Low-external Input Rice Production (IIRR, 292 p.): Integrated nutrient cycling: Chicken manure for lowland rice

Low-external Input Rice Production (IIRR, 292 p.)

Integrated nutrient cycling

		(introduction...)
		Integrated nutrient cycling in lowland rice production: an ecosystem approach
		Nutrient cycling on a basic irrigated or rainfed rice farm
		Using soil test values to determine fertilizer needs for rice
		Fertilizer placement in wetland rice
		Using limited nitrogen fertilizer with HYVs
		Treatment for zinc deficiency in lowland rice
		Fertilizer from livestock and farm wastes
		Chicken manure for lowland rice
		Food, fodder, fertilizer and fuel from paddy dikes
		Using rice straw for lowland rice farming
		Azolla: green manure profile
		Using azolla as fertilizer for lowland rice
		Multiplying the azolla
		Troubleshooting common problems in azolla production
		Green leaf manuring in lowland rice
		Green manure utilization in lowland rice
		Sesbania aculeata: a bio-fertilizer source for lowland rice
		Indigofera: green manure profile
		Crotalaria: green manure profile
		Lablab bean: cover crop/green manure profile
		Rice bean: green manure profile
		Sesbania spp.: green manure profile
		Animal and green manure practices among the Mangyans (Alangan tribe in Mindoro)
		Waste management practices (Tuwal and Ayangan tribes in Ifugao)

Chicken manure for lowland rice

The prohibitive costs of inorganic fertilizers have led farmers to look into less expensive substitutes. Among those with good potential, chicken manure is preferred because it is readily available and has a higher nutrient composition. A fresh litter can contain as high as 3.17, 3.05, and 2.35 percent of N. P and K, respectively. In addition, chicken manure slowly builds up the organic maker of the soil and supplies trace amounts of some micronutrients (Cayton et. al, IRRI).

Chicken manure for lowland rice

Micronutrients	Contribution in kilogram per 100 kg. dry chicken manure
Mg Magnesium	1.08
Fe Iron	1.17
Zn Zinc	0.055
Mn Manganese	0.175
Ca Calcium	0.25
Cu Copper	0.010

1. Studies show that raising chickens year-round can assure the farmer a steady supply of fertilizer for his farm. One hundred (100) birds reared in 42 days (6 batches/yr) is expected to reduce requirement for urea by 27.4 %/ha/yr (2 croppings).

2. The birds are raised following the all-in-all-out method, with two weeks interval between batches to allow for thorough cleaning of the poultry house. This also prevents possible pest outbreaks.

3. The birds fed with commercial feeds are known to produce 0.045 kg./bird/day with 3.17, 3.25, 2.35% of N. P. K, respectively.

4. Two batches with 100 birds per batch (3% mortality) could provide 366.66 kgs. chicken manure equivalent to 11.62 kg N, 11.92 kg P and 8.61 kg K.

Savings from substituting urea (45-0-0) with chicken manure from two batches of broiler chicken at 100 birds per batch.*

	First Cropping**
· Average kg urea (45-0-0) applied/ha	127.50
· Multiplied by N content of urea	x 0.45
· Computed kg N applied/ha	57.38
· Less kg N from chicken manure	11.62
· Kg N required from urea	45.76
· Divide by N content of urea	- 0.45
· Kg urea that still needs to be applied	101.69
· Total kg urea substituted by chicken manure	25.81
· Savings using chicken manure (total kg x price of urea P4.00)	103.24

Note: To avoid possible negative effects on the rice crop, chicken manure should be incorporated in the field during land preparation.

* Savings can be increased as the amount of chicken manure applied to the field is increased.
** All cost data were taken from the baseline survey on Navarro farmers conducted by the Research Division, llRR (2 croppings) in Navarro, General Trias, Cavite.