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

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 3, 290 - 297, 01.07.2025

Zhainagul Yertayeva , Kalamkas Kulanbay Dinara Seidazimova Elmira Yeleuova Liza Zhussupova Gulzhan Zhaksybayeva Bakhytkul Kenzhaliyeva Khansulu Kuspangaliyeva

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1713163

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

References

• Adeyemo, A.J., Akingbola, O.O., Ojeniyi, S.O., 2019. Effects of poultry manure on soil infiltration, organic matter contents and maize performance on two contrasting degraded alfisols in southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 8: 73–80.
• Agbede, T.M., 2025. Poultry manure improves soil properties and grain mineral composition, maize productivity and economic profitability. Scientific Reports 15: 16501.
• Agegnehu, G., Bass, A.M., Nelson, P.N., Bird, M.I., 2016. Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar–compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil. Science of the Total Environment 543: 295–306.
• Al-Shammary, A.A.G., Al-Shihmani, L.S.S., Fernández-Gálvez, J., Caballero-Calvo, A., 2024. Optimizing sustainable agriculture: A comprehensive review of agronomic practices and their impacts on soil attributes. Journal of Environmental Management 364: 121487.
• Amin, M.G.M., Al Minhaj, A., Bhowmik, B., Islam, D., Islam, M.N., 2022. Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching and vegetative growth of maize as affected by organic manure application. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 11(1): 17-24.
• Bhat, N.A., Riar, A., Ramesh, A., Iqbal, S., Sharma, M.P., Sharma, S.K., Bhullar, G.S., 2017. Soil biological activity contributing to phosphorus availability in vertisols under long-term organic and conventional agricultural management. Frontiers in Plant Science 8: 1523.
• Bremner, J.M,, 1965. Total Nitrogen. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1 Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Black, C.A., Evans, D.D., White, J.L., Ensminger, L.E., Clark F.E. (Eds.), Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 1149–1178.
• Du, Y., Cui, B., Zhang, Q., Wang, Z., Sun, J., Niu, W., 2020. Effects of manure fertilizer on crop yield and soil properties in China: A meta-analysis. Catena 193: 104617.
• Eghball, B., Power, J.F., 1999. Composted and noncomposted manure application to conventional and no-tillage systems: Corn yield and nitrogen uptake. Agronomy Journal 91(5): 819–825.
• Eghball, B., Wienhold, B.J., Gilley, J.E., Eigenberg, R.A., 2002. Mineralization of manure nutrients. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 57(6): 470–473.
• El-Ghamry, A.M., El-Sherpiny, M.A., Alkharpotly, A.A., Ghazi, D.A., Helmy, A.A., Siddiqui, M.H., Pessarakli, M., Hossain, M.A., Elghareeb, E.M., 2024. The synergistic effects of organic composts and microelements co-application in enhancing potato productivity in saline soils. Heliyon 10(12): e32694.
• Giraldo, P., Benavente, E., Manzano-Agugliaro, F., Gimenez, E., 2019. Worldwide research trends on wheat and barley: A bibliometric comparative analysis. Agronomy 9(7): 352.
• Guenzi, W.D., Beard, W.E., Watanabe, F.S., Olsen, S.R., Porter, L.K., 1978. Nitrification and denitrification in cattle manure-amended soil. Journal of Environmental Quality 7(2): 196-202.
• Hati, K.M., Mandal, K.G., Misra, A.K., Ghosh, P.K., Bandyopadhyay, K.K., 2006. Effect of inorganic fertilizer and organic manure on soil physical properties, root distribution, and water-use efficiency of soybean in Vertisols of central India. Bioresource Technology 97(16): 2182–2188.
• Heald, W.R., 1965. Calcium and Magnesium. In: Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Black, C.A., Evans, D.D., White, J.L., Ensminger, L.E., Clark F.E. (Eds.), Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 999-1010.
