Use Of Cattle Manure Research Articles

The Effect of Using Compost on Cowpea Productivity in the Semi-Arid Region of Brazil

The production of cowpea is part of the agricultural activities of farmers in the semi-arid region of Brazil, being important in the aspect of acquiring income and source of food, in this sense, the use of rooster tree (Calotropis procera) mixed with cattle manure in cowpea productivity in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The experiment was conducted from August to November 2023 at the Rafael Fernandes experimental farm, in the district of Alagoinha (5º03'37 "S, 37º23'50" W), northwest of Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with an area of 400 hectares. The experimental design used was randomized complete blocks in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with three replications. The first factor consisted of four quantities of cattle manure (0.0; 1.1; 2.2 and 4.4 kg m-2), the second factor being the presence and absence of rooster tree. Each plot consisted of dimensions of 2.2 m x 1.2 m, with a total area of 2.64 m2. Each plot had eight holes with three plants, making a population of 90,900 plants ha-1. After harvesting the dried pods, they were stored in plastic bags, identified and taken to the DCAF/UFERSA Post-Harvest laboratory, where the following characteristics were measured: pod length, expressed in cm, number of pods plant-1, expressed in plant-1 units, weight of five pods, expressed in grams, weight of 100 grains, expressed in grams and dry grain productivity, expressed in kg ha-1. The highest cowpea productivity was observed at a dose of 4.4 kg m-2, with a maximum value of 2,858.85 kg ha-1. The presence of rooster tree did not influence any of the characteristics evaluated. The use of cattle manure is an option for farmers in the semi-arid region.

Mineral Components, Organic Matter Quality and Soil Enzymatic Activity under the Influence of Differentiated Farmyard Manure and Nitrogen Fertilisation

Research was carried out on the impact of long-term use of cattle manure (30 t ha−1 FYM) and various doses of N (0, 40, 60 and 120 t ha−1) in the form of ammonium nitrate on the following soil parameters: salinity, hydrolytic acidity, total exchangeable base cations, cation exchange capacity, degree of base saturation of the sorption complex, total organic carbon and total nitrogen content, dissolved organic matter, fractional composition of organic matter and content of bioavailable macroelements: phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in the soil of a multi-year static field experiment. The activities of dehydrogenases, catalase, alkaline and acid phosphatase and proteases were also tested. A significant effect of FYM and N fertilisation on the content of bioavailable macroelements was found. The application of manure at a dose of 30 t ha−1 mitigated the negative effects of the application of N at a dose of 120 kg ha−1. A higher content of total organic carbon (8.42 g kg−1) and humic acid fraction (1761 mg kg−1) and higher values of the CHA/CFA ratio (0.79; parameters that are indicators of soil quality) were found in the soil fertilised with manure compared to the soil without manure added (TOC—7.00 g kg−1; CHAs—1285 mg kg−1; CHAs/CFAs 0.66). The activity of the tested enzymes was also significantly determined by the applied fertilisation. Enzyme activity was highest in the soil to which manure had been applied. Nitrogen fertilisation varied in its impact on the activity of enzymes according to the specifics of each enzyme. The content of humic acids and CHA/CFA values correlated positively with the content of soil minerals and the activity of dehydrogenases, catalase, alkaline and acid phosphatase and GMea and TEI indices. Dehydrogenases and acid phosphatase can be considered enzymes that take part in transforming organic matter towards the formation of FAs.

Resíduo de mineração associado com bioinoculantes e esterco bovino na nutrição mineral e crescimento do milho

ABSTRACT Vermiculite mining residues, although of low solubility, contain nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium at concentrations that allow their agricultural use. Beneficial bacteria can increase the solubility of this waste and its efficiency. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of bio-inoculation of vermiculite residue, associated with cattle manure, on the release of nutrients and initial growth of maize. A completely randomized design was performed in a greenhouse with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments were: T1 - soil without fertilization; T2 - soil fertilized with soluble sources of nutrients (conventional fertilization); T3 - application of vermiculite residue (VR); T4 - VR enriched with cattle manure (CM); T5 - VR + CM with Bacillus subtilis; T6 - VR + CM + B. amyloliquefaciens, and T7 - VR + CM +B. subtilis + B. amyloliquefaciens). Regardless of the use of cattle manure or beneficial microorganisms, vermiculite mining waste increased the availability of Ca and K in the soil, but was not able to match the soluble sources of nutrients. Mining waste associated with cattle manure and beneficial microorganisms (B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens) increased microbial activity and enhanced the release of available calcium for maize. VR increased the growth and the dry mass production of maize compared to the non-fertilized soil, but was consistently inferior to conventional fertilizer.

