Influence of Animal Manure Mixture on Soil Nitrogen Indices and Maize Growth

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of animal manure mixtures on soil nitrogen availability indices in incubation study and maize growth in screen house and field experiments. Surface soil samples (0–20 cm) from four locations and cured animal manures (goat, cattle and poultry) were collected, dried and analyzed. Treatments included control, cattle-goat, cattle- poultry, poultry-goat mixtures and NPK 15:15:15 at 90 kg P ha^–1 were applied to soils; samples were taken fortnightly and analyzed for \({\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + }\)–N and \({\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }\)–N. Results indicated that poultry manure had higher N, Ca and Mg. An increase in soil \({\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + }\)–N and \({\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }\)–N was observed in amended soils from 2nd to 4th week after incorporation in incubation experiment. The highest value of 207.20 mg N kg^–1 (\({\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + }\)–N) and 69.52 mg N kg^–1 (\({\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }\)–N) was recorded with the application of cattle—goat manure while poultry-goat manure was observed to significantly increase \({\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + }\)–N and \({\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }\)–N in screen house experiment. Under field trial, the highest value of \({\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + }\)–N and \({\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }\)–N was recorded with application of cattle-poultry manure as 171.48 mg N kg^–1 and 96.88 mg N kg^–1, respectively. The application of cattle-poultry manure treatment significantly increased plant height, stem girth compared to other amendments and control. The inclusion of poultry manure is therefore recommended for use in manure mixture.