Litter Manure Research Articles

Enabling the circular nitrogen economy with organic and organo-mineral fertilisers

AbstractThe circular nutrient economy repurposes organic (formerly alive, containing organic carbon) and inorganic (mineral) recycled materials as fertilisers and soil ameliorants, and halving nitrogen (N) waste is a global goal. Our focus was unavoidable food waste and garden waste (FOGO food organics garden organics) as suitable feedstock for compost and use for cropping. We hypothesised that to realise benefits of compost, organic and organo-mineral fertilisers (OF/OMF) must be optimised for target crops and biophysical environments. We explored compost and organic recyclates (dried bacterial biomass PPB, chicken litter manure) as N sources for vegetable, fruit and grain crops in controlled experiments with single or combinations of contrasting N release and carbon-to-N ratios of 20, 13.5 (compost), 13.5 (poultry manure), 6.1 (PPB) and 0.5 (mineral N). With standardised N input (0.5–1 g N/pot and plant), compost as the sole N source resulted in less yield than all other N sources, while suitable mixtures of organic recyclates with/without added mineral N matched the yield of crops grown with mineral N. Adding 5% compost to sand growth substrate modulated crop growth and phenology, increased tillering and panicle production, or accelerated fruit ripening. This confirmed effects beyond nutrient supply, likely crop-growth modulating substances are present. Exploring effects of crop species, N source and water supply confirmed statistically significant interactions on yield, biomass and N use efficiency (NUE). This means a robust strategy for optimising OF/OMF is testing target crops with compost and recyclates to identify crop-specific responses. We recommend that applying such strategy allows manufacturers targeting N-efficient OF/OMF to service the expanding market for recyclate-based organo-mineral fertilisers and soil ameliorants for the circular N economy.

INFLUENCE OF FEEDING THREE TYPES OF DRY POULTRY MANURE ON BROILER GROWTH, FEED ‎CONSUMPTION, FEKD EFFICIENCY AND MORTALITY

This study was carried out to determine the feasibility of dry poultry manure (DPM) as a feed stuff. Three types of DPM were studied: 1- layer litter manure, 2- caged layer manure, 3- processed caged layer manure. Three hundred fifty one-day old broiler chicks were allocated at random into seven dietary treatments, chicks in T1 (control) were fed on ‘starter and finisher commercial diets. Chicks in T2 and 13 were fed diets supplemented with 5% and 10% layer litter manure, respectively. Chicks in T4 and T5 were fed dies contained 5% and 10% caged layer manure, respectively, while chicks in T6 and T7 were fed diets contain 5% and 10% processed caged layer manure, respectively. Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency of the chicks were not significantly influenced by feeding diets containing 5% DPM. But the inclusion of 10% DPM in the diet has significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the body weight gain and feed efficiency and increased the feed consumption and mortality.

Yield and energy efficiency in winter wheat agrocenosis under different fertilization systems in the conditions of the northern part of the Forest-Steppe

The influence of different types of fertilizers on the yield and energy efficiency of winter wheat cultivation was evaluated. It was found that the highest productivity was obtained under the organic-mineral fertilizer system, which involves the combined use of 12 t/ha of cattle bedding manure and mineral fertilizers in a dose of N100Р60К100, applied against the background of two-time fertilization with complex chelated fertilizers at a dose of 2 l/ha, where the yield was 5.67 t/ha, and when applying a double mineral dose (N100Р60К100) and a triple dose (N150Р90К150) – 5.76 and 6.00 t/ha respectively, which in terms of yield growth was lower than the NIR05 values. The combined use of litter manure and mineral fertilizers resulted in a synergistic effect, as winter wheat grain yields were 15–20 % lower when mineral and organic fertilizers were applied separately than when they were applied together. Increasing NPK doses by 1.5 times to N150P90K150 compared to N100P60K100 did not compensate for the lack of manure. Under the organic fertilizer system, the grain yield was the highest when OMBF was applied at a dose of 2 t/ha against a background of pea straw 3 t/ha, which amounted to 5.18 t/ha with an increase of 41 %, compared to the control (straw). The highest levels of energy efficiency were determined for the application of organic-mineral fertilizer of the organic brand in doses of 1 and 2 t/ha (5.4 and 5.3) and OMBF brand 4-4-4 in a dose of 1 t/ha (5.2). Under the organic-mineral system of fertilizing application of N50P30K50 and N100P60K100 at the background of 12 t/ha of manure established the index of energy efficiency at the level of 3.4 and 3.7 units, respectively. Application of cattle manure at a dose of 12 t/ha did not provide a significant difference in crop energy, compared to the variant 6 t/ ha – 75755 and 73305 MJ/ha respectively, but due to increased energy inputs in production and application of more manure Kee was 3.9 and 4.6 respectively. Key words: cattle manure, fertilizers, OMBF, yield, mineral fertilizers, by-products, fertilizer system, energy efficiency.

