Effect of chicken manure and chemical fertilizer on the yield and qualities of white mugwort at dissimilar harvesting times

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 26;17(4):e0266190. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266190. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

One of the key components that affects soil productiveness, plant growth, and crop quality is fertilization. The effect of fertilizer, both organic and chemical, on the extremely acidic (pH 4.10) sandy loam soil chemical properties, yield, and quality of white mugwort grown were evaluated in this study. The field experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four replications was conducted in Prachin Buri province, Thailand. There were six treatments, no fertilization (control), chemical fertilizer (25-7-7 + 46-0-0) applied at 187.50 (66.56 N:6.77 P2O5:6.77 K2O kg ha-1) kg ha-1 and applied at 375.00 (133.12 N:13.13 P2O5:13.13 K2O kg ha-1) kg ha-1, chicken manure applied at 3.36, 6.72, and 10.08 t ha-1. After harvesting, application of chicken manure tended to increase soil organic matter compared to the control, however, the application of chemical fertilizer did not show the same effect. The fresh weight of white mugwort increased with the rise in both fertilizer levels. Chicken manure application at 10.08 t ha-1 produced the highest fresh weight at all times. The level of accumulated nitrate was significantly greater when fertilizer rates increased. In addition, the total phenolic content of the white mugwort fertilized with chicken manure was higher than that fertilized with chemical fertilizer. However, there was no association between the DPPH radical scavenging capacity at harvesting times and different fertilization. Based on the results, chicken manure applied at 10.08 t ha-1 gave the best yield and higher total phenolic content of white mugwort, which was probably due to the improved soil organic matter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture / methods
  • Animals
  • Artemisia*
  • Chickens
  • Dihydrotachysterol
  • Fertilizers* / analysis
  • Manure
  • Nitrogen / analysis
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Thailand

Substances

  • Fertilizers
  • Manure
  • Soil
  • Nitrogen
  • Dihydrotachysterol

Grants and funding

Thammasat University under the TU New Research Scholar fiscal year 2016. Role of Funder Statement: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.