A field experiment was carried out in a newly cultivated soil at Falouga, El-
Tahrir province, Behira governorate during the summer season (Spring plantation)
of 2003 to investigate the effect of different organic manures (i.e. compost, F Y M
or town refuse) each at rate of 20 ton/fed combined with the half recommended dose
of mineral fertilizer (NPK) or 2 tons of chicken manure compared with the addition
of the recommended dose of N P K at rate of 900, 400 and 200 Kg/fed ammonium
sulphate, calcium superphosphate and potassium sulphate respectively. Application
of organic manures, i.e. compost, FYM or town refuse each at the rate of 20
tons/fed combined with half amount of mineral fertilizer or 2 tons of chicken
manure, increased total microbial count in soil at 60 days after planting compared to
both uncultivated soil and chemical fertilized treatments. In this regard, the highest
bacterial count was noticed in case of using FYM + chicken manure, while the
highest count for total fungi and actinomycetes were recorded in the treatment of 20
tons compost + half amount of chemical fertilizer (NPK). In addition, using 20 ton
compost + 2 tons of chicken manures/fed, reflected the highest dry matter yield,
total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in plant foliage as well as total
tuber yield of potatoes compared with other tested treatments.