Changes in crop rotation productivity and stability of agrocenoses with prolonged use of fertilizers

The article considers the results of many years of field experiment (1968-2018) conducted in the Central part of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia (Vladimir region). The research was carried out during eleven rotations of the four-field grain crop rotation. The study shows the effect of use of organic and mineral fertilizers applied in various doses and combinations on crop rotation yield, fertility of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil. It was found that the organomineral fertilizer system (manure 10 t/ha + N50P25K60) provided stable crop rotation productivity (on average for eleven rotations) at the level of 39.9 c. e./ha, or 79.7 % higher than the control without fertilizers. The mineral fertilizer system at medium doses of fertilizers (N50P25K60) was at the level of the organomineral system. The organic system was inferior in efficiency to the mineral system, both at medium doses (manure 10 t/ha) and at elevated doses (manure 20 t/ha). At the same time, the long-term use of organic fertilizers provided an increase in the humus content, depending on the dose of litter manure, by 16-36 % compared to the initial values. The use of organic fertilizers led to the stabilization of the content of available forms of potassium in the soil at an average and elevated level, respectively. Stabilization of the content of mobile phosphorus in the soil at the level of average supply was noted in mineral, organomineral and organic fertilizer systems, respectively, with low and medium doses. When using increased doses of fertilizers, there is a further increase in the content of nutrients in the soil. Growing crops in crop rotation without the use of organic and mineral fertilizers gradually led to a decrease in yield. The use of fertilizers provided greater stability of crop yields over the years of the study compared to the variant without fertilizers. The soil in the variants with organic (manure 20 t/ha) and organomineral (manure 10 t/ha + N50P25K60) fertilizer systems was characterized by high values of the main physiological groups of microorganisms. The ratio of the number of amylolytic and proteolytic microorganisms was 1.1-1.2, that indicated a balance in the processes of mineralization of organic matter in the soil and its humification.

Environmentally friendly disinfection method of coccidia oocysts in the environment

Aim. To test the effectiveness and environmental friendliness of a new method of biothermal treatment of bird litter and disinfectant – Penoks‐2 – in relation to bird coccidia oocysts.Material and Methods. A test of biothermal disinfection of bedding manure and disinfestation of premises for rearing young laying hens (6000 birds), was carried out in the Mugutdinova farm of the Buynaksky district of the Republic of Dagestan. The detection of coccidia oocysts was carried out according to the method of Void and Darling, Methods for the Laboratory Diagnosis of Avian Coccidiosis". The quality of the disinfestation using Penox‐2 solutions was controlled by examining swabs and scrapings taken from the experimental and control surfaces of the premises in accordance with the Rules for Disinfection and Disinfestation of Objects of State Veterinary Supervision. The study of biothermal processes in the litter manure was carried out every 5 days with temperature measurement of piles, while taking samples of the litter for detecting the presence of coccidia oocysts.Results. The studies conducted established that the most environmentally safe method of disinfecting premises is biothermal where the population of replacement laying hens is kept. The temperature in piles 1.5 and 2.0 m high and 2–2.5 m wide reached 65–75°C on the 20–25th day, which ensures the destruction of coccidia oocysts. Production tests have shown that solutions of the new Penox‐2 agent destroy coccidia oocysts in the external environment after irrigation of room surfaces with a content of 3.0% chloramine B through a single application at the rate of 0.5 l/m2 and 3 hours exposure.Conclusion. Tests of a new method of biothermal treatment of litter manure and disinfestation with solutions of Penox‐2 showed high efficiency and environmental safety in the destruction of coccidia oocysts.

