination of poultry manure and neem cake at 70 DAI, respectively. Maximum released of acid and alkaline phosphatase were observed in 21 DAI and 35 DAI in RDF respectively. Among the manures treatment, PM+NC had superior in releasing of alkaline phosphatase over other, followed by poultry manure and FYM+PM. Correlation study between nutrients (N, P and K) and enzymes activity showed that a significant (p<0.05) positive relationship with each others.

CHAMOMILE PRODUCTION USING SUPPLEMENTARY IRRIGATION AND ORGANIC FERTILIZATION IN SANDY SOILS

ABSTRACT: The use of medicinal plants in the herbal medicine of Brazilian Health System has intensified production and the need for developing efficient agricultural techniques that promote greater productivity of these species. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chamomile production at field conditions as a function of irrigation depths and organic fertilizer rates. The experiment was conducted in the Universidade do Oeste Paulista (Campus II experimental area), in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil. A triple factorial experimental design was used, consisting of irrigation rates (150, 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% of the reference evapotranspiration - ETo), organic manure types (poultry and cattle manure) and manure rates (0, 3 and 5 kg m-2), with four replications. The capitula production per plant, capitula dry weight and yield per water input (water use efficiency) were evaluated. The supplementary irrigation combined with organic manure fertilization provided the highest capitula yield for chamomile crop in the Presidente Prudente region. The combination of poultry manure at rate of 5 kg m-2 with water depth equal to 150% of the ETo resulted in higher average values of capitula fresh and dry weight and water use efficiency.

Fertilizer Rate on Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Concentration of Leafy Vegetables

ABSTRACTIn the Mount Cameroon region, vegetables are traditionally planted without use of fertilizers. Increased demand and continuous cultivation on the same land over a long period requires that crops require addition of fertilizer, but most farmers apply fertilizers indiscriminately. As a result, yields of Amaranthus cruentus L. and Vernonia hymenolepis A. Rich have been reduced. It is necessary to investigate the effects of type and amount of fertilizers on growth, yield, and nutrient concentrations in these vegetables. Nine fertilizer treatments and a no fertilizer treatment (a common practice) were used. Data were collected biweekly for plant height, number of leaves, relative leaf area, collar diameter, and petiole length. For V. hymenolepis and A. cruentus, respectively, tallest plants (56.67 and 84 cm), most leaves (38 and 84), highest relative leaf area (137.67 and 177.23 cm2), widest collars (19.10 and 33.17 mm), and longest petioles (5.61 and 13.58 cm) were for those treated with a combination of poultry manure at 30 Mt·ha−1 and NPK at 275 kg·ha−1. Leaf N, P, Ca, and K and Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn contents increased due to application of fertilizers compared to the control. Optimum yield (17.05 and 10 Mt·ha−1) in A. cruentus and V. hymenolepis, respectively, was with application of poultry manure at 30 Mt·ha−1 + 20N–10P–10K at 275 kg·ha−1. Combining specific amounts of synthetic fertilizer and manures appears to be useful for improved yields at a potentially lower cost.

Effect of Poultry Manure and Irrigation Depth on the Growth of Fluted Pumpkin (&lt;em&gt;Telfairia occidentalis&lt;/em&gt; Hook. F) During the Dry Season in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Farmers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria only practice rainfed agriculture, partly because of the misconception that the area has abundant rainfall even though the region has distinct wet and dry seasons. This, coupled with the low soil fertility always results in crops being produced at the subsistence level. This experiment was therefore conducted during the dry season to investigate the growth response of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F) to different combinations of poultry manure and depths of irrigation in a loamy sand soil. It was a randomized complete block design experiment involving three levels each of poultry manure and irrigation with three replications. The treatments comprised random combinations of 10, 20 and 30 t/ha poultry manure with 3, 4 and 5 mm depths of irrigation, including control treatment that had neither manure nor irrigation. Results indicated that the application of poultry manure and irrigation produced significantly higher values of all the growth parameters than the control. Although the combination of 30 t/ha manure and 4 mm depth of irrigation produced the maximum leaf area, the best result in terms of vine length, number of leaves, vine fresh weight and total shoot yield was obtained by combining 30 t/ha manure with 3 mm irrigation depth. This study therefore recommends the application of 30 t/ha poultry manure and 3 mm depth of irrigation for the cultivation of fluted pumpkin during the dry season in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Effects of fertilization and irrigation on the elements of yield of the wine grape variety Vranac

This work presents the three-year results of the effects of mineral and different types of organic fertilizers on the elements of the yield (the relative coefficient of fertility, the absolute coefficient of fertility, cluster weight and the yield of grapes per area unit) of the Vranac variety of grape. The research was carried out in Podgorica vineyard, at the location Ljeskopolje. Eight different variants of nutrition were applied: (1) control (without fertilization); (2) NPK (8:16:24) - 500 kg/ha; (3) cow manure - 20 t/ha; (4) poultry manure - 10 t/ha; (5) peat - 10 t/ha; (6) cow manure + poultry manure - 10 + 5 t/ha; (7) cow manure + peat - 10 + 5 t/ha; (8) poultry manure + peat - 5 + 5 t/ha. All the variants of nutrition were tested under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. The results showed that the relative coefficient of fertility in all the tested variants of nutrition had high values. Regarding the number of inflorescences per productive shoot in a three-year average, a particularly good variant was the cow manure and the variant with the combination of poultry manure and peat. The application of mineral and different types of organic fertilizers had a positive effect on the average cluster weight. The variant with the combination of poultry manure and peat gave the highest average cluster weight in the three-year average. All the tested variants of nutrition in the three-year average had a higher yield than the variant without fertilization. The variant with cow manure had the highest yield of grapes. Irrigation had a positive effect on all the tested indicators of the yield.