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.

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.

Integrating multiple soil management practices: A system‐wide approach for restoring degraded soil and improvingBrachiariaproductivity

AbstractLand degradation has severely affected soil health and agricultural productivity in the Sasiga district of western Oromiya, Ethiopia, demanding urgent and extensive solutions. Integrated soil management in particular is a comprehensive approach that could mitigate the multifaceted effects of land degradation. Hence, a field experiment was conducted on degraded farmers’ land to assess the potential of lime, organic amendments, tillage, and soil–water conservation (SWC) in improving the productivity of soil andBrachiaria(Mulato II). The experiment employed 15 treatments, which were systematically formulated from lime, organic amendments (compost and cattle manure), the SWC method (constructed soil bunds and no soil bunds), and tillage practices (ploughing and no‐ploughing). The study showed that applying lime with tillage or both tillage and SWC and organic amendments alone improved soil pH from very strongly acidic to moderately acidic. The combined application of lime, SWC, and tillage also enhanced the organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, and moisture contents of the soil. Besides, the integrated use of cattle manure, SWC, and tillage practices boosted plant cover, tillering, plant height (PH), and dry biomass ofBrachiaria(Mulato II). Consequently, the physicochemical properties of the degraded soil and the agronomic performance ofBrachiariacan be improved by amending with combinations of lime or cattle manure with SWC and tillage. In general, integrating multiple soil management practices, including lime, organic amendments, SWC, and tillage, offers a whole‐system approach to rehabilitating degraded soil and improving its physicochemical properties and productivity ofBrachiariagrass.

Effectiveness of the Use of Manure, Biocompost and Siderates for Vegetable Crops

Excessive fascination in vegetable growing with mineral (especially nitrogen) fertilizers has led to significant contamination of soils and products with nitrate, heavy metals, and other toxicants. The scientific literature has accumulated considerable material on the use of various kinds of fertilizers, especially mineral fertilizers. A well-established trend towards the development of organic farming on a global scale requires a more indepth study of the effect of organic fertilizers on vegetable yields and adjustments to previously developed fertilizer systems for vegetable crops. The research was carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Agrochemistry of the All-Russian scientific research institute of vegetable growing-branch of the Federal scientific center of vegetable growing and three experimental stations of the Institute on sod-podzolic, alluvial meadow soils, typical, ordinary and leached chernozems in the Non-chernozem zone, the North Caucasus and Western Siberia. It was found out that the efficiency of the use of cattle manure on average for 6 crops on 6 types of soils was 33% of the increase in yield. The highest increases were found in cucumber (62%) and table beet (54%) crops; cabbage and carrots increased yields by 27 and 22%, respectively, tomato and onion - by an average of 17%. The efficiency of manure was inversely proportional to the amount of humus content in the soil. Studies of the effectiveness of the use of biocomposts based on chicken manure revealed that the biocompost increased the yield of 12 vegetable crops on alluvial meadow soil by an average of 20, mineral fertilizers - by 28%, the joint application of these fertilizers allowed to increase yields by 35%. Green fertilizers (siderates) in the conditions of the Central Processing Plant allowed to increase the yield of vegetables by 8-15%, peas, pea mixture and phacelia turned out to be the most effective, yellow lupin and sunflower were ineffective. In the irrigated conditions of the Rostov region, the complex application of mineral fertilizers, manure and siders increased the yield of vegetable crops from 23.6 to 49.6 t/ha, i.e. by more than 2 times.

Hermetia illucens frass improves the physiological state of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and its nutritional value under drought.

