Effects of Chicken Litter Fortified with Chicken Egg Shells on Growth and Yield of Stinging Nettle (Urticadioica)

ABSTRACT

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) often known as common nettle is an herbaceous perennial 

flowering plant on the family of urticiae. The plant originated from colder region Europe and 

Asia. In Kenya the plant is grown in many part including Nero, Laikipia, Embu, Meru, Narok 

and in the slope of Mt Kenya. The plant is grown for its leaves which are used as vegetables, 

roots and stem which is a good source of fibre. The plant is rich in calcium, potassium, vitamin 

A and C. however despite all these benefits the production of stinging nettle as a vegetable and a 

cash crop is highly underestimated and the plant is frequently neglected and in many part the 

plant is considered a weed. This leads to low production of the plant and this has brought a 

negative impact on the food security in Kenya.

The objective of this study is to come up with an organic fertilizer made from chicken litter 

fortified with chicken egg shell to ensure increase of yield and growth of stinging nettle. The 

study also aims at coming up with an organic fertilizer that will ensure healthy production of 

stinging nettle and also to maintain its nutrients benefits

The research will be carried out in Meru university demonstration farm and 4 plots will be 

prepared each measuring 2m by 3m. The experiment will be carried out in a factorial 

arrangements using randomized completed block design (RCBD) and laid out in split plot on the 

field. There will be 4 treatments which will include chicken litter fortified with chicken eggshell,

chicken litter, chicken egg shell and a control experiment.

Data collection will be based on the growth and yield parameters. Growth parameters will 

include; cross section area and number of leaves as well as the stem girth. The yield parameters 

will include; dry weight, fresh weight and number of leaves per branch. Data collected will be 

analyzed by variance of analysis (ANOVA). From this experiment we expect that the growth and

yield of stinging nettle grown under the application of chicken litter fortified with chicken 

eggshell as compared to stinging nettle grown under the other treatments.

Key words: chicken litter, urticadioica, chicken egg shells, ANOVA, RCBD, growth parameters, 

yield parameters