Effects of poultry manure and mineral fertilizers on the yield of crops

Experiments At The Experimental Station Of The Agricultural University Of Padova., Italy (45° 2 1’ N., 11° 58’ E) During 1985–89 Evaluated Poultry Manure As A Fertilizer. Two levels Of Fertilization (medium And High)., using Different Mixtures Of Poultry Manure And Mineral Fertilizers Were Compared With A Non-fertilized Control. The Fertilization Treatments Were Repeated Each year On The Same Plots. All The Crops Tested Responded Strongly To Fertilization., Giving The Following increases in yield (expressed As A Percentage Of The Maximum yields): 30 For Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.)., 19 For Sugarbeet (Beta Vulgaris L. Var. Saccharifera L.)., 82 For Onion (Allium Cepa L.)., 85 For Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) And 64 For Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L.). The Most Effective Fertilization Formula Varied With Crop And year Of Cultivation. All The Tested Fertilization Treatments Had A Similar Effect On Potato And Onion., Whereas The Highest yields Of Tomato And Spinach Were Obtained With A Mixed Fertilization At The Highest Rate Of Nutrients. © 1992, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.