Ensuring the ecological safety of agroecosystems in conditions of increased content of heavy metals in fodder and manure of cows

Environmental pollution with organic waste from livestock, especially cattle manure, is relevant for various countries of the world, including the United States of America and the countries of the European Union. Manure, which contains toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, copper and zinc, is a much greater threat to agroecosystems and, in particular, to the soil. In the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, a scientific and economic experiment was conducted on dairy cows for the production of ecologically safe milk. During the experiment, the research groups were fed a special mineral-vitamin premix and an injection of a biological preparation that enhanced the elimination of heavy metals with excrement. Experiments were conducted in four farms with different livestock. At the end of the experiment, 10 samples of manure mass were taken from each farm (total of 40 samples) and a chemical analysis of the concentration of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn was made using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (spectrophotometer AAS-30). It was established that as a result of the content in animal diets of fodder with exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations of heavy metals, they, passing through the gastrointestinal tract, fall together with excrement into manure. The average concentration of cadmium was 0.07-0.11 mg/ kg, lead 5.48-8.25 mg/kg, copper 37.71-47.42 mg/ kg, zinc 66.55-81.49 mg / kg. Litter manure is subsequently applied to agricultural land as an organic fertilizer. In order to prevent soil contamination with heavy metals, it is necessary to establish the expediency of applying organic fertilizers to vegetable and fodder crops in each specific case, especially those that are fed to dairy cows. In connection with the difficulty, in today's conditions, for farmers to purchase a sufficient amount of mineral fertilizers, to increase the use of organic fertilizers, if their quantity is sufficient in the farm, but their application to the soil should be controlled and standardized, taking into account the concentration of toxicants in the manure mass and the soil of agricultural lands with simultaneous improvement of grinding and uniformity of distribution over the field. The use of modern equipment for crushing and spreading manure, as well as scientifically based methods of its composting, growing vermiculture, synanthropic fly larvae or biogas production will contribute to the introduction of manure into the soil as an ecologically safe organic fertilizer, will positively affect its mechanical and physical chemical properties, will ensure a good economically effective yield of crops, ecological safety of agroecosystems, cows with ecologically safe feed.Keywords: average daily hopes, premix, bioprepared, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, contaminated feeds, antidote substances. Key words: manure, heavy metals, organic waste, ecological safety, agro-ecosystem, dairy cows.

Agroecological assessment of short crop rotation on sod-podzolic soil

In the conditions of drained lands with unsatisfactory work of reclamation systems, in the Polissia zone it became possible to grow commercially attractive crops, in particular, such as winter rapeseed and corn for grain. A short-rotation crop rotation was analyzed: lupine — winter rapeseed — winter rye — corn, on the basis of which various variants of the fertilization system were studied, including by replacing litter manure with siderate and by-products of all crops in combination with the recommended for the zone and increased (intensive) mineral norms fertilizers. The goal of the task was to determine the optimal agrochemical support for grain crop rotation to obtain stable crop productivity and preserve soil fertility. It was noted that during the 2016–2020 research, during the growing season of agricultural crops, the reserves of productive moisture in the meter-long layer of drained sod-podzolic sandy soil decreased to 60–80 mm, that is, to a critical level. It was established that the overall productivity of the crop rotation depended on its saturation with corn, the grain yield of which was 6.01–7.13 t/ha on average over 5 years at different levels of organic and mineral nutrition. The highest yield of grain and fodder units from 1 ha of crop rotation area (4.23 and 4.52 tons, respectively) was obtained when by-products were applied together with an increased rate of mineral fertilizers (N67P84K91). It was established that the replacement of litter manure with the by-products of grain, leguminous and oilseed crops as an organic fertilizer, together with the use of the recommended (N45P56K61) and increased (N67P84K91) mineral fertilizer rates, does not reduce the productivity of crop rotation, ensures a deficit-free nitrogen balance and the annual accumulation of humus in the amount of 320 and 440 kg, respectively, which guarantees extended reproduction and increased soil fertility.

