Poultry manure has been used as fertilizer in grain crops, however, its efficiency to supply nutrients to the plants is not well known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of poultry manure doses on nitrogen (N) supply and on grain yield (GY) of wheat. The doses tested were (wet basis): 2.8, 4.2, 5.6, and 11.2 t ha-1, which were compared to treatments with no manure (control), but with or without urea application. These last treatments were complemented with mineral application of P, K, Ca, and S in amount equivalent applied by 5.6 t ha-1 of manure. The experiment was carried out in Passo Fundo, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, on a Red Latosol (Typic Haplorthox). A randomized block design was used with four replicates. Poultry manure supplied the amount of N required by the plants, mainly when the application rate was 2.8 t ha-1. Plants fertilized with this rate and with urea show the highest N accumulation in anthesis. The application increased N mobilization to the grains, increased number of spikes per area and grains per spike, and, consequently, GY. Poultry manure applied at 2.8 t ha-1 was enough to supply N and to increase GY similar to observed by applying N as urea.
Triticum aestivum; fertilization; organic waste
