EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVEL OF POULTRY MANURE COMPARE WITH INORGANIC FERTILIZER

ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CARROT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) contains carotene, thiamine, and riboflavin in addition to energetic
value and some therapeutic functions (Pant and Manandhar 2007) as it enhances resistance
against blood, eye (Pant and Manandhar, 2007) and other human diseases (Appiah et al.,
2015). Carrot is a biennial crop of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family (Shaffer, 2000), and is
globally ranked third in production among the root crops, after cassava and sweet potato.
Carrot is one of the most preferred vegetables globally, due to its versatility in culinary uses and
its enriched healthy composition, such as phytonutrients, dietary fibre and minerals (Sharma et
al., 2006). Carrot production in Nigeria can be a lucrative enterprise, especially for most small
scale, resource-poor farmers, since it is a short duration crop and can also produce higher yields
per unit area (Ahmad et al., 2005). Success in vegetable culture in a temperate climate has been
attributed to proper mineral nutrition because plant nutrition, among other agro-technical
measures most influences yield, quality and storability (Biesiada et al., 2011).

The carrot is a biennial plant in the umbellifer family, Apiaceae. At first, it grows a rosette of
leaves while building up the enlarged taproot. Fast-growing cultivars mature within three
months (90 days) of sowing the seed, while slower-maturing cultivars need a month longer (120
days). The roots contain high quantities of alpha- and beta-carotene, and are a good source of
vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin B6. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) reports that world production of carrots and turnips (these plants are combined by the
FAO) for 2018 was 40 million tonnes, with 45% of the world total grown in China. Carrots are
commonly consumed raw or cooked in various cuisines (Wikipedia, 2018).

Carrots are grown from seed and can take up to four months (120 days) to mature, but most
cultivars mature within 70 to 80 days under the right conditions. They grow best in full sun but

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tolerate some shade (Eizer-peters, 2014). The optimum temperature is 16 to 21 °C (61 to 70 °F).
The ideal soil is deep, loose and well-drained, sandy or loamy, with a pH of 6.3 to 6.8
(Cunningham, 2000). Fertilizer should be applied according to soil type because the crop
requires low levels of nitrogen, moderate phosphate and high potash. Rich or rocky soils should
be avoided, as these will cause the roots to become hairy and/or misshapen. Irrigation is
applied when needed to keep the soil moist. After sprouting, the crop is eventually thinned to a
spacing of 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) and weeded to prevent competition beneath the soil (Abbott,
2012).

Carrot production can be a beneficial enterprise for small-scale, resource-poor farmers because
it is a short duration crop and higher yields can be obtained per unit area (Ahmad et al., 2005).
However, Sarkindiya and Yakubu (2006) reported low average yields in Nigeria. In most
developing countries, carrot yield per unit area remains below the world average (FAO, 1999).
One reason for low yield is low soil fertility and low technological know-how in production
methods. In order to obtain high and sustainable carrot yields, good soil fertility and constant
growth are required to facilitate production and translocation of carbohydrates from leaves to
roots. There are several diseases that can reduce the yield and market value of carrots. The
most devastating carrot disease is Alternaria leaf blight, which has been known to eradicate
entire crops. A bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas campestris can also be destructive
in warm, humid areas. Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) can cause stubby or forked
roots, or galls. Cavity spot, caused by the oomycetes Pythium violae and Pythium sulcatum,
results in irregularly shaped, depressed lesions on the taproots. Physical damage can also
reduce the value of carrot crops. The two main forms of damage are splitting, whereby a
longitudinal crack develops during growth that can be a few centimetres to the entire length of
the root, and breaking, which occurs postharvest. These disorders can affect over 30% of
commercial crops. Factors associated with high levels of splitting include wide plant spacing,
early sowing, lengthy growth durations, and genotype (Davis, 2004).

Manure can serve as a substitute to synthetic fertilizers. Application of manure supplies the
required nutrients; improves soil structure, water holding capacity, porosity, bulk density,

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moisture retention; increases microbial population; and maintains crop quality (Dauda et al.,
2008; Adekiya and Agbede 2009; Adeleye et al., 2010; Agbede et al., 2013, 2014). Despite the
large quantities of plant nutrients contained in synthetic fertilizers, compared to organic
nutrients, the presence of growth promoting agents in organic fertilizers make them important
in enhancing soil fertility and productivity (Sanwal et al., 2007).

