ISSN 2756-3847
International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluating Nitrogen Dynamics in Andosols Amended with Poultry and Cattle Manure under Maize-Bean Cultivation in Nicaragua
Francisco Salmerón-Miranda1*, Henrik Eckersten2 and Maria Wivstad2
1Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA), Apartado 453, Managua,
Nicaragua.
2Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7043,SE-750 07
Uppsala, Sweden.
Accepted 24 January, 2025
An in situ nitrogen mineralization experiment was conducted to assess the response of chicken and cow manure application at two different rates (5 and 10 Mg DM ha-1) on net N mineralization in a maize-bean rotation experiment in Nicaragua. The field study was carried out over four consecutive growing seasons. Soil samples of the top soil (0-0.3 m) were taken every 30 days within the season in inserted plastic tubes. The samples were analysed for content of soil mineral N and total organic N. Net N mineralization was estimated as the difference in soil mineral N over time. The net N mineralization rate in the treatment with chicken manure applied at the high rate (CHH) was on average 24.5 g N m-2 season-1 and significantly higher than all the other treatments and the unfertilized control, except during the first season. From season two to season four, the net N mineralization of cow manure at both high and low application rates were similar to that of low application rate of chicken manure. In the control, the net N mineralization was significantly lower than in all fertilisation treatments and on average 9.9 g N m-2 season-1. It also decreased significantly over time and did not show any indication to increase in the season following the N2 fixating crop. Only the CHH treatment showed such a tendency. The soil total organic N did not show any clear pattern over neither time nor treatment. Consequently, the variation in specific net N mineralization per unit of total organic soil N was similar to that of net N mineralisation and ranged from 1.6 – 2.9 10-3 30d-1 in the control to 4.4 - 6.7 10-3 30 d-1 in CHH.
Key words: Soil organic matter, low input tropical agriculture, Zea mays L., Phaseolus vulgaris L.