To counterbalance the growing human population and its increasing demands from the ecosystem, and the impacts on it, new strategies are needed. Use of organic fertilizers boosted the agricultural production, but further increased the ecological burden posed by this indispensable activity. One possible solution to this conundrum is the development and application of more environmentally neutral biofertilizers. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two doses of Hermetia illucens frass (HI frass) with the commercial cattle manure in the cultivation of basil under drought. Soil without the addition of any organic fertilizer was used as a baseline control substrate for basil cultivation. Plants were grown with cattle manure (10 g/L of the pot volume) or HI frass at two doses (10 and 12.5 g/L). The health and physiological condition of plants were assessed based on the photosynthetic activity and the efficiency of photosystem II (chlorophyll fluorescence). Gas exchange between soil and the atmosphere were also assessed to verify the effect of fertilizer on soil condition. In addition, the mineral profile of basil and its antioxidant activity were assessed, along with the determination of the main polyphenolic compounds content. Biofertilizers improved the fresh mass yield and physiological condition of plants, both under optimal watering and drought, in comparison with the non-fertilized controls. Use of cattle manure in both water regimes resulted in a comparably lower yield and a stronger physiological response to drought. As a result, using HI frass is a superior strategy to boost output and reduce the effects of drought on basil production.

Ácidos húmicos induzem a expressão dos transportadores de nitrato em mudas de maracujazeiro

Abstract The management of organic fertilization in passion fruit has been carried out empirically based on the responses of the crops and the experience of farmers. Knowledge of the physiological responses of plants to organic fertilizers is essential to optimize fertilization programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differential expression of genes coding for nitrate transporters as well as plasma membrane H+-ATPase in passion fruit seedlings treated with different organic fertilizers in the presence or not of humic acids. The equivalent of one gram of total nitrogen dissolved in water from cattle manure, castor oil cake and urea were added and the seedlings were treated or not with a suspension of humic acids (2 mmol/L). Differential expression of low and high affinity nitrate transporters (PeNRT2.2 and PeNRT1.1 PeNRT2.2e) and H+-ATPase (PeMha) was performed by qRT-PCR. The use of cattle manure increased the differential expression of the high affinity transporter regarding to the control. The application of humic acids amplified the increase observed in the differential transcription of the high-affinity transporter with manure and urea fertilization, with no effect observed with the use of castor oil cake. Humic acids induced transcription of the gene encoding H+-ATPases in all treatments compared to control. The application of biofertilizer based on humic acids in low concentrations directly on the plant can be used with the objective of optimizing the organic fertilization of passion fruit with cattle manure and urea.

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.

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilization: Response of Wheat Cultivation and Interaction with Soil Properties

Background: This paper aimed to evaluate and determine the short-term effectiveness of different fertilizations methods: organic (bovine manure) and inorganic (NPK 15-15-15) on agricultural sites in eastern Algeria. Methods: The study was conducted in three different plots of 100 Ares where we tested three main treatments: mineral fertilizer with a precedent of leguminous cultivation (Min CC), manure inputs with previous manure and without crop rotation (Fum CA), mineral fertilizer with previous bare soil cultivation (MinJ). With the same tillage, the obtained results revealed that the use of cattle manure as a fertilizer is to be recommended because it allows increasing the yield of wheat compared to the soil receiving inorganic fertilization (NPK). Result: Organic fertilizers ensure and maintain soil fertility and agricultural production in the soil studied.

Особливості формування мікробного ценозу сірого лісового ґрунту за різних систем удобрення в агроценозі пшениці озимої

