The global obligation for food requires soil and plant management practices that provide valuable effects on the physical, chemical, and organic properties of soils. The use of animal manure, in agricultural production systems as alternative to synthetic elemental fertilizers has potential application to improve crop yield and fruit quality. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was established to investigate the impact of nine soil treatments on yield and quality of bell pepper, Capsicum annuum and eggplant, Solanum melongena . The nine soil treatments included: chitin CH, biochar Bio, sewage sludge SS, chicken manure CM, SS mixed with biochar (SSBio), SS mixed with CH (SSCH), CM mixed with biochar (CMBio), CM mixed with CH (CMCH), and unamended (UN) native soil used as control treatment. At maturity, fruits from each treatment, were counted, weighed, and classified according to the USDA grades to U.S. Fancy, U.S. No.1, U.S. No.2, and culls. Overall number and weight of green pepper fruits collected from plants grown in SSCH were significantly greater (26.2 and 3.14 kg 5 plants -1 ) compared to fruits of plants grown in unamended control treatment (17.1 and 1.98 kg 5 Plants -1 , respectively). Whereas CH alone was superior in increasing the number and weight of eggplant fruits compared to the control treatment. Average weight and number of eggplant fruits of plants grown in soil amended with chitin (4.46 kg and 11.5, respectively) were significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) greater than weight and number of fruits obtained from plants grown in other soil treatments. Results also revealed a positive correlation coefficient (r) and high probability of significance ( P ) between number of fruits and weight of fruits among the nine soil treatments. Utilization of animal manures in agricultural systems is an inexpensive means for limited-resource farmers looking for improvements in crop yield and quality at affordable costs.
KeywordsSoil AmendmentsChicken ManureSewage SludgeUSDA Fruit Grades
Anastopoulos, I., Bhatnagar, A., Bikiaris, D.N. and Kyzas, G.Z. (2017) Chitin Adsorbents for Toxic Metals: A Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18, Article 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18010114
Wieczorek, A.S., Schmidt, O., Chatzinotas, A., von Bergen, M., Gorissen, A. and Kolb, S. (2019) Ecological Functions of Agricultural Soil Bacteria and Microeukaryotes in Chitin Degradation: A Case Study. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, Article 1293. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01293
Revathi, M., Saravanan, R. and Shanmugam, A. (2012) Production and Characterization of Chitinase from Vibrio Species, a Head Waste of Shrimp, Metapenaeus dobsonii (Miers, 1878) and Chitin of Sepiella inermis Orbigny, 1848. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 3, 392-397. https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2012.34056
Shamshina, J.L., Oldham, T. and Rogers, R.D. (2019) Applications of Chitin in Agriculture. In: Grégorio, C. and Eric, L., Eds., Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 36, Chitin and Chitosan: Applications in Food, Agriculture, Pharmacy, Medicine and Wastewater Treatment, Springer, Cham, 125-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16581-9_4
Dahiya, N., Tewari, R. and Hoondal, G.S. (2006) Biotechnological Aspects of Chitinolytic Enzymes: A Review. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 71, 773-782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-005-0183-7
Araji, A.A., Abdo, Z.O. and Joyce, P. (2001) Efficient Use of Animal Manure on Cropland—Economic Analysis. Bioresource Technology, 79, 179-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(01)00042-6
Qian, K., Kumar, A., Zhang, H., Bellmer, D. and Huhnke, R. (2015) Recent Advances in Utilization of Biochar. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, 1055-1064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.10.074
Kavitha, B., Reddy, P.V.L., Kim, B., Lee, S.S., Pandey, S.K. and Kim, K.H. (2018) Benefits and Limitations of Biochar Amendment in Agricultural Soils: A Review. Journal of Environmental Management, 227, 146-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.082
Ding, Y., Liu, Y., Liu, S., Huang, X., Li, Z., Tan, X., Zeng, G. and Zhou, L. (2017) Potential Benefits of Biochar in Agricultural Soils: A Review. Pedosphere, 27, 645-661. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(17)60375-8
