Optimizing Turf Biomass Through Application of Poultry Manure

Turf is a vital aspect of modern landscaping and sports field. In the pursuit of healthy and visually appealing turfgrass, nutrient management plays a critical role. Poultry manure, a readily available organic fertilizer, has gained attention for its potential to enhance turfgrass growth and biomass. However, there is little research that has been done on the effects of poultry manure on turf grass biomass. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the effects of poultry manure on turf biomass. The experiment comprised three species of turfgrass: Axonopus compressus (Carpet grass), Cynodon dactylon (Bahama grass), and Paspalum vaginatum (Portharcourt grass) as test crops replicated three times in a randomized complete block design and grown for two season. Data were collected on Turf parameters such as; turf weight, turf height, sprouting percentage and ground cover on monthly basis. Poultry manure has diverse effects on various turf species, impacting ground cover, height, weight, and sprouting percentage differently. Among the species studied, C. dactylon is highly sensitive to excessive nutrients, leading to a significant decrease in its height. P. vaginatum benefitted from poultry manure through increase in its ground cover, while A. compressus showed only minor responses. Therefore, poultry manure can be recommended to enhance ground cover but should be adjusted based on the specific needs of the turfgrass species.

• Turf
• Biomass
• Poultry manure

Bankole, E. A., Aiyelari, O. P., Ewulo, B. S. & Fayeun, L. S. (2023). Optimizing Turf Biomass Through Application of Poultry Manure. Agricultural Innovations, 1(1), 497–505.