Nutrient content in poultry manure

Dear friends,

Please have a look at this news item 'Nutrient content in poultry manure' appeared in 'Farm Queries' section of 'The Hindu' on 20/08/2009.

An email that was sent to 'farmqueries@thehindu.co.in' requesting it to rectify the mistake in the article to clear the doubts of it's readers is reproduced here below:.

"Dear Sir,

I regret to note that for a reply to a query about 'Poultry Manure' in 'Farm Queries' section on 20/08/2009 it has been wrongly stated as 'the fertilizer value of 1 ton of dried cage poultry manure is equivalent to 100 Kgs of Urea, 150 kgs of Super Phosphate, 50 kgs of Potash Etc..

The correct nutrient value could be in the approx maximum range of 3% N, 2.5% P and 1.6% K (i.e 60Kgs of Urea, 150 Kgs of Super phosphate and 27 Kgs of Potash)
Please clarify your stand."

Nutrient contents of a well digested caged poultry manure is as follows:

N	3%
P	2.5%
K	1.6%
S	1%
Calcium - Ca	7%
Magnesium - Mg	1%
Sodium - Na	0.4%
Iron - Fe	1600 ppm
Manganese - Mn	580 ppm
Zinc - Zn	310 ppm
Copper - Cu	40 ppm
Boron -	10 ppm
Molybdenum - Mo	3 ppm
Residual Qty.	Pure humus
PH	7.4 (Alkaline)

Comments from readers and fellow bloggers in this regard is eagerly awaited.

Regards,
Vishnu Sankar

(Please have a look at this detailed article published by The Hindu on 28/10/2009 on the same line)

Hirsutella thompsonii to control mites

Bio Pesticides and Bio Fungicides

Hirsutella thompsonii to control mites especially Eriophyid mites in coconut:

A fungus Hirsutella thompsonii is a well-known mite-specific pathogen and has been used against various mite pests, including the coconut mite, in different countries.

Now a selected superior strain of H. thompsoni was developed which is able to provide upto 80% death of the mite depending on various crop and environmental factors. At least two sprays at an interval of 15 days are recommended for the effective control of the mite.

International Paneacea Ltd is producing Hirsutella thompsonii in Kerala in large scale with the state govt's support and marketing it thro' Hindustan Insecticides, a public sector enterprise.

Metarhizium anisophilae to control termites & thrips

Bio Pesticides and Bio Fungicides

METARHIZIUM ANISOPHILAE to control Agri. Pests such as termites, thrips, etc.

Introduction:
It is a bio control Entomopathogenic fungi known to infect over 200 insect pest species, including termites . It is currently being used as a biological insecticide to control a number of pests such as termites, thrips, etc.

Mode of action:
Metarhizium anisopliae, formerly known as Entomophthora anisopliae is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a parasite. The disease caused by the fungus is sometimes called green muscardine disease because of the green colour of its spores.

When these spores (called conidia) of the fungus come into contact with the body or ingested, grow and colonize the host body. Then they germinate and the hyphae that emerge penetrate the cuticle of the insect host. After extensive invasion of the host body, the Destruxins produced by the fungus eventually weaken and kill the insects within 72 hours.


Usage:
Available in the market in powder form.

Soil application: Mix 1- 2 Kg of Metarhizium anisopliae in 25 to 50 kgs of Farm yard manure per acre and apply under moist field conditions. About 500 gms of the above mixture can be applied around the root zone of the termite affected Horticulture plant or timber tree.

Foliar application: Metarhizium anisopliae should be applied @ 5 - 7 gms of per litre of water along with jaggery preferably during evening hours.

Soil drenching: Mix 2 kgs of Metarhizium anisopliae in 400 litres of water along with jaggery and drench the soil thoroughly.

Repeat application at 15 days interval as and when required.
High humidity helps in achieving good efficacy in insects.

Benefits:

i. Effectively controls larval and pupal stages of termites, thrips, white grubs, jassids, fruit borers, leaf miners and coconut beetles. A good remedy to control termites in lawns.

ii. Helps in reducing the harmful microbes and pathogenic insect population so there is increase in the beneficial microbial and insect population.

iii. Foliar application in combination with Baverium & Verticillum will give good results in horticulture crops.