Abstract

HERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, Ofelia Adriana et al. Nutritional quality of four organic fertilizers produced from mixtures of vegetable and cattle residues. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2013, vol.31, n.1, pp.35-46. ISSN 2395-8030.

Use of untreated crop and livestock residues is an important source of water and soil pollutants. Composting mixtures of manure from dairy herds, manure from chicken, sawdust, and corn by-products was evaluated as a technique for producing quality compost for use in agriculture. As quality indicators physicochemical parameters were evaluated: temperature, pH, carbon / nitrogen (C/N) and macro and micronutrients. Observations were made over 24 weeks to describe nutrient dynamics during decomposition and nutritional quality in the final products. Statistical analysis was performed using a completely randomized design with 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: factor A consisted of two types of manure, factor B was represented by plant debris. The experiment was established with five replicates and repeated sampling every six weeks. Tukey (α = 0.05) was used for comparison of means. After 24 weeks a reduction in C/N values in the mixtures was observed in the range of 4.9 to 12.9. Also, the total content of N-NO3 increased. Mixtures of chicken manure with sawdust (T1-GA) and harvest residues (T3-GE) showed the best conditions for the following variables: organic C, 10.9 and 13.4%; N-total, 2.3 and 2.1%; C/N ratio, 4.9 and 6.5; N-NO3, 1190 and 1473 mg k-1; P 0.111 and 0.114%; Cu, 56 and 48 mg k-1; Fe, 1633 and 1662 mg k-1, and Mn, 7.8 and 7.9 mg k-1, respectively. This suggests their potential use for the production of organic fertilizers.

Keywords : maturity; macronutrient; micronutrient.

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