EFFECTS OF POULTRY MANURE, CORN STRAW AND SAWDUST ON PLANT GROWTH AND SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
Keywords:
Poultry manure, sawdust, organic amendments, dry matter yield, available P, plant uptake, organic C.Abstract
Portions of poultry manure corresponding to 370 (30g/kg) rate of addition (dwb) were mixed with corn (Zea mays L.) straw and sawdust from Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. in the ratios of 4:1, 2:1 and 1:1 respectively. The poultry manure and its admixtures with the plant residues were mixed with airdried, sieved (2mm) soil samples and allowed to incubate for 2 weeks. The treated soil was cropped with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) for 2 successive 8-week periods, in the greenhouse.
Except for tissue Mg, results indicate that the organic amendments significantly increased plant height, dry matter yield, organic C, soil pH, soil and tissue contents, and plant uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg compared to the control. Plant height, dry matter yield, organic C, and uptake of N, K, Ca and Mg were enhanced by the use of admixtures of poultry manure with corn straw and sawdust respectively compared to the use of poultry manure alone. Corn straw was, however, superior to sawdust in increasing plant e nutrient uptake. The addition of plant residues to poultry manure led to significant reductions in soil NO3-N. Available P was increased by sawdust-containing treatment over the poultry manure while corn straw reduced P availability though insignificantly.
