Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effect of  poultry and cow manures on yield, quality and seed production of two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars under natural saline environment of western Saudi Arabia

Author(s):

Awad Osman Abusuwar *, Ihsanullah Daur

Recieved Date: 2014-01-10, Accepted Date: 2014-03-30

Abstract:

A field experiment was carried out during two successive years on alfalfa (2011-2013), in the Agriculture Research Farm at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia. The main objective of the research was to investigate whether organic manures alone are enough to support alfalfa growth or they need supplementation of nitrogen, because in the harsh climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia, Rhizobium spp. have been reported not to survive. The evaluation was based on yield and quality parameters of two alfalfa cultivars under salinity conditions of soil and water. A randomized complete block design with split plot layout was used. The main plot treatments were two alfalfa cultivars, while subplot treatments were the composted poultry and cow manures with and without nitrogen. Results indicated that poultry manure with urea (PMN) increased production (forage and seed) and quality of forage compared to other treatments, although statistically it was not significantly different (P < 0.05) from cow manure with urea. Among the cultivars, the exotic cultivar Cuf 101 showed superiority over the local cultivar (Hegazi) in all parameters studied. The present experiment, based on facts and figures, visualize the importance of poultry and cow manures that are easily available in Saudi Arabia because of plenty of poultry and animal farms that are existing. Also, it depicts that Saudi Arabia needs evaluation and introduction of exotic varieties.

Keywords:

Organic manure, nitrogen, alfalfa cultivars, forage yield and quality, seed production, salinity

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 747-751

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