• Irfan, M., Shah, J.A., Abbas, M., Akram, M.A., Depar, N., 2023. Optimum wheat productivity under integrated plant nutrient management is associated with improved root system and high nutrient efficiency. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 12(2): 111 - 121.
• Jones, J.B., 2001. Laboratory guide for conducting soil tests and plant analyses. CRC Press, New York, USA. 363p.
• Khalid, A., Hameed, A., Tahir, M.F., 2023. Wheat quality: A review on chemical composition, nutritional attributes, grain anatomy, types, classification, and function of seed storage proteins in bread making quality. Frontiers in Nutrition 10: 1053196.
• Maas, E.V., Hoffman, G.J., 1977. Crop salt tolerance—current assessment. Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division 103(2): 115–134.
• Mahmoud, E., Alotaibi, M.O., Alotibi, M.M., El-Sharkawy, M., Ghoneim, A.M., Gebreel, M., Seleem, M., Abo-Ogiala, A., Khalafallah, N., 2024. Residual effects of vinasse and poultry manure application on soil quality and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) yield grown in calcareous soil. Sustainability 16(23): 10719.
• Nurgaliyeva, G., Akmullayeva, A., Myrzabayeva, G., Tastanbekova, G., Izbassarova, Z., Bukabayeva, Z., Rvaidarova, G., Mussapirov, D., 2025. Effect of nitrogen and sulfur combinations on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth, yield, and soil nutrient availability in a greenhouse experiment. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 14(1): 58 - 66.
• Olsen,S.R., Dean, L.A., 1965. Phosphorus. In: Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Black, C.A., Evans, D.D., White, J.L., Ensminger, L.E., Clark F.E. (Eds.), Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 1035-1049.
• Omokaro, G.O., Osarhiemen, I.O., Idama, V., Airueghian, E.O., West, S.T., Igbigbi, F.E., Nnake, D.C., Obolokor, E., Ahmed, A., Omoshie, V.O., 2024. The role of organic amendments and their ımpact on soil restoration: A review. Asian Journal of Environment and Ecology 23 (11): 41-52.
• Pajura, R., 2024. Composting municipal solid waste and animal manure in response to the current fertilizer crisis - a recent review. Science of The Total Environment 912: 169221.
• Pratt, P.F., 1965. Potassium. In: Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Black, C.A., Evans, D.D., White, J.L., Ensminger, L.E., Clark F.E. (Eds.), Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. pp. 1022-1030.
• Santos, A., Fangueiro, D., Moral, R., Bernal, M.P., 2018. Composts Produced From Pig Slurry Solids: Nutrient Efficiency and N-Leaching Risks in Amended Soils. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2: 8.
• Savala, C.E.N., Crozier, C.R., Smyth, T.J., 2016. Poultry manure nitrogen availability ınfluences winter wheat yield and yield components. Agronomy Journal 108(2): 864-872.
• Shewry, P.R., Hey, S.J., 2015. The contribution of wheat to human diet and health. Food and Energy Security 4(3): 178-202.
• Thomas, G.W., Thomas, R.K., 2019. The effect of different organic fertilizers on yield and soil and crop nutrient concentrations. Agronomy 9(12): 776.
• Upadhyay, A.K., Verma, Y., Sharma, J., Mulik, R., Rajput, V.D., Minkina, T., 2022. Assessing the effect of application of organic manures and grapevine pruned biomass on Thompson Seedless. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 11(4): 353-362.
• Wu, T., Liu, W., Wang, D., Zou, Y., Lin, R., Yang, Q., Gbokie, T., Bughio, M.A., Li, Q., Wang, J., 2020. Organic management improves soil phosphorus availability and microbial properties in a tea plantation after land conversion from longan (Dimocarpus longan). Applied Soil Ecology 154: 103642.
• Zhao, N., Ma, J., Wu, L., Li, X., Xu, H., Zhang, J., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Bai, L., Wang, Z., 2024. Effect of organic manure on crop yield, soil properties, and economic benefit in wheat-maize-sunflower rotation system, Hetao irrigation district. Plants 13(16): 2250.