Effects of poultry manure and graded nitrogen fertilizer doses on wheat yield, plant and soil nutrient contents, and soil electrical conductivity under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

The integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers is gaining importance as a strategy to improve crop yield while maintaining soil health and reducing environmental risks. Poultry manure is a nutrient-rich organic amendment that can enhance soil fertility and partially replace synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of poultry manure applied at six rates (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 kg/da) in combination with a fixed dose of chemical N fertilizer (20 kg N/da) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, plant nutrient composition (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), soil nutrient availability, and soil electrical conductivity (EC) under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted in 5 kg pots filled with clay loam soil (pH 7.6; CaCO₃ 9.6%; OM 1.35%). All pots received uniform basal applications of P and K (20 kg/da each). After 90 days, plants and soils were analyzed for nutrient contents. Results showed that grain yield significantly increased with manure application, reaching a peak of 5.74 kg/pot at 1000 kg/da. Grain N, K, and Ca contents increased significantly, while P and Mg showed minor or statistically non-significant trends. Soil nutrient levels also improved across all manure doses, particularly for N, K, and Ca. However, soil EC increased steadily from 1.39 to 3.12 dS/m with increasing manure dose, indicating a risk of salinity buildup at high application rates. The results suggest that poultry manure, when applied at moderate doses, can effectively improve wheat yield and nutrient availability while reducing the need for synthetic N fertilizers. However, EC monitoring is essential to avoid salinity-related constraints, especially in greenhouse or poorly drained conditions.

Keywords

• Poultry manure
• wheat yield
• plant nutrient content
• soil fertility
• nitrogen substitution
• electrical conductivity

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