Goal. To study the formation of the number, structure, and qualitative composition of the microbial biome of gray forest soil in the cultivation of winter wheat under different fertilizer systems. Methods. The number of microorganisms of the main physiological groups was determined by the method of microbiological sowing of soil suspension on nutrient media. The structure and qualitative composition of soil microbiota were studied by generally accepted methods for morphological and cultural properties. The diversity of soil microbial complexes was assessed by the Shannon and Simpson ecological indices. Results. The number of microorganisms of different physiological groups varied depending on the fertilizer system (from 0.9 to 27.5 million CFU/g of soil). Application of mineral fertilizers in the dose of N100P60K100 caused a decrease in the number of microorganisms of all physiological groups compared to other fertilizer systems by 1.1 – 3.5 times. With the application of organomineral bioactive fertilizers (OMBF), cattle manure, and the combined use of cattle manure with mineral fertilizers at a dose of NN100P60K100, the number of microorganisms increased by 3.5 times. It was found that the microbial soil biome was differentiated by the number of detected morphotypes (bacteria — 35 – 46, micromycetes — 16 – 20, actinomycetes — 20 – 25) and the structure of their distribution (0.62 – 16.36%). The greatest diversity of bacteria, micromycetes, and actinomycetes (according to the Shannon and Simpson indices) was found for the introduction of cattle manure, the least — for mineral fertilizers (bacteria and actinomycetes), and the introduction of OMBF (micromycetes). The bacterial microbiota was characterized by the greatest species richness. Conclusions. The use of different fertilizer systems in the winter wheat agrocoenosis significantly affects the formation of microbial coenosis in the arable layer of gray forest soil, which is manifested in the differentiation of quantitative composition, structure, and diversity of microorganisms and redistribution of functional activity of microbial soil.

Effect of contour rainwater-harvesting and integrated nutrient management on sorghum grain yield in semi-arid farming environments of Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT The application of insufficient amounts of mineral fertiliser, coupled with unreliable precipitation, has caused a drastic reduction in the yield of sorghum in the smallholder-farming areas of Zimbabwe. This calls for innovative interventions to improve production under changing climatic conditions. This study evaluated the effect of contour-based rainwater-harvesting methods and the use of cattle manure + N nutrient amendment on sorghum yield. A split-split plot experiment was conducted where rainwater-harvesting practice, sorghum variety, cattle manure + N and distance from rainwater-harvesting structure were treatment factors. The results showed that the yield of sorghum was significantly higher under the tied contour and infiltration pits than standard contour at all distances from rainwater-harvesting practices and seasons. In all seasons sorghum varieties Macia and Sc Sila showed higher yield under the tied contour and infiltration pits than standard contour. However, regardless of the distance from rainwater-harvesting practice and season the sorghum variety, Macia showed a higher grain yield than Sc Sila. At each incremental level of N application to cattle manure, Macia had a higher grain yield than Sc Sila, and no significant grain yield benefits were shown in each variety at N application to cattle manure above 50 kg N ha−1.

Influence of the after effect of various fertilizer systems on the yield and quality of the green mass of meadow clover (Trifolium pratense)

In agro-ecosystems, fertilization practices are crucial for sustaining forage grasses. At the same time, the aftereffect of fertilizers on the productivity of meadow clover has not been studied enough. Here, based on a stationary field experiment, we studied the influence of various fertilizer systems on the yield and quality of the green mass of meadow clover (Trifolium pratense L.) of the Dymkovskiy variety. The research was carried out in accordance with the methodology of field experience on sod-mediumpodzolic light-loamy soil in the conditions of the north of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia on the educational and experimental field of the Vologda State Dairy Academy during 2018 to 2020. The scheme of the experiment included 3 fertilizer systems (organic, mineral and organo-mineral) and 2 levels of soil acidity. It was found that in the conditions of a five-field grain-grass crop rotation, the aftereffect of the organo-mineral fertilizer system, in which the use of cattle manure at a dose of 50 t/ha was combined with the application of mineral fertilizers during liming, contributed to the formation of the highest yield of meadow clover – 51.2 to 64.8 t/ha. According to the results of the experiment, the effectiveness of the aftereffect of the organo-mineral fertilizer system against the background of liming was proved, which contributed to the additional collection of crude protein by 24.6%, feed units – 12.3%, exchange energy by 11.42% compared to the control. The results of this experiment indicate that use of organic joint with mineral amendments not only reduces the need for higher amount of fertilizer but also improves its’ feed qualities of meadow clover.