Use experience of cattle effluents and manure in the Belgorod region

In the real farming conditions of the south-west of the Central Chernozem region (Belgorod oblast), it was found that the using local organic fertilizers – cattle effluents and manure, which differ in agrochemical composition and the degree of availability of nutrients, has an unequal effect on soil fertility and crop productivity. The use of cattle litter manure contributed to a significant improvement in soil fertility indicators such as organic matter content (by 0.4% abs.), degree of acidity (by 0.4 units.) and hydrolytic acidity (by 1.32 mmol/ 100 g of soil). Using of cattle effluents led to a significant excess of the agrocenoses productivity (by 1.2 thousand GU/ha or 30.4%) compared to the application of cattle manure. The most responsive crops for the cattle effluents application were sunflower, corn, perennial and annual grasses, which provided the harvest increasing by 23-113%. The use of cattle effluents was more economic effective compared to the application of cattle manure: profit and profitability were 2.9 and 3.1 times higher, respectively, and the cost price was 1.4 times lower.

DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES, MECHANIZATION AND AUTOMATION’S METHODS OF PREMISES FROM EXCREMENT CLEANING AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS’ PREPARATION

Premises for animals and poultry keeping from excrement cleaning and organic fertilizers preparation - are one of animals and poultry keeping laborintensive and energyintensive processes. At the same time, excrements are an extremely important raw material for organic fertilizers’ producing and necessary for cultivated crops’ high yields and soil fertility maintain obtaining. There on all farms’ categories, manure yield in manure’s physical weight is 294 million tons per year or 211 million tons in terms of litter manure. At cows tied keeping, up to 20% of the working time spent on animal maintenance on premises for excrements’ cleaning is spent. Various technical means and technologies have been created and used to manure removal from premises mechanizing and organic fertilizers preparation. In the System of machines for the period up to 2030, 39 names and standard sizes of technical means are provided, 10 of them are new, 17 ones are subjects for modernization, 11 ones without modification’s use are recommended. The analysis of their development, conditions and effectiveness’ application is given. The acceleration of livestock technological progress mechanization and automation, resourcesaving production’s technologies use will also contribute to social, demographic and environmental problems of the village’s successful solution. The environmental problems solution caused by production should also be carried out along the way of livestock production’s owners endowing at land of sufficient area for the entire excrement’s output using.

THE PHENOLOGY, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POTATO PLANTS DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF MANURE APPLICATION

The studies were conducted to identify the influence of the timing of litter manure application in conjunction with mineral fertilizers and planting density on the duration of potato development phases and plant height. The experiments were laid by a systematic method with a tiered arrangement of variants in the experiment, the repetition is 3-fold. Research methods: descriptive method and methods of field experiments. Phenological observations in experiments have shown that the doses of mineral fertilizers and the timing of manure application have some effect on the phases of potato plant development and plant growth. The lowest plants were obtained in variants without manure application and its application in winter on snow. The tallest plants are noted when applying manure under the chill and during spring application. This work is of practical importance for the cultivation of potatoes on dark chestnut soils of the Republic of Kazakhstan under irrigation with the use of optimal doses of mineral fertilizers and manure.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POTATO PLANTS DEPENDING ON THE TERMS OF APPLICATION OF MANUR

Potatoes are one of the most important agricultural crops in Kazakhstan. It is an indispensable food item, because it is popularly called a second bread for its nutritional value. The studies were conducted to identify the influence of the timing of litter manure application in conjunction with mineral fertilizers and planting density on the duration of potato development phases and plant height in the West Kazakhstan region. The experiments were laid by a systematic method with a tiered arrangement of variants in the experiment, the repetition is 3-fold. Cattle manure was used on a straw litter of autumn-winter harvesting. The following types of fertilizers were used: ammonium nitrate, double superphosphate, potassium chloride. Research methods: descriptive method and methods of field experiments. Statistical processing of the yield was carried out by a dispersion analysis. Phenological observations in experiments have shown that the doses of mineral fertilizers and the timing of manure application have some effect on the phases of potato plant development. Weather conditions also have a great influence on the duration of interphase periods. The timing of manure application in combination with mineral fertilizers had a certain effect on plant growth, but differences in plant height were more noticeable from the budding phase and in subsequent phases, therefore, we provide data on plant height in the flowering phase. The plant height was also influenced by the timing of manure application, and the weather conditions of the year, as well as the density of planting, the lowest plants were obtained in variants without manure application and its application in winter on snow. This pattern has been observed in all years of research. The tallest plants are noted when applying manure under the chill and during spring application. This work is of practical importance for the cultivation of potatoes on dark chestnut soils of the Republic of Kazakhstan under irrigation with the use of optimal doses of mineral fertilizers and manure. Properly chosen doses of mineral fertilizers and manure can increase the yield of potatoes from 35% to 50%, while now it is 75-80 centners per hectare

Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LB) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yeast) fermentation on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium level of poultry farm waste

Present work was carried out in the Department of LPM, FVSc and AH (SKUAST- Kashmir) to assess the change in values of minerals like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium due to Lactic Acid and Yeast Fermentation of poultry waste under the temperate climate of Kashmir Valley. Poultry waste in the form of dead birds and litter manure was used for this study. Nine groups with four replicates each were formulated as: G1: Dead birds; Poultry litter, G2: Dead birds; Litter manure; LB @1.0 per cent G3: Dead birds; Litter manure; LB @0.5 per cent G4: Dead birds; Litter manure; Yeast @1.0 per cent G5: Dead birds; Litter manure; Yeast @0.5 per cent G6: Dead birds; Litter manure; LB@ 1 per cent; Yeast @ 0.5 per cent G7: Dead birds; Litter manure; LB @ 1 per cent; Yeast @ 1per cent G8: Dead birds; Litter manure; LB @ 0.5 per cent; Yeast @ 0.5 per cent T9: Dead birds; Litter manure; LB @ 0.5per cent; Yeast @1per cent. At final stage of work it was recorded significantly highest (P0.05) nitrogen level of 18.2 g/kg during winter and highest nitrogen level of 17.8 g/Kg during summer in G2 group (LB@ 1%). In the final product of fermentation significantly highest (P0.05) highest phosphorus level of 0.85 g/Kg in G7 (in which LB@ 1% and Yeast@ 1% was added) during winter season and the significantly (P0.05) highest P level of 0.85 g/Kg in G5 and G6during summer season was observed. Similarly significantly (P0.05) highest potassium level observed in the final product of fermentation was 7.0 g/Kg in G7 (in which LB@ 1% and Yeast@ 1% was added) during winter season and significantly (P0.05) highest K level of 8.0 g/Kg in G3 group (in which LB@ 0.5% was added) during summer season was observed. There was a significant increase in the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium level in the final product of lactic acid and yeast fermentation of poultry waste.

Monitoring research of the direction of mineralization processes under the influence of organo-mineral and organic fertilization systems

aim. To monitor changes in the microbial component of gray forest soil under the influence of traditional and modern types of fertilizers used in modern agriculture. Methods. Microbiological, laboratory-analytical, statistical. Results. It has been established that the use of the organo-mineral fertilization system allows to intensify the development of soil organic matter by 56.3%, the mineralization of nitrogen compounds by 14.7%, increases the oligotrophy coefficient by 22.5%, reduce the activity of humus mineralization by 68.7 % and increase the total biological activity by 5.65%. Doubling the dose of mineral fertilizers against the background of the organic fertilization system (the 4th year after the introduction of 60 t/ha of cattle litter manure) leads to an increase in the level of consumption of soil organic matter by 22.3%. It is consistent with the data of previous growing season: application of unbalanced doses of mineral fertilizers provokes the decomposition of soil organic matter. The value of the nitrogen mineralization coefficient and humus mineralization activity does not change as a result of applying a double dose of mineral fertilizers. But the total biological activity increases by 16.8%. Applying a double dose of mineral fertilizers reduces soil phytotoxicity by 17.6 %. Plowing of pea straw against the background of an organo-mineral fertilization system intensifies the development of organic matter of gray forest soil by 13.4%, reduces the intensity of mineralization of nitrogen compounds by 14.3%, reduces the activity of humus mineralization by 10.7%, does not affect the phytotoxicity of gray forest soil. The application of organic fertilizers leads to the intensification of mineralization processes (compared to the mineral fertilization system (N50Р30К50) soil organic matter by 23.7 %, nitrogen compounds by 18.2%; slowing down of humus mineralization processes by 31.3%, increasing the deficit of easily digestible nutrients by 22.5%, an increase of total biological activity by 8.24%, a decrease of phytotoxicity by 13.3%. Conclusions. The application of organic fertilizers in the form of cattle manure optimizes soil-forming processes, prevents the mineralization of humus, which is the main factor of potential soil fertility, and creates conditions for improving the mineral nutrition of plants, which is the basis of increasing the level of effective soil fertility.