Shaaban, M., Van Zwieten, L., Bashir, S., Younas, A., Núñez-Delgado, A., Chhajro, M.A., Kubar, K.A., Ali, U., Rana, M.S., Mehmood, M.A. and Hu, R. (2018) A Concise Review of Biochar Application to Agricultural Soils to Improve Soil Conditions and Fight Pollution. Journal of Environmental Management, 228, 429-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.09.006
Alkharabsheh, H.M., Seleiman, M.F., Battaglia, M.L., Shami, A., Jalal, R.S., Alhammad, B.A., Almutairi, K.F. and Al-Saif, A.M. (2021) Biochar and Its Broad Impacts in Soil Quality and Fertility, Nutrient Leaching and Crop Productivity: A Review. Agronomy, 11, Article 993. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050993
Savci, S. (2012) An Agricultural Pollutant: Chemical Fertilizer. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 3, 73-80. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJESD.2012.V3.191
Antonious, G.F. (2016) Chapter 7. Soil Amendments for Agricultural Production. In: Larramendy, M.L. and Soloneski, S., Eds., Organic Fertilizers—From Basic Concepts to Applied Outcomes, Intech, Rijeka, Croatia, 158-187. https://doi.org/10.5772/63047
Antonious, G.F. and Snyder, J.C. (2007) Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Plants and Potential Phytoremediation of Lead by Potato, Solanum tuberosum L. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 42, 811-816. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934520701304757
Wanner, U., Fuhr, F. and Burauel, P. (2005) Influence of the Amendment of Corn Straw on the Degradation Behaviour of the Fungicide Dithianon in Soil. Environmental Pollution, 133, 63-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2004.04.013
Payne, J. and Zhang, H. (2012) Poultry Litter Nutrient Management: A Guide for Producers and Applicators. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, Publication # E-1027. http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-7962/E-1027.pdf
Subramanian, B. and Gupta, G. (2006) Adsorption of Trace Elements from Poultry Litter by Montmorillonite Clay. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 128, 80-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.05.036
Antonious, G.F., Silitonga, M.R., Tsegaye, T., Unrine, J.M., Coolong, T. and Snyder, J.C. (2013) Elevated Concentrations of Trace Elements in Soil do not Necessarily Reflect Metals Available to Plants. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 48, 219-225. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2013.730340
Liu, C.W., Sung, Y., Chen, B.C. and Lai, H.Y. (2014) Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Growth and Nitrate Content of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11, 4427-4440. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110404427
Razaq, M., Zhang, P., Shen, H.-L. and Salahuddin (2017) Influence of Nitrogen and Phosphorous on the Growth and Root Morphology of Acer mono. PLOS ONE, 12, e0171321. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171321
Barber, S.A., Walker, J.M. and Vasey, E.H. (1963) Mechanisms for Movement of Plant Nutrients from Soil and Fertilizer to Plant Root. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 11, 204-207. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf60127a017
USDA NRCS (2011) USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Carbon to Nitrogen Ratios in Cropping Systems.
Jat, R.A., Wani, S.P. and Sahrawat, K.L. (2012) Chapter Four-Conservation Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Prospects and Problems. In: Sparks, D.L., Ed., Advances in Agronomy, Elsevier, New York, 191-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-394278-4.00004-0
Pfeufer, E., Bessin, R., Wright, S. and Strang, J. (2017) 2018-19 Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lexington, KY, 44-48.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA 2005) United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Peppers. Consumer and Marketing Service, Washington DC. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Sweet_Pepper_Standard%5B1%5D.pdf
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA 2013) United States Standards for Grades of Eggplant. Consumer and Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington DC. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Eggplant_Standard%5B1%5D.pdf
SAS Institute Inc. (2016) SAS/STAT Guide, Version 9.4. Campus Drive, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, 27513.
