Wednesday, 9 November 2005
12

This presentation is part of: Manure and Compost Science

Response of Star Grass to Chicken Manure and Inorganic Nitrogen Applications.

Miguel Munoz, Rafael Ramos, Reynaldo Del Valle, and Julia M. O'Hallorans.

The effect of chicken manure applications (0, 5 ,10 and 20 t ha-1) on performance and growth of star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) was evaluated in all possible combinations with four rates (0, 1.12, 2.24 and 3.36 t ha-1) of inorganic fertilizer 15-5-10. The soil at the site was Corozal clay (Typic Hapludults). Dry matter yield after three cuttings showed a significant increase due to manure and inorganic fertilizer applications. The 0, 5, 10 and 20 t ha-1 manure treatments yielded 14.55, 14.74, 15.86 and 17.41 t ha-1, respectively. Dry matter yield for the 0, 1.12, 2.24 and 3.36 t ha-1 inorganic fertilizer treatments were 14.25, 14.90, 16.28 and 17.13 t ha-1, respectively. Manure applications improved pasture establishment. At 8 weeks after planting the percentage of coverage for the 0 manure treatment was 40 percent, whereas for the 20 t ha-1 it was 74 percent. Manure applications also increased soil available Bray-1 P from 9.25 mg kg-1 in the 0 manure treatment to 39.81 mg kg-1 in the 20 t ha-1 manure treatment. Soil pH, exchangeable basic cations and exchangeable Al3+ were not affected by manure applications. The application of 3.36 t ha-1 of inorganic fertilizer decreased soil pH, but no effect was observed on the other soil parameters.

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