With the rise of organic farming and natural farming, free-range chickens have become the choice of many farmers and small-scale farms. However, farmers are gradually discovering a common phenomenon - in the free-range breeding sites of native chickens, it is difficult for grass to grow on the ground. So, what is the reason for this lack of vegetation?
First of all, as scattered free-range poultry, local chickens have the habit of foraging freely. Not only do they peck at herbaceous plants, insects, and other small creatures on the ground during their activities, but they also use their claws to dig the ground in search of food. This strong foraging behavior of the native chicken greatly disrupts the growth of ground plants, and the root system is damaged, resulting in difficulty in survival and regeneration.
Secondly, the manure of native chickens has a high nitrogen content, and when the manure is excessively concentrated in a certain area, it will produce nitrogen burning damage, making it difficult for plants to grow. In addition, the abundance of nitrogen and other nutrients in chicken manure will also change the chemical composition of the soil to a certain extent, which may cause soil salinization and further inhibit the growth of vegetation.
In addition, the frequent movement of the native chicken on the ground will cause the compaction of the ground soil, and this physical effect will reduce the permeability and aeration of the soil, which will affect the absorption of water and gas by the roots of the plant, resulting in poor plant growth.