Impact of poultry manure fertilization on chemical and biochemical properties of soils

Abstract

The aim of the research was to evaluate the chemical properties and enzymatic activity of arable soils which, for the period of 10 years, were fertilized with poultry manure (PM). Fertilization with PM resulted in a significant increase in the content of organic carbon and total exchangeable bases in soil. The application of that fertilizer increased the pH value. Fertilization with PM also slightly increased the total content of copper, manganese and iron. There was found, however, a significant increase in the total content of Zn. The annual application of 10 tonnes of PM significantly increased the content of phosphorus and potassium available to plants. That fertilizer inhibited the activity of both alkaline and acid phosphatase, which must be related to a very high content of phosphorus available to plants. Poultry manure resulted in higher values of the biological index of fertility of soil, whereas the activity of phosphomonoesterases was significantly lower.