Physical and Chemical Features of Two Most Preferred Snails' (Helix aspersa and Achatina fulica) Manure as an Alternative Fertilizer in Agriculture

Reasons that the organic farming is now done in a controlled way, the organic harvest to be used is easily accessible and that the low costs, has increased the scientific work on improving the quality of the organic harvest and developing alternative organic fertilizers. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of the manure of Helix aspera and Achatina fulica snails produced in Mehmet Akif Ersoy University snail farm were investigated and it was found that pH between 6.1-6.6, Helix aspersa snail manure humidity %46.20±1.10 and Achatina fulica snail manure humidity %45.26±1.19. Total nitrogen amount of Helix aspersa and Achatina fulica were determined %12.05±0.34, %9.39±0.40 respectively (Dumatherm, Gerhardt method). Snail manure element contents (P, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Na) were determined with using ICP-OES device. The element contents of Helix aspersa manure were found P 6.65±0.01 mg/kg, Mg 3.94±0.01 mg/kg, K 9.16±0.03 mg/kg, Ca 13.05±0.25 mg/kg, Zn 39.28±1.28, Mn 36.95±0.25 mg/kg, Fe 98.04±0.51 mg/kg, Cu 13.41±0.24 mg/kg, Na 169.18±3.21 mg/kg, respectively and Achatina fulica manure element contents were found P 7.42±0.01 mg/kg, Mg 4.24±0.01 mg/kg, K 7.19±0.03 mg/kg, Ca 18.53±0.35 mg/kg, Zn 77.36±1.41 mg/kg, Mn 109.73±0.25 mg/kg, Fe 34.84±0.20 mg/kg, Cu 64.33±0.23 mg/kg, Na 27.71±1.49 mg/kg respectively. The absence of too much study on snail-manure contributes to the literature of organic fertilizers and covering potential of alternative organic fertilizers increases the importance of this study