The effect of quickly fermented pig manure on the broccoli yield parameters and selected soil parameters

KOVACIK, P., UHER, A. , LOSAK, T. , TAKAC, P.: The eff ect of quickly fermented pig manure on the broccoli yield parameters and selected soil parameters. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun. , 2008, LVI, No. 5, pp. 119–124 The eff ect of Difert (a pig manure fermented by caddices of domestic fl ies produced on sawdust litter) on broccoli yield parameters and selected soil parameters were investigated on gleic fl uvisol in a smallplot fi eld trial localized at area of Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (48°18 N, 18°05 E). The results showed that Difert applied in doses of 250 kg N . ha−1 and 350 kg N . ha−1 acted positively on the yields of fresh primary broccoli roses. However, the results are not statistically signifi cant. Also a positive eff ect on N, P, K, Ca, Mg contents in broccoli roses was recorded. Difert has a moderate alkalizing eff ect on soil and increases the content of Cox in the soil. Moreover Difert insignifi cantly decreased the content of vitamin C and signifi cantly increased the content of nitrates in broccoli roses, but the worst qualitative eff ect on broccoli parameters was detected by applying mineral N fertilizers, which signifi cantly increased the content of nitrates in broccoli roses and insignifi cantly decreased the vitamin C content. However, it resulted in the highest broccoli yields. The application of mineral N fertilizers had a negative eff ect on the total content of carbon in the soil as well. The eff ect of Difert on broccoli yield and soil parameters refers to the feasibility of reducing the maturing period of the manure from 6 months to 1 week, in order to decrease the manure storage capacities. broccoli, yield, vitamin C, manure, fermentation, caddices, domestic fl y Animal breeding technology and the processing of its excrements greatly determine the quality of farm fertilizers. Consequently, they infl uence the mo bili ty of macroelements and microelements in the soil better and the plant sorption ability as well. That results in higher and better quality yields of either fi eld or garden plants (Eghball et al., 2004; Zaller and Kopke, 2004; Kouřimska et al., 2008). The attention to the impact of manure storage (fermentation) techniques on its quality and soil pa ra meters in Slovakia has been lesser in comparison with the neighbouring countries, which causes current average losses of nutrients at the levels of 30–40 % with nitrogen 10 % with phosphorus and 20 % with potassium, in manure production → application cycle (Kovacik, 2005). In eff orts to solve the problem of cutting down the process of manure fermentation, which lasts at least 6 months (sawdust used as litter), maintaining its existing positive eff ects on the soil and plants, Difert (a pig manure fermented by caddices of domestic fl ies for 7 days) has been tested on broccoli yield parameters and selected soil agrochemical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Small allotment fi eld trial with tested plant broccoli (Fiesta variety) was conducted in area of the Slovak Agriculture University in Nitra (48°18 N, 18°05 E) on gleic fl uvisol, with its agrochemical parameters shown in Tab. I. 120 P. Kovacik, A. Uher, T. Losak, P. Takac The experiment was introduced with 4 nutritional treatments in four repetitions. No fertilizers were applied with treatment one – control treatment 0 (Tab. II). Only nitrogen, in the form of ammonium nitrate with dolomite, was added to soil with treatment 2 (treatment N). Phosphoric and potassium fer ti lizers had not been added, since their levels were suffi cient with respect to the existing amounts of given nutrients in soil in accordance with the broccoli requirements (Tab. I). The dose of nitrogen was calculated as the diff erence between the nitrogen yield need and the amount of nitrogen in soil (200 − 50 = 150 kg . ha−1). The amounts of Difert were chosen to supply 250 kg . ha−1, 350 kg . ha−1 respectively, of total nitrogen (e.g. the amounts allowed by nitrogen directive regarding the growing of vegetables demanded for nutrients in areas with a high degree of nitrates groundwater contamination danger (250 kg . ha−1 N, treatment Difert 1) and low degree of contamination danger (350 kg . ha−1 N, treatment Difert 2). I: The basic agrochemical parameters of gleic fl uvisol pHKCl N-NH4 N-NO3 − Nan P K Ca Mg S Cox mg.kg−1 % 6.74 7.1 4.0 11.1 65.0 325 7 900 525 33.0 1.55 pHKCL – (1,0 M KCl), N-NH4 + – (colorimetrically, Nessler agent); N-NO3 − – (colorimetrically, phenol acid – 2,4 disulphonic); Nan – counted as a sum N-NH4 + + N-NO3 −; P – colorimetrically, Mehlich II), K – fl ame photometry, Mehlich II); Mg – (atomic absorption spectrophotometry, Mehlich II), S – nephelometry, octan ammonium) II: Treatments of experiment