Abstract
The application of organic manures as alternatives to reduce the use of mineral fertilisers is considered a good agricultural practice for smallholder farmers. However, the effect of organic manure on soil properties and crop yield depends upon its application rate and its chemical composition. A field experiment was carried out during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons at the University of Venda experimental farm (Limpopo Province, South Africa) to determine the effect of three organic manures (cattle, poultry and their 1:1 combination, 20 t/ha) on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) performance, grain yield and selected soil properties under rainfed conditions. Poultry manure produced the highest final infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration followed by cattle manure, their combination and the control in that order. Total nitrogen, calcium, and zinc were significantly different between treatments in the first season while potassium, sodium, and zinc were significantly different in the second season. Manure combination and poultry manure produced the highest organic carbon and available phosphorus, respectively, in both seasons compared to other treatments. Organic manure application had a significant (p<0.05) effect on dry matter, plant height and stem girth at all growth stages in the second cropping season but only in the flower bud stage for both parameters in the first season. Manure application in the second season resulted in an increase in the grain yield compared to the first season, except after application of poultry manure whereafter the grain yield decreased significantly by 168% from the first cropping season. The application of organic manure had a significant effect on sunflower grain yield, dry matter, head dry matter, plant height and stem girth throughout all growing stages in the second cropping season with poultry manure producing the best values. Significance: Application of the three organic manures served as a good source of organic amendments for improvement of plant nutrients and selected soil properties. Based on the results of this study, poultry manure can be recommended as the first choice among the manure used for local smallholder farmers, especially under evenly distributed rainfall.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
Poultry manure gave highest final and cumulative infiltration followed by cattle, mixture and control.
- Taxon
- sunflower
Helianthus annuust0 - Treatment
- Poultry manuree0
- Outcome
- final infiltration rate and cumulative infiltratione0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Comparator
- cattle manure, their combination and the controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Poultry manure produced the highest final infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration followed by cattle manure, their combination and the control in that order.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil total nitrogen, calcium and zinc differed significantly among treatments in season one.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- treatmentse0
- Outcome
- Total nitrogen, calcium, and zince0
- Qualifier
- first seasone0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Total nitrogen, calcium, and zinc were significantly different between treatments in the first season”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil potassium, sodium and zinc differed significantly among treatments in season two.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Outcome
- potassium, sodium, and zince0
- Qualifier
- second seasone0
Not reportedTreatmentComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium, sodium, and zinc were significantly different in the second season.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Manure combination produced highest soil organic carbon in both seasons.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- Manure combinatione0
- Outcome
- organic carbone0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Comparator
- other treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Manure combination and poultry manure produced the highest organic carbon and available phosphorus, respectively, in both seasons compared to other treatments.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Poultry manure produced highest soil available phosphorus in both seasons.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- poultry manuree0
- Outcome
- available phosphoruse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Comparator
- other treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Manure combination and poultry manure produced the highest organic carbon and available phosphorus, respectively, in both seasons compared to other treatments.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Manure significantly affected dry matter, height and stem girth at all stages in season two.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- Organic manure applicatione0
- Outcome
- dry matter, plant height and stem girthe0
- Qualifier
- all growth stages in the second cropping seasone0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Organic manure application had a significant (p<0.05) effect on dry matter, plant height and stem girth at all growth stages in the second cropping season but only in the flower bud stage for both parameters in the first season.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Manure significantly affected sunflower performance only at flower bud stage in season one.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- Organic manure applicatione0
- Outcome
- plant height and stem girthe0
- Qualifier
- flower bud stagee0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Organic manure application had a significant (p<0.05) effect on dry matter, plant height and stem girth at all growth stages in the second cropping season but only in the flower bud stage for both parameters in the first season.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Manure in season two increased grain yield relative to season one, except poultry manure.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- Manure applicatione0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Qualifier
- except after application of poultry manuree0
- Comparator
- first seasone0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Manure application in the second season resulted in an increase in the grain yield compared to the first season, except after application of poultry manure whereafter the grain yield decreased significantly by 168% from the first cropping season.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Poultry manure grain yield decreased significantly by 168% from season one to season two.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Treatment
- poultry manuree0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 168%e0
- Comparator
- first cropping seasone0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“except after application of poultry manure whereafter the grain yield decreased significantly by 168% from the first cropping season.”
t0“sunflower”
Claim · model-written summary
Poultry manure yielded best grain yield, dry matter, head dry matter, height and girth in season two.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuuse0
- Treatment
- poultry manuree0
- Outcome
- grain yield, dry matter, head dry mattere0
- Direction
- best valuese0
- Qualifier
- second cropping seasone0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The application of organic manure had a significant effect on sunflower grain yield, dry matter, head dry matter, plant height and stem girth throughout all growing stages in the second cropping season with poultry manure producing the best values.”
Claim · model-written summary
Poultry manure gave best height and stem girth in season two.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuuse0
- Treatment
- poultry manuree0
- Outcome
- plant height and stem girthe0
- Direction
- best valuese0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The application of organic manure had a significant effect on sunflower grain yield, dry matter, head dry matter, plant height and stem girth throughout all growing stages in the second cropping season with poultry manure producing the best values.”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors recommend poultry manure as first choice for local smallholders under even rainfall.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuust0
- Outcome
- poultry manure can be recommended as the first choicee0
- Qualifier
- especially under evenly distributed rainfalle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“poultry manure can be recommended as the first choice among the manure used for local smallholder farmers, especially under evenly distributed rainfall.”
t0“sunflower”
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