Small-holder farmers have resorted to amending soils with organic and inorganic fertilizers due
to scarce land availability and inherently poor soil fertility. Combined use of organic and
inorganic fertilizers provides synergistic effects for greater soil improvement and crop nutrients
for crop growth, development and yields. While inorganic fertilizers supply readily available
plant nutrients for greater plant growth and increased crop yields and productivity; organic
fertilizers improve soil physical conditions by increasing soil porosity and decreasing bulk
density allowing smooth root penetration and growth into the soil and also the gradual release
ofplant nutrients (Dauda et al., 2008; Subedi et al., 2018). Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena
leucocephala and Mucuna pruriens are among a number of plant species readily available in the
forest-savanna transition zones (Gyamfi et al., 2001), but their green manure potentials have
not been widely exploited in carrot production and storability.

The use of 20 t/ha of poultry manure produced higher carrot root yield than 250 kg of NPK/ha
applied in the transitional zone (Poku et al., 2014), while Ataora et al. (2014) reported higher
carrot yield at 20 t/ha grasscutter manure than applying NPK. Dawuda et al. (2011) also
observed that 15 to 20 t/ha of poultry manure increased carrot root length and yield. Mbatha
(2008) recorded significant plant height and number of leaves of carrot at high rates of chicken
and cattle manure. According to Daba et al. (2018), irrespective of the level of cattle manure
applied, growth parameters of carrot plants were improved. They also indicated that 10 t/ha
cattle manure increased the root weight by about half as compared to the control treatment.

The use of inorganic fertilizer to increase yield has been found to be effective only within few
years, demanding consistent use on long-term basis (Ojeniyi et al., 2009). The hazardous
environmental consequences and high cost of inorganic fertilizers make them not only
undesirable but also uneconomical and out of reach of the poor farmers who still dominate the

3
Nigerian agricultural sector (Shiyam and Binang, 2011). This has led to increased use of organic
manure, a readily available alternative, which proves more. environmentally friendly.

In the tropics, fertile soil is one of the most important factors for sustainable crop production
and hampered by low fertility associated with low organic matter, exchange capacity, nitrogen
and phosphorous deficiencies (Sanguinga et al., 2001). The physical state of the soils in the
savanna regions are poor (Salako et al., 2002) and soils are sandy with low organic matter
(Salako, 2003). Organic manuring is an important agronomic option for sustainable soil
management and crop production in the tropics. PM is a good nutrient source for both
subsistence and commercial crop producers. Its use reduces inputs thereby increasing profit
(Ayoola and Makinde, 2008). Nutrients, especially N and P are higher in PM compared with
other animal manures (Mikkelsen and Gillian, 2005). Typically, 50 to 60% of total N in fresh PM
will be mineralized and become available for crop use in the first year (Reddy et al., 2008).
Because of its low moisture content, high nutrient, and large amounts produced daily, PM is an
important substitute to inorganic fertilizer (Moore et al., 2005). Application of PM to soils can
increase concentrations of carbon, Ca, K, Mg, N and P of surface and subsurface soils. It also
improves physical characteristics of soil (Adekiya et al., 2016).

In recent times, attention has been directed towards organic manure because of the rising cost
of inorganic fertilizers coupled with their inability to give the soil the desired sound health.
Poultry manure, sometimes called chicken manure, is an excellent soil amendment that
provides nutrients for growing crops and also improves soil quality when applied wisely,
because it has high organic matter content combined with available nutrients for plant growth
(Van Ryssen et al., 2003). The chemical composition of poultry manure varies with factors such
as source of manure, feed of the birds, age and condition of the birds, storage, handling of
manure, and litter used (Manakulandai and Manickam, 2005). Poultry waste consists of
droppings, wasted feed, broken eggs, feathers, and sometimes sawdust from poultry floor. It
also includes the dead birds and hatchery waste, all of which are high in protein and contain
substantial amount of calcium and phosphorus due to high level of mineral supplement in their

4
diet. Poultry manure has been reported to contain more plant nutrients than all other organic
manures (Ali, 2005).