Влияние минеральных и органических удобрений в зернопропашном севообороте на свойства чернозема выщелоченного Западного Предкавказья

The purpose of the research is to assess the humus state and functioning of the soil absorbing complex of leached chernozem during the rotation period of the six–field grain crop rotation. Traditional methods of soil research were used in field long-term experience. The medium and high rates of the mineral fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, as well as the organic fertilizers (litter, liquid manure, straw) and their combinations with mineral solid fertilizers were used. The application of the mineral fertilizers for a circle of the crop rotation contributed to an increase in all types of soil acidity. The use of the litter manure and straw significantly reduced the indicators of an active, metabolic and hydrolytic acidity, respectively, by 6.8-1.7, 15.2-13.0, and 18.4-8.2% relative to the control. The joint application of the organic and mineral fertilizers slows down the rate of acidification of the soil, but does not eliminate them. The use of the litter manure and its combination with a mineral fertilizer caused an increase in the carbon content of humus, respectively, by 3.9 and 11.6%. The use of the straw in a combination with the mineral fertilizer and liquid manure increased the carbon content of humus, respectively, by 1.4 and 14.5% relative to the control. The degree of humification with increasing rates of the mineral fertilizers decreased from 24.2 to 22.3, and with the use of the organic fertilizers increased from 22.3 to 25.2.

Feasibility and Product Maturity of Compost Developed from Poultry Waste in Temperate Agroclimate of Kashmir Region

Present work was carried out in the Department of LPM, FVSc and AH (SKUAST- Kashmir) to assess the feasibility and compost maturity in terms of temperature and bio-mineral (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) changes due to composting of poultry waste under the temperate agro-climatic conditions of Kashmir Valley. Poultry waste in the form of poultry carcass (including feathers) and litter manure was used for this study. Four treatment groups with four replicates each were formulated as: G1: Poultry carcass; litter manure, G2: Poultry carcass; litter manure; Paddy straw, G3: Poultry carcass; litter manure; effective microbes (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodopseudomonas palustris) and G4: Poultry carcass; litter manure; Paddy straw; effective microbes. During the primary stage of composting the group G4 had attained a significantly (P<0.05) highest peak temperature (0C) of 59.0±5.04 and 59.50±5.04 respectively during winter and summer seasons. Significantly (P<0.05) highest nitrogen content of 24.7 g/Kg was observed in group G4 at the end of secondary stage during summer season. The phosphorus content in end product of composting was significantly (P<0.05) highest (1.0 g/Kg) in group G4 during summer season. Similarly significantly (P<0.05) highest K content of 10.23 g/Kg was observed in group G4 during summer season. It was concluded that the addition of paddy straw and effective microbes assistant the composting process and yield better bio-mineral values and higher temperature gain.

Ефективність короткоротаційних сівозмін з економічно привабливими культурами на осушуваних дерново-підзолистих ґрунтах

Goal. To study the influence of fertilizer system and crop rotation structure of corn and other commercially attractive crops with the different share of saturation on their productivity and economic feasibility in reclaimed lands of Polissia zone. Methods. Long-term field — stationary experiment, laboratory — to determine the quality of the soil according to generally accepted methods, processing of experimental data was performed using the computer program Microsoft Office Excel. Results. It was noted that during the research of 2016–2020, on the sod-podzolic soil there was a shortage of moisture during the growing season of crops. It was found that the total productivity of crop rotations depended on their saturation with corn, the grain yield of which, on average for 5 years, at different levels of organomineral nutrition, was 6.04–7.67 t/ha. The highest yield per 1 ha of crop rotation area was obtained in 3-field crop rotation (soybean-corn-corn) with 66.6% of corn: grain units — from 3.14 tons in control to 6.05 tons — at high rates of mineral fertilizers (N62P86K90 + by-products), feed units — from 3.41 to 6.59 tons, respectively. Productivity of 3-field (peas-winter triticale-corn) and 4-field (lupine-winter rape-winter rye-corn) crop rotations with a share of corn of 33.3 and 25.0%, ranged from 2.43 to 4.52 tons of grain, or from 2.68 to 5.44 tons of feed units, respectively. Crop rotation without corn (soybean-winter wheat-sunflower-buckwheat) with a share of winter wheat and sunflower of 25%, had lower overall productivity (15–93%). The largest harvest was obtained on the background of N63P85K90 + by-products — 3.20 tons of grain or 3.56 tons of feed units. Conclusions. Application of litter manure in the amount of 10 tons per 1 ha of crop rotation area against the background of the recommended rate of mineral fertilizers N42P57K60 provides profitability of crop rotations at the level of 25.4–30.7%. Replacement of manure by by-products of all crops in combination with the recommended norms of mineral fertilizers does not significantly reduce the productivity of crop rotations and provides profitability of 27.9–36.5%.