Antonious, G.F., Turley, E.T., Shrestha D.S. and Dawood, M.H. (2021) Variability of Biochar Performance among Soil Amendments and Enzymes Activity. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences (IJAAS), 7, 66-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20210701.16
Mierzwa-Hersztek, M., Gondek, K., Klimkowicz-Pawlas, A. and Baran, A. (2017) Effect of Wheat and Miscanthus Straw Biochars on Soil Enzymatic Activity, Ecotoxicity, and Plant Yield. International Agrophysics, 31, 367-375. https://doi.org/10.1515/intag-2016-0063
Ameloot, N., Neve, S.D., Jegajeevagan, K., Yildiz, G., Buchan, D., Funkuin, Y.N., Prins, W., Bouckaert, L. and Sleutel, S. (2013) Short-Term CO2 and N2O Emissions and Microbial Properties of Biochar Amended Sandy Loam Soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 57, 401-410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.10.025
Liu, S., Yang, Z., Wang, X., Gao, R. and Liu, X. (2007) Effects of Cd and Pb Pollution on Soil Enzymatic Activities and Soil Microbiota. Frontiers of Agriculture in China, 1, 85-89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11703-007-0016-9
Antonious, G.F. (2015) Elevating Concentrations of Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin in Hot Peppers Using Recycled Waste. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 50, 523-532. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2015.1018765
Peprah, K. (2014) Rainfall and Temperature Correlation with Crop Yield: The Case of Asunafo Forest, Ghana. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3, 784-789.
Zhou, W., Guan, K., Peng, B., Shi, J., Jiang, S., Chongya, J., et al. (2020) Connections between the Hydrological Cycle and Crop Yield in the Rainfed U.S. Corn Belt. Journal of Hydrology, 590, Article ID: 125398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125398
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (2017) Eggplant. Iowa State University, Ames, IA. https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/eggplants
Antonious, G.F., Turley, E.T., Sikora, F. and Snyder, J.C. (2008) Heavy Metal Mobility in Runoff Water and Absorption by Eggplant Fruits from Sludge Treated Soil. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 43, 526-532. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601230802174748
Lopes, L.N., Souza, C.F. and Santoro, B.L. (2010) Utilização da TDR para monitoramento da solução de nitrato de potássioem Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo. Engenharia Agrícola, 30, 932-947. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-69162010000500015
De Souza, A.H.C., Rezende, R., Lorenzoni, M.Z., Seron, C.C., Hachmann, T.L. and Lozano, C.S. (2017) Response of Eggplant Crop Fertigated with Doses of Nitrogen and Potassium. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental, 21, 21-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v21n1p21-26
Aminifard, M.H., Aroiee, H., Fatemi, H., Ameri, A. and Karimpour, S. (2010) Responses of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) to Different Rates of Nitrogen under Field Conditions. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 11, 453-458. https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/11.4.863
Parida, A.K. and Das, A.B. (2005) Salt Tolerance and Salinity Effects on Plants: A Review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 60, 324-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2004.06.010
Amiri, E., Gohari, A.A. and Esmailian, Y. (2012) Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen on Yield, Yield Components and Water Use Efficiency of Eggplant. African Journal of Biotechnology, 11, 3070-3079. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB11.2450
Trani, P.E. (2014) Calagem e adubação para hortaliças sob cultivo protegido. 1st Edition, Instituto Agronômico, Campinas (SP), 25.
Adamczewska-Sowińska, K., Krygier, M. and Turczuk, J. (2016) The Yield of Eggplant Depending on Climate Conditions and Mulching. Folia Horticulturae, 28, 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1515/fhort-2016-0003
Radicetti, E., Massantini, R., Campiglia, E., Mancinelli, R., Ferri, S. and Moscetti, R. (2016) Yield and Quality of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) as Affected by Cover Crop Species and Residue Management. Scientia Horticulturae, 204, 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2016.04.005