HUMIC ACIDS COMPOSITION OF ARABLE SOD-PODZOLIC SOIL AFTER LONG-TERM APPLICATION OF TRADITIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

The elemental composition and structure of humic acids (HA) of arable sodpodzolic soil (Eutric Albic Retisols (Abruptic, Loamic, Cutanic) was studied inPerm Agricultural Research Institute – division of PFRC. Application of traditional and unconventional organic fertilizers was fulfilled in long-term stationary experiment. The carbon content in HA of sod-podzolic soil varied from 30.7 to 34.6; hydrogen – 28.9-35.5, oxygen – 21.1-27.9, nitrogen – 1.9-2.2%. The Н/С ratio for all treatments was >1, the structure of the supramolecular associations of humic acids is predominantly aliphatic. Long-term use of manure, sewage sludge (SS) and their combination with mineral fertilizers led to the enrichment of humic acids with nitrogen. The maximum degree of HA oxidation was observed with the use of cattle manure. The FTIR spectra of humic acids had absorption bands of carboxyl, hydroxyl, methyl, methylene, methoxyl and other groups in a wide wavelength range. At 1720 cm-1, an absorption band was recorded, which had a high intensity in the control variant and was due to oscillations of the >C=O group of carboxylic acids. With an increase in the load of the anthropogenic factor on the soil (application of organic and mineral fertilizers), a decrease in its intensity is observed. The structure of supramolecular HA aggregates of the control variant, with the introduction of NPK and unconventional organic fertilizer – SS, is characterized by a higher content of aromatic fragments, as evidenced by a clear existence of the absorption band at 1628 cm–1. Cattle manure application promoted the formation of humic acids with a branched aliphatic structure.

Techno-economic model to appraise the use of cattle manure in biodigesters in the generation of electrical energy and biofertilizer

The increase in dependence on electrical energy has become critical during the last decades. This paper proposes a model to evaluate the technical and economic viability of electrical energy and biofertilizer generation from cattle manure in biodigesters. In the technical phase, the relevant aspects of this process were investigated, such as raw material (type and quantity), the influence of external temperature, the hydraulic retention time of the system, the amount of energy generated and the reduction of energy costs. In the first step of the economic phase, the Investment Projects (IPs) were ranked under the Net Present Value (NPV) criterion. Next, the deterministic Expanded Multi-Index Methodology (EMIM) was applied on the IPs with positive NPV. Finally, the IPs with high sensitivity were analyzed through Monte Carlo Simulation. We validated the model on a rural property in Southeast Parana state in Brazil. Three biodigester systems were compared under ten power levels: cattle manure mono-digestion (Project A), cattle manure/corn co-digestion (60:40 mixture - Project B) and cattle manure/grass co-digestion (60:40 mixture - Project C). The production of energy in the three evaluated systems presented economic advantages, as the size of the system increases due to the economy of scale. Therefore, the combination of system biodigester and power was essential to ensure the project viability.

Comparison between cattle manure, organic compost, and vermicompost in the production of Eucalyptus urograndis seedlings

ABSTRACT: Composting and vermicomposting before addition to the soil is a viable alternative to the disposal of cattle manure. However, this residue has been used in the untreated form for seedling production. This study evaluated the use of cattle manure in natura, and the organic composted or vermicomposted variants of cattle manure on substrates used in the production of Eucalyptus urograndis seedlings. The treatments consisted of substrates formulated by mixing the organic fertilizers with washed sand in 20, 40, 60, 80 or 100 (v/v) percentages, compared to a commercial substrate. The E. urograndis seedlings were grown in tubes in a greenhouse and evaluated after 120 days for shoot and root dry weights, plant height, stem diameter, shoot/root ratio, and Dickson quality index. The substrate formulated from a mixture of 80% (v/v) of cattle manure in natura and washed sand allows for better development in Eucalyptus seedlings. Substrate containing 100% bovine manure vermicompost or organic compost produced seedlings with lower quality than in natura bovine manure but superior to the commercial substrate. Due to the health risks associated with use of untreated bovine manure, organic compost and vermicompost are good alternatives for the production of E. urograndis seedlings.

