Isaac Kwasniewski 

Abstract

Due to commercially sold fertilizers having synthetic, non organic material, many alternative fertilizers are being used for growing plants and crops. This requires more information on just how much different organic fertilizers can affect a plant's growth. In this study, two different kinds of poultry manures were used, one being collected from chickens raised in an enclosure, and the other from chickens that were allowed to free range. There were three plots in total, one with composted free range poultry manure being applied, another with composted caged poultry manure, and the third being a control plot with store bought 10-10-10 fertilizer. Each of the three plots were located right next to each other. There were twelve plants in each plot to start. The manures were sent to a lab to be tested for nitrogen content, and a bulk density test was performed as well. The heights and widths of each plant’s main stem were measured, as well as the average growth rate per day. There were no significant differences in any of these three categories. This may be due to the close proximity of the plots to each other, or it could also be because the free range chickens are more active than caged chickens, in turn absorbing more nutrients from their food and not passing them in their droppings.