LAYER AND BROILER POULTRY MANURE AS NITROGEN-FERTILIZER SOURCES FOR CABBAGE PRODUCTION

Floor litter from one-year-old laying hens (LHM) and from eight-week-o ld broiler chickens (BCM) were incorporated in the soil of two fields and evaluated as nitrogen (N) sources for cabbage production on a non nutrient-depleted soil. LHM had 3.4% moisture, 3.84% N and 3.41% phosp horus (P). BCM had 2.3% moisture, 4.46% N and 2.19% P. Field 1 recieve d 2.4 t/ha BCM, 3.0 t/ha LHM, whereas Field 2 recieved 4.8 t/ha BCM an d 6.1 t/ha LHM. Also, each field received ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4! at a N rate of 100 kg/ha and an unfertilized control treatment. The m anure was applied one week before cabbage transplanting on 18 May 1992 . Ammonium sulfate was applied in two equal split applications during the growing season. Leaf nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) was higher at harves t in plants receiving the higher manure rate than in other treatments (P<0.05). Leaf phosphate (PO4-P) was higher in early season in plants receiving LHM at both rates than in other treatments. Soil BD, EC, NO3 -N, and P at harvest were not affected by the treatments (P>0.05). Soi l pH was reduced by the LHM in comparison to other treatments (P<0.05) . Yield was comparable among all treatments (P>0.05) . It may be concl uded that low application rates of LHM and BCM are equally effective i n supplying the N requirements of cabbage, with BCM recommended when o nly N is limiting, and LHM when P is limiting.