Developing and Evaluation of Ecofriendly Fertilizer from Poultry Waste to Enhance Pulse Production in Alfisols of Semi-arid Tropics

Abstract

Poultry manure (PM) has long been recognized the most desirable organic fertilizer. It improves soil fertility by adding both major and essential nutrients, as well as soil organic matter, which improves moisture and nutrient retention. The present study investigates the effectiveness of different levels of applied poultry-manure compost (PMC) and phospho-poultry-manure compost (PPMC) on the growth and yield of blackgram (Vigna mungo L). A field experiment was conducted to assess the nutrient-supplying capacity and soil health improvement potential of PMC and PPMC at 3.12, 6.25, 9.37, and 12.5 t/ha and to find the optimum dose of PMC as an organic fertilizer to maximize the pulse production in Alfisols of semi-arid tropics. Application of PPMC at 12.5 and 9.37 t ha⁻¹ increased the seed yield 105% and 102% more than the no-manure plot. Application of PMC at 12.5 t ha⁻¹ recorded 80% yield increment than no manure applied and the yield difference of PPMC was 20 to 25% greater than PMC alone. Application of PPMC at 12.5 and 9.37 t ha⁻¹ resulted in desirable soil physical and chemical properties especially 85 and 70% soil-available P improvement and significant role in increasing yield of blackgram. Application of PPMC at 9.37 t ha⁻¹ was found to be economically viable to the farmers in terms of improvement in soil properties and crop yield.

Keywords:

• Alfisols
• blackgram
• poultry manure
• poultry manure compost
• rock phosphate