The effect of substituting energy crop with agricultural waste on the dynamics of bacterial communities in a two-stage anaerobic digester

The replacement of energy crops with agricultural waste in biogas production through anaerobic digestion (AD) is both an environmentally sustainable and economically profitable strategy. However, the change of feeding mix in AD might result in nutrient imbalance or increase of the ammonium concentration, negatively affecting the activity of the microbes responsible for the process. In the present study the structure and dynamics of the bacterial communities of a full-scale two-stage AD plant, composed of a hydrolysis/acidogenesis (H) and an acetogenesis/methanogenesis (M) tanks, was monitored during feedstock substitution. Energy crop (triticale) was replaced by poultry manure litter and olive mill pomace. The increase percentage of poultry manure litter (up to 8.6%) and olive mill pomace (up to 30.5%) in the recipe incremented the total solids (up to 21% in H) and, consequently, the nitrogen content in the digestate (6.7 g N/kg in the solid fraction in H and 4–5 g NH4+-N/L in the liquid fraction). This favored the growth of Lactococcus sp. with consequent increment of lactate production (∼ 1 mg L−1 last two days of the survey) and the establishment of Weissella and Lactobacillus spp. Syntrophic acetate-oxidizers, including Syntrophaceticus (6% ± 1.7%), were detected manly in M but were negatively affected by the addition of the poultry manure litter, while the sulfate-reducing bacteria correlated with the variations of the volatile fatty acids. Planctomycetes putatively capable of anammox process were also found in the H during the first two days of the survey and accounted for 0.3 ± 0.01% of the total bacterial community. The stability of the process during feedstock change is the result of the shift of bacterial populations of different functional groups that showed peculiar adaptation patterns in the two stages of the plant.

The influence of the method of manure removal and storage on the quality of organic products

The aim of this article was to compare the quality of manure in different ways of its removal and storage for environmental pollution. The research was conducted in three farms of Kyiv region with different methods of manure removal, storage and processing: using deep long-lasting straw litter (manure removal three times a year); with manure processing in a closed bioreactor-fermenter of the closed type; with manure settling in open lagoons. In all farms, the average annual livestock is 400 dairy cows. Samples for analysis of manure (processing waste) were taken the day before export to the field. The average daily air temperature during sampling was +21.3 °C. In terms of the sum of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in 1 kg of fertilizers, the highest indicators were observed for the variant of keeping in deep litter – 7.69 g. intermediate bioreactors-fermenters observed intermediate values – 6.69 g. The highest moisture content of manure was during storage in the lagoon – by 19.71 % and 1.38 % more compared to the option on deep litter and in the bioreactor-fermenter. The lowest number of weed seeds was for storage in deep litter – 84 pcs/ml, which is 19 and 23 pcs/ml more than for processing in a bioreactor-fermenter and storage in the lagoon. The indicator of weed germination, which is very important from the point of view of future use of manure as an organic fertilizer in general, had positive indicators for all storage (processing) options. The germination rate of weeds for storage in deep litter was 5.72 %, which is 3.14 and 4.42 % less than for processing in a bioreactor-fermenter and in the lagoon. The largest emissions of N2O (nitric oxide) were in the variant of manure storage in the lagoon – 40712.45 kg, which is 39781.88 kg more than in the options of storage in deep litter and in the bioreactor-fermenter. The content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter of fertilizer obtained from 1 kg of manure from deep litter, exceeded similar indicators of other methods of storage due to daily application of straw.