Organic fertilizers are originated from agricultural by-products (manures, liquid manures,straw,
plant residues, etc.), residues and waste from the food industry (e.g., sewage, waste from
slaughterhouses, etc.), and biologically degradable municipal waste. By selective collection and
composting of these biowastes, separated from the municipal solid wastes, it is possible to
obtain valuable, secondary raw materials that can be utilized locallyin gardens, and are
produced in an economically feasible way. The use of organic fertilizers in crop production has
been on an increase rate in recent times as substitute for costly and scarce mineral fertilizers.
Organic fertilizers such as poultry manure, cow dung, compost, agro industrial wastes etc. have
been recommended by researchers for use as substitute for mineral plant nutrient sources
because they are less expensive, available and improve soil physical and chemical properties.
Ogedegbe et al. (2015) recommended that amendment of top soil with animal fertilizers in a
1:1 ratio positively influenced growth and yield including some proximate components of
amaranth varieties.This fact was in line with the conclusion of Oyedeji (2014) which stated that
amaranthus species grown with NPK had higher protein, while those grown with poultry
manure had higher ash content. Considering the impact of organic fertilizers on crop quality, it
is also important to examine the extent of this effect amongdifferent organic fertilizers, due to
their differences in quality (nutrients composition) (Moyin-Jesu, 2008) which depend greatly on
types of animal and the quality of feed they feed on.

Manures are plant and animal wastes that are used as sources of plant nutrients. They release
nutrients after their decomposition. The art of collecting and using wastes from animal, human
and vegetable sources for improving crop productivity is as old as agriculture. Manures are the
organic materials derived from animal, human and plant residues which contain plant nutrients
in complex organic forms. Naturally occurring or synthetic chemicals containing plant nutrients
are called fertilizers. Manures with low nutrient, content per unit quantity have longer residual
effect besides improving soil physical properties compared to fertilizer with high nutrient
content. Major sources of manures are Cattle shed wastes-dung, urine and slurry from biogas

5
plants, Human habitation wastes-night soil, human urine, town refuse, sewage, sludge and
sullage, Poultry Jitter, droppings of sheep and goat, Slaughterhouse wastes-bone meal, meat
meal, blood meal, horn and hoof meal, Fish wastes, Byproducts of agro industries-oil cakes,
bagasse and press mud, fruit and vegetable processing wastes etc, Crop wastes-sugarcane
trash, stubbles and other related material, Water hyacinth, weeds and tank silt, and Green
manure crops and green leaf manuring material (Reddy, 2005).

Manures can also be grouped, into bulky organic manures and concentrated organic manures
based on concentration of the nutrients. Bulky organic manures: Bulky organic manures contain
small percentage of nutrients and they are applied in large quantities. Farmyard manure (FYM),
compost and green-manure are the most important and widely used bulky organic manures.
Use of bulky organic manures has several advantages: They supply plant nutrients including
micronutrients, they improve soil physical properties like structure, water holding capacity etc.,
they increase the availability of nutrients, carbon dioxide released during decomposition acts as
a CO2 fertilizer and plant parasitic nematodes and fungi are controlled to some extent by
altering the balance of microorganisms in the soil (TNAU, 2016).

1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The key limiting factors in crop growth, development, and yield are nitrogen, phosphorous,
potassium, and water. In most cases, carrot growers use chemical fertilizers as the major supply
of nutrients to attain higher growth and yield (Hochmuth et al., 1999; Amjad et al., 2005).
Continuous application of synthetic fertilizer may lead to soil acidity, human health problems,
and soil degradation because they release nutrients at a faster rate. Increasing costs of
synthetic fertilizers have made them generally unaffordable to most resource-poor, small-scale
growers. Poultry manure (PM) is an effective source of nutrients for carrot (Kankam et al., 2014;
Habimana et al., 2014). There has been a continuous use of PM to fertilize crops by some
farmers in Nigeria with no, or limited, documentation on performance. In Nigeria, proper
disposal of poultry waste is a challenge to poultry farmers (Agbede and Adekiya, 2011) and its
use in carrot production could be a solution. The application rate of PM for carrot has not been
documented.

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1.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different level of poultry manure
compare with inorgamic fertilizer on the growth and yield of carrot.

1.4. JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

At present, vegetable farmers mostly apply poultry manure in combination with inorganic
nitrogen-based fertilizers such as Urea and NPK (Ogungile and Olukosi, 2000), often because
poultry manure alone is believed to dissolve slowly and may not meet up to the yield of
vegetables. There is a need to determine the independent influence of poultry manure and
inorganic nitrogen fertilizer such as NPK on the growth, yield, and nutritional quality of fast-
growing vegetables like carrot as to justify the continuous mixture of both or otherwise. There
has been an increase in demand for mineral fertilizers in the developing countries to boost
crop yield due to an increase in population as a result of farmers yearning to meet the risen
demand for agricultural products.The rising global population and changing eating habits are
giving new prominence to agricultural challenges, such as the need to maintain and boost yields
(Johannes, 2015). This made mineral fertilizers an important input in crop production
inaccessible and expensive for farmers in the rural areaswhere major agricultural activities are
carried out.

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