Effect of organic fertilizers produced from biologically divisible waste of cattle horn on organically grown winter wheat

Abstract

An investigation of the effect of organic fertilizers produced from biologically divisible waste of cattle horn- horn shavings and horn core powder on organically grown winter wheat was carried out on the farm of organic production of Agroecology Centre at Aleksandras Stulginskis University in 2008-2010. The investigation resulted in finding that not only did such fertilizers increase productivity of organically grown “Sirvinta1” winter wheat grain, but also improved its quality values. After horn shaving fertilizers had been applied to winter wheat, wheat productivity essentially increased by 0.56 t ha-1 or 28.5 per cent, value of sedimentation index increased by 4.2 ml or 16.6 perceptual units compared with unfertilized grain. Mass of 1000 grains increased by 3.6% compared with unfertilized wheat or application of horn core powder. Horn shavings fertilizers had a greater impact on chemical composition of organically grown winter wheat than did horn core powder. Effect of rates of horn shaving fertilizers on grain productivity and quality was assessed. A week relation between rates of horn shaving and grain productivity. An average correlation between rates of horn shavings and protein content, index of sedimentation, mass of 1000 grains, weight of hectoral was discovered. Correlation between rates of horn shavings and amount of dry and wet gluten in grains proved to be strong. No interrelationship between rates of horn shavings and fall number in grains was observed.