Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were carried out to study the
mineralization rate of nitrogen trom feather meal and its effect on growth and chemicat
composition of spinach plant on sandy and clay ~oil. The release of inorganic N from
feather meal incubated with clayey and sandy soil was monitored as a function of
time. During the first week of incubation considerable amount of NH4-N was
recorded, however small amount of nitrale was noliced. The amount of NH4-N
released from feather meal was higher with time up 10 14 days of incubation in both
sandy and clay soils With respecllo the effect of feather meal on growth and plant
composition of spinach ptant. II was revealed that feather meal applied at the rates of
0.2 % and 0.4 % had a predominanl effect on dry mailer production of the spinach
plant rather than the other treatments for both !!andy and clay soils. Application of
feather meal gradually increased the totat nitrogen content in the plant tissues. Feather meal at the rate of 0.2 % gave the highest value of N recovery for
both types ot soil as compared with other treatments. Also, resull revealed Ihat total
inorganic N in spinach plant increased in control as compared with feather meal
treatments in both SOils. PotassIum and phosphorus content and uptake increased
with application of feather meal. Feather meal increased residuallotal Nand NH₄-N
con lent in soil while decreased NO:!-N accumulation for both two soils.