Біологічні чинники оптимізації систем удобрення сільськогосподарських культур у сівозміні

Goal. With the use of biological testing to substantiate ecologically feasible fertilizer systems of crops for their cultivation in crop rotation on sod-podzolic soil; to investigate the possibility of reducing the rates of mineral fertilizers with the use of microbial preparations. Methods. Field stationary experiment, gas chromatographic (determination of nitrogen fixation activity in the root zone of plants), statistical (substantiation of the reliability of the obtained results), economic calculations (determination of the cost, profit, profitability, and payback of additional costs). Results. In the short crop rotation “potatoes — oats — lupine — winter rye” on the indicators of nitrogenase activity in the root zone of plants they determined the feasibility of action and after-effect of 40 t/ha of manure litter of cattle, organo-mineral fertilization, intermediate green manure (oil radish) and mineral fertilizers in low and medium rates. High doses of fats lead to a significant decrease in the activity of the nitrogen fixation process in the rhizosphere of plants and are excessive. The possibility of reducing the rate of technical nitrogen through the use of biological products without reducing crop yields is real for low and medium in the experiment of mineral agricultural backgrounds. The direct action and after-effect of the intermediate green manure promote the effectiveness of inoculation. Mineral intensive fertilizer system does not provide high efficiency of biofertilizers. A slight increase in crop yields from inoculation was detected with organic and organo-mineral fertilizers. Conclusions. Ecologically acceptable systems of crop fertilization in crop rotation can be realistically determined using biological testing. Mineral fertilizer rates for crops can be significantly reduced without reducing crop yields through the use of microbial preparations. It is recommended to use pre-sowing inoculation of seeds for growing crops on low and medium mineral agricultural backgrounds, as well as for the use of intermediate green manure.

Influence of using fertilizers on fertility indices of sod-podzolic soils and productivity of short-term crop rotation of Polissya

The influence of litter manure and straw as fertilizers in pure form and in combination with manure, green manure and mineral fertilizers on the content of humus and basic nutrients in sod-podzolic soil has been studied. A significant effect on the change of humus content on sod-podzolic soils depending on fertilizer systems has been established. The highest indicators of humus content in the soil were found in the variants with 40 t/ha of manure, 0.97–1.14% and 1.17–1.23%, respectively, and straw 4 t/ha in combination with lupine green manure — 0.94–1.15% and 1.16–1.25%. The most significant increase in humus content per rotation was observed in sidereal crop rotation, against the background without fertilizers the indicator increased by 0.05–0.29%, against the background of N40P40K120 application — by 0.03–0.21%, in crop rotation — 0.05–0.19% and 0.01-0.09%, respectively. Analyzing the dynamics of the content of easily hydrolyzed nitrogen, it was found that the greatest growth both at the beginning and at the end of crop rotation provided options with the introduction of 40 t/ha of manure (+69…+85 mg/kg of soil), 4 t/ha of straw with half dose of manure (+63…+82 mg/kg of soil) and straw with green manure (+71…+80 mg/kg of soil). The application of manure, straw and plowing of green manures contributed to the increase of the content of mobile phosphorus compounds from 9 to 69 mg/kg of soil on the background without fertilizers and 38 to 67 mg/kg of soil on the background N40P40K120. The combination of straw with manure and straw with green manure for the application of mineral fertilizers helped to increase the content of mobile phosphorus compounds to the level recorded in the variant for the application of 40 t/ha of manure, and in some versions of the experiment even exceed it. It was found that the deficit-free and positive balance of potassium for rotation of crop rotation and sidereal crop rotation was provided by variants with 4 t/ha of straw in combination with 20 t/ha of manure and 4 t/ha of straw in combination with lupine green manure against N40P40K120. Balances and productivity of arable land use in short-rotation crop rotations of Polissya are calculated. In crop rotation, the humus balance is negative for the alienation of lupine green mass for fodder. Variants with application of 10 t / ha of crop rotation area of manure (–0.03 t/ha) and 1 t/ha of straw with half dose of manure (–0.1 t/ha) on the background of N35P35K85 application allowed to get as close as possible to the deficit-free balance of humus. In sidereal crop rotation, a positive balance of humus is observed with the application of 10 t/ha of manure (+0.21…+0.29 t/ha), 1 t/ha of straw in combination with 5 t/ha of manure, 22 t/ha) and 1 t/ha of straw in combination with green manure (+0.09… +0.18 t/ha). Close to the deficit-free balance of humus is the option with the introduction of 1 t/ha of straw in its pure form. An alternative to manure in Polissya should be the use of straw in combination with green manure (including lupine), which will help preserve and reproduce the humus content in the soil, improve the balance of nutrients and increase the productivity of arable land in crop rotations.