Effect of Poultry Manure Compost on Soil Fertility and Productivity Within a Protected Cultivation Environment in Polyhouse Condition

Background: The effects of poultry manure compost (PMC) on soil fertility parameters under polyhouse conditions were monitored and investigated to study the soil nutrient availability and its improvement in soil fertility and productivity at FEEDS group of Institution, College of Agricultural Sciences, Hengbung, Manipur. PMC application improves the soil fertility and productivity and its efficiency increases with increase doses of PMC. Methods: Poultry manure is collected from poultry farming shed, FEEDS, Hengbung for preparation of PMC. Randomized block design having six treatments (T) is applied using 2% PMC @T1, 4% PMC @T2, 6% PMC @T3, 8% PMC @T4, 10% PMC @T5 and 12% PMC @T6 with four replications in a polyhouse environment. Soil chemical analysis is done to evaluate the effect of PMC on soil nutrient availability. The yield of cabbage is taken to further study the soil productivity along with its fertility on application of PMC. Result: The soil nutrient availability significantly increases with the incorporation of PMC doses in the order as follows, 12% greater than 10% greater than 8% greater than 6% greater than 4 greater than 2%. The applications of PMC in the soil under polyhouse condition significantly increases pH contents of soils when compare to control (c), as the pH of the poultry manure is 7.4 and makes the soil less acidic. The highest cabbage yield (79.8 t/ha) was obtained with T6 having 12 % of PMC. Incorporation of PMC into the soil in polyhouse improved soil quality and yield of cabbage.