Broiler and layer poultry manures as nitrogen sources for ‘douglas’ strawberry in a tunnel production system

Abstract

Floor litter from laying hens (1‐year old) and from broiler chickens (8‐week old) were incorporated into soil and compared with ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] and an unfertilized control treatment as sources of nitrogen (N) for ‘Douglas’ strawberry grown in a tunnel production system. Layer litter had 5.6% moisture, 3.9% N and 1.7% P, while broiler litter had 7.7% moisture, 4.9% N and 1.6% P; they were applied at a rate of 12.8 and 10.8 t/ha on wet basis, respectively, in August 1991. Ammonium sulfate was applied at 100 kg N/ha in three split applications during the growing season. ‘Douglas’ strawberry plants were transplanted on 15 November 1991 and fruits were harvested from 1 April to 10 June 1992. Nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) concentrations at last harvest were comparable in the soil and leaf tissue among all treatments (P>0.05); leaf NO₃‐N, early in the harvest period, was highest (P<0.05) in the broiler treatment (8.55%) and lowest in the control (5.15%). Yields were increased (P<0.05) by the manure, with the broiler treatment yielding the highest and the control yielding the least.

Notes

Associate Professor, Graduate Student, and Research Assistant, respectively.