The Effects Of Combined Application Of Organic Manure And Chemical Fertilizers On Yield And Quality Of Cichorium Intybus

China is rich in water and heat resources as well as grassland. In recent years, intensive cattle husbandry has been developed rapidly, while the insufficient of high quality forage has greatly limited the development. Meanwhile, the large amount of manure produced from intensive cattle husbandry polluted severely soil, water and air around the intensive cattle farm without effective treatment and reasonable utilization, which would lead to the inaccessibility of sustainable development of animal husbandry. Chicory (Cichorium intybus), a perennial herb belongs to composite family with drought tolerance, pest resistance, cold endurance and environmental adaptation, was introduced in 20^th century from Europe. It is a productive forage grass with high quality for the soft and juicy stems and leaves, abundant nutrients, high yield, appropriate palatability and strong regeneration abilities. The previous research showed the impaction of ecological conditions, such as climate and soil, on growth and quality of chicory. Growth, nutrition and fertilization of chicory grown in general are not clear, and no reports were found yet, in particular, on recycling utilization of cattle manure on chicory in Southwestern China. The present pot experiment, therefore, was carried out with simulative culture and chemical analysis to study the effects of combined application of cattle manure and chemical fertilizer on yield and quality of chicory, soil enzymes activities and fertility. The main objective was to explore the ways to get high quality and yield of chicory and to realize Ecological recycle model of forage herb cultivation, cow breeding, manure biogas fermentation and manure fertilization. Following are the main results:1. Fertilization improved the growth and development of chicory and increased plant height and leaf width. They change in the sequence: M₃F₇＞M₅F₅＞M₇F₃＞F＞CK. The combination fertilization of manure mixed with chemical fertilizer varied in the growth of chicory in two purple soils. Better growth of chicory in sandy purple soil was observed than in clay one if same amount of manure mixed chemical fertilizer was fertilized.2. Fertilization increased the yield of chicory. The yields in fertilization treatments varied in the order of M₃F₇＞M₅F₅＞M₇F₃＞F＞CK. Mixture fertilization with the proportion of manure to chemical fertilizer (3:7) increased the yield by 2.7 times in clay purple soil and 8.8 times in sandy one of blank treatment, which was 3.5 times in clay purple soil and 2.1 times sandy one of chemical fertilizer treatment. The combination fertilization of manure mixed with chemical fertilizer varied in the yield of chicory grown in two purple soils. Higher yield of chicory in sandy purple soil was observed than in clay one if same amount of manure mixed chemical fertilizer was fertilized.3. Fertilization improved the quality of chicory. The increment of total nitrogen and crude protein and decrease in crude fiber varied in the order of F≈M₃F₇＞M₅F₅＞M₇F₃＞CK. Mixture fertilization with the proportion of manure to chemical fertilizer (3:7) increased the crud protein by 153% in clay purple soil and 125% in sandy one of blank treatment. The content of total phosphorus changed in the sequence: M₃F₇＞M₅F₅＞F＞M₇F₃＞CK. The combination fertilization of manure mixed with chemical fertilizer was different in the qualities of chicory grown in two purple soils. Better qualities of chicory in sandy purple soil was observed than in clay one if same amount of manure mixed chemical fertilizer was fertilized.4. Fertilization significantly increased the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matters. In the two kinds of purple soil, Fertilization increased the content of organic matters, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen and available phosphorus by 50.1%-83.8%, 35.4%-87.5%,36.4%-56.2%, 147%-188% and 7times-50times respectively. The treatment of M₇F₃ had the best increased effects on content of organic matters and total nitrogen; the treatment of M₃F₇had the best increased effects on content of total and available phosphorus; the treatment of F had the best increased effect on content of available nitrogen.5. In the treatments of combined application of simulation culture experiment, the content of NO₃-N, NH₄⁺ -N and active organic matters changed dynamically which showed a shape of fallen S, had two or more peaks. Compared with the treatment of F, their peaks were relatively flat and occurred relatively late, while the treatment of F had only one but the highest peak. The activity of urease came to top around 10d in all treatments and in the order of M₁F₁＞M₂＞M₂F₂＞M₁＞F₁＞F₂＞CK, which increased by 62.7%, 49.6%, 44.4%, 30.9%, 31.7% and 3.22% respectively compared with CK in clayey purple soil. The content of active organic matter came to top around 5d and in the order of M₂＞M₂F₂＞M₁＞F₁＞M₁F₁＞F₂＞F₁＞CK, which increased by 97.9%, 60.4%, 52.4%, 50.4%, 28.7% and 23.1% compared with CK in clayey soil. Moreover, in different texture of soil, effects of fertilization on nutrients and enzyme activity of soil were different, which showed a greater influence on clayey purple soil than sandy purple soil.