Recycling Animal Manures for Enhancing Agricultural Production Systems
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Environmental Studies
Minor
Chemistry
Institution 25-26
Kentucky State University
KY House District #
1
KY Senate District #
20
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
George Antonious
Department
Agriculture Department
Abstract
Manure refers to organic materials from animal dung, such as horse and chicken manure, and other bulky natural substances that are applied to the soil as fertilizers with the intention of increasing crop productivity. An experiment was conducted under field conditions in a randomized complete block design using seven soil management treatments (sewage sludge (SS); horse manure (HM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (Vermi), inorganic fertilizer (Inorg), commercial organic fertilizer (Org), and no-amendment control treatment. The soil treatments were also mixed with biochar to investigate its impact on crop yield The objectives were to investigate the impact of soil mixed with animal manures on 1) summer squash fruit yield and quality; 2) fruit vitamin C, total phenols, and soluble sugar content and 3) to answer farmers’ questions if animal manure could reduce dependence on the costly inorganic mineral fertilizers, increase squash yield, and improve soil quality. Results revealed that SS treatments increased squash yield and fruit number by 114% and 116%, respectively compared to the control treatment. Fruits of plants grown in Inorg mixed with biochar (InorgBio) increased fruits’ vitamin C, total phenols, and soluble sugars by 73%, 52%, and 7%, respectively compared to Inorg with no-biochar treatment. We concluded that the use of organic amendments as low-cost organic fertilizer is an affordable way to reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers and promote the growth and yield of squash fruits.
Recycling Animal Manures for Enhancing Agricultural Production Systems
Manure refers to organic materials from animal dung, such as horse and chicken manure, and other bulky natural substances that are applied to the soil as fertilizers with the intention of increasing crop productivity. An experiment was conducted under field conditions in a randomized complete block design using seven soil management treatments (sewage sludge (SS); horse manure (HM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (Vermi), inorganic fertilizer (Inorg), commercial organic fertilizer (Org), and no-amendment control treatment. The soil treatments were also mixed with biochar to investigate its impact on crop yield The objectives were to investigate the impact of soil mixed with animal manures on 1) summer squash fruit yield and quality; 2) fruit vitamin C, total phenols, and soluble sugar content and 3) to answer farmers’ questions if animal manure could reduce dependence on the costly inorganic mineral fertilizers, increase squash yield, and improve soil quality. Results revealed that SS treatments increased squash yield and fruit number by 114% and 116%, respectively compared to the control treatment. Fruits of plants grown in Inorg mixed with biochar (InorgBio) increased fruits’ vitamin C, total phenols, and soluble sugars by 73%, 52%, and 7%, respectively compared to Inorg with no-biochar treatment. We concluded that the use of organic amendments as low-cost organic fertilizer is an affordable way to reduce dependence on mineral fertilizers and promote the growth and yield of squash fruits.