Effects of Iso-Nutrient Fertilization on Plankton Production in Earthen Ponds of Bangladesh

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of iso-nutrients fertilization on fertilizer combinations, containing a similar amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were the production of plankton in earthen ponds for a period of eight weeks. Two different were tested in triplicate using six earthen ponds of 100 m2 each. The fertilizer combinations of cow manure, urea and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) at the rate 5000, 125 and 100 kg ha(-1), respectively, containing approximately 102 kg N and 65 kg P was used for treatment-1 (T-l). Another combination of poultry-manure, urea and TSP at the rate of 2000, 125 and 100 kg ha(-1), respectively, was considered as the treatment-2 (T-2). The application rate of poultry manure was adjusted to make the nutrient (N and P) content of fertilizer combination in T-2 similar to that in T-1. Four groups of phytoplankton namely, Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae and two groups of zooplankton namely, Crustacea and Rotifera were identified. The mean abundance of both phytoplankton (78.25 +/- 6.33 x 10(4) cells L(-1)) and zooplankton (57.63 +/- 4.59 x 10(4) cells L(-1)), were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in earthen ponds which treated with poultry manure. The result showed that despite iso-nutrients content, the nutrient status of poultry manure proved to be superior to cow manure.

Soil organic amendments and mineral fertilizers: options for sustainable lowland rice production in the forest agro-ecology of Ghana &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Rectification organique des sols et engrais chimiques: options pour la production durable du riz dans les terrains bas dans l'agro-ecologie des forets du Ghana

The “sawah” technology (bunded and leveled irrigated rice field) was introduced to some farmers within the forest agro-ecology of Ghana. To improve the productivity of their soils and also to minimize expenditure on mineral fertilizers, the effect of three organic amendments on rice yield was evaluated. Poultry manure, cattle manure and rice husk were used either solely or in combination with mineral fertilizer on rice at three different locations within the forest agro-ecological zone at Potrikrom, Biemso No. 1 and Biemso No. 2. Sole organic amendments were applied at a rate of 7.0 t ha-1 and sole mineral fertilizer was applied as N-P-K at 90-60-60 kg ha-1. The N source was either urea or sulphate of ammonia, P source was triple super phosphate and K source was muriate of potash. Combinations were half rate (organic amendments + mineral fertilizer). Results showed that organic amendments, mineral fertilizer and their combinations significantly contributed to the growth and grain yield of rice. A combination of poultry manure (half rate) and mineral fertilizer (half rate) gave significantly greater grain yield than all the treatments except mineral fertilizer (full rate) at two out of the three locations. Rice grain yields were 6.2, 7.3 and 3.7 t ha-1 for half rate poultry manure + half rate mineral fertilizer at Potrikrom, Biemso No. 1 and Biemso No. 2 respectively, while full rate mineral fertilizer gave 6.6, 7.3 and 3.9 t ha-1 at the three sites respectively. In addition, a combination of organic amendments with mineral fertilizer out-yielded sole organic amendments at all the three sites. Organic amendments applied solely performed in the order: poultry manure > cattle manure > rice husk. Keywords: agro-ecology, forest, organic amendments, “sawah”, sustainability Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana Vol. 3 2004: 237-248

EFFECTS OF SOIL TREATMENTS CONTAINING POULTRY MANURE ON CRUDE OIL DEGRADATION IN A SANDY LOAM SOIL

The impacts of crude oil pollution on a sandy loam soil and the influence of incorporation of poultry manure alone and in combination with alternate carbon substrates (glucose or starch) and surfactants (Goldcrew or Corexit) were investigated. Oil pollution increased soil organic carbon and reduced soil nitrates and phosphorus, thus imposing a condition that impaired oil degradation in the soil. Treatment of the soil with poultry manure alone, enhanced oil degradation but the extent of this was influenced by the incorporation of alternate carbon substrates or surfactants. Addition of glucose or Corexit encouraged crude oil degradation, while addition of starch or Goldcrew reduced the extent of degradation obtained. The soil amendments interacted in affecting crude oil degradation. This was optimal with a combination of poultry manure (2.0%w/w) + glucose (2.0%w/w) which yielded a crude oil degradation of 7.42±1.02% after sixteen weeks incubation. Keywords. alternate carbon substrates, crude oil degradation, poultry manure, surfactants