Effect of cattle manure on the performances of maize (Zea mays L) grown in forest-savannah transition zone Southwest Nigeria

The contribution of inorganic fertilizer to enhance crop growth and yield cannot be ignored, but on the other hand their indiscriminate use is causing deterioration of the soil structure and soil acidity. A field experiment was conduct at the Teaching and Research Farm, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo state, Nigeria to study the effect of variable rate of cattle manure on the growth and yield of maize (Zea Mays L). Five rates of cattle manure: control, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t/ha-1 replicates three times laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was evaluated. Data were collected on vegetative traits and yield component and statistically analyzed. The growth and yield attributes increased significantly accordingly to the rates of cattle manure due to continuous supply of nutrient. The control plot gives significantly lower means and maize that received 20 t ha-1 recorded the highest mean in all growth and yield parameter evaluated in the study. Applications of 20 t ha-1 cattle manure significantly improve vegetative growth and yield attributes of maize plant and therefore recommended for adoption by resource-poor farmer can adopt the use of cattle manure at 20 t ha-1 as substitute for inorganic fertilizer, thus reduce environmental pollution posed by the disposal of the cattle waste and ultimately improve yield in the study area.

PENGARUH DOSIS PUUK KANDANG SAPI TERHADAP PERBAIKAN BEBERAPA SIFAT FISIK, KIMIA DAN BIOLOGI TANAH PADA KONDISI JENUH AIR DAN KAPSITAS LAPANG

Soils are the main media for the growth of crops, the low yield of crops is always related to soil physical, chemical and biological soil conditions. Cattle manure is an organic fertilizer known well before chemical fertilizer. Many types of research on the use of cattle manure to ameliorate physical, chemical and biological soil properties have been conducted, but the optimum rates of cattle manure especially on sandy soil have never been found. This fact may be caused by leaching of organic materials and nutrients to deeper soil layer unreachable by roots. An experiment was conducted in a plastic house using sandy soils from the district of Kubu, Karangasem regency, with the objectives of studying the effects of rates of cattle manure on physical, chemical and biological properties f soils and the effects of inundated and water field capacity of soils on leaching of nutrients in the soils. The experiment was conducted from June until August 2010. The design used was a split-plot design consisted of four rates of cattle manure (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1) as main plots and two water status of soils (inundated and water capacity) as subplots, with three replications. The results of the experiment indicated that cattle manure is able to ameliorate some of the soil physical properties as bulk densities (g cm-3), soil water status (%), soil permeability (cm hour-1) and total soil pores (%), and increased soil pH, C-organic content (%), C/N ratio, NPK and biological properties of soils of low nutrients status of sandy loam brown regosol soils derived from Vulcan intermediary. The results of the experiment also indicated the occurrence of leaching of organic materials and NPK nutrients to 20-40 cm layer. Based on the experiment results it is to suggest to the farmers that the use of cattle manure should be combined with synthetic chemical fertilizer in several applications during growth periods, but this required further researches.

Plant Yield, Antioxidant Capacity and Essential Oil Quality of Satureja Mutica Supplied with Cattle Manure and Wheat Straw in Different Plant Densities

ABSTRACTSatureja mutica is a medicinally important plant, which may be affected by organic fertilizers and cultivation methods. To investigate the effect of cattle manure (30 ton/ha) and wheat straw (10 ton/ha) as organic fertilizers and plant density (80000, 40000, and 26666 plan ha−1), an experiment was carried out as split plot with three replications during 2017 and 2018 on plant yield, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), essential oil (EO) yield and composition of S. mutica in the rainfed condition. The results showed that the highest fresh weight yield (FWY) and dry weight yield (DWY) were observed in high plant density in second year. TPC in interaction of second year and cattle manure was higher than others. The greatest TFC was observed in plants supplied with interaction of second year and wheat straw. EO content and yield in plants treated with the interaction of second year and high plant density were higher compared to those in other plants. The GC/MS analysis showed that the main EO components were thymol, carvacrol, γ-terpinene and p-Cymene, representing different concentrations by using the organic fertilizers and plant densities. In summary, the use of cattle manure and high plant densities can result in higher plant production.