Tomatoes are a favorite and delectable veggie, which is why many gardeners invest lots of time to ensure their plants have the optimum conditions for growth. One way to elevate your harvest is to add fertilizers to the soil, one of the most prevalent being chicken manure specifically designed for tomato growers.
Yes, Chicken Manure Good For Tomato Plants. In general, Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen, making it an ideal fertilizer for tomato plants because they require copious amounts of nutrients to produce healthy and abundant fruit. This organic manure is a great way to add organic matter to your soil too.
Aside from the high levels of nitrogen, Chicken manure also contains calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and other essential micronutrients needed for plant growth. Additionally, it is also high in phosphorus which helps promote root growth, resulting in a stronger and healthier plant with more fruits.
What Makes Chicken Manure an Ideal Fertilizer for Tomato Plants?
As chicken manure has all the essential nutrients plants need to grow and flourish, it’s an excellent choice for tomatoes. One of the main advantages is that it adds organic matter to the soil, helping to keep it aerated. This is important as the roots need oxygen so they can absorb more nutrients and water.
The nutrient constituents of a tomato plant required at fruiting stages are-
Nutrient | Nutrient Percentage Level |
Nitrogen (N) | 3.5-4% |
Phosphorus (P) | 0.8-1% |
Calcium (Ca) | 2.5-3% |
Potassium (K) | 3-5% |
Magnesium | 0.5-0.9% |
Sulfur | 0.3-1.2% |
On the other hand, chicken manure can leach the nutrients from the soil and therefore it should be used in a controlled manner. The percentage amount of chicken manure possessed is:
- Nitrogen: 0.5% to 0.9%
- Phosphorus: 0.4% to 0.5%
- Potassium: 1.2% to 1.7%.
One chicken produces approximately 8 to 11 pounds of manure in a month, so from the chicken manure, a tomato plant gets the optimum level of nutrition as well.
So overall if you can use properly managed composted chicken manure for your tomatoes, then you can be sure of reaping an abundant harvest.

Chicken Manure: Know About Types and Quality
Chicken manure can be classified in two ways – fresh/raw or composted. Fresh chicken manure is made up of the excreta produced by chickens, while composted manure has been processed and treated to reduce the number of pathogens it contains.
Composted chicken manure smells better and has fewer weed seeds, but it can be more expensive than fresh manure.
When buying chicken manure for your tomato plants, it’s important to inspect the quality. Look for chicken manure with a dark color and no bad odors. If the product is lumpy or contains large chunks of debris, it hasn’t been processed properly and should be avoided.
Research indicates that processed chicken manure has a reduced moisture content of 15 to 16%, while raw or fresh chicken dung comprises much higher levels of humidity, with a staggering 75% moisture content.
Therefore, always prefer processed chicken manure as it can be easily mixed with another type of fertilizer and soil. And it will easily cope with the soil microbe in the tilled soil.
Are All Tomato Plants Advantaged By Chicken Manure?
As a Horticulturist thought, all tomato plants’ biological mechanism is pretty similar in response to chicken manure. So, it can be securely stated that fertilizing tomatoes with chicken manure, will keep them healthy and produce better yields.
In addition, composted chicken manure has a pH between 6.5 to 7. The perfect acidity level of tomato plants is 6.0 to 7.0 so applying this fertilizer would be ideal for tomatoes.
But it would be good if you don’t use the chicken manure at the seedling stages because at that moment the seedlings are very sensitive and can be easily damaged.
Besides, tomato growers should be concerned about using chicken manure in pots, grow bags, or container-grown tomatoes, because the concentration of the nutrients is high in this manure and it can harm those tomato plants.
How Much Chicken Manure For Tomato Plants?
The Data of researchgate shows the result of their study that the best amount of chicken manure for tomato plants is 1 kg/m2/Annually. But it’s always better to start with smaller amounts and increase if needed.
The research revealed that if the land area was ample, then adjustments can be made without affecting plant growth. However, for small gardens or plants grown in greenhouses, plots, and containers, using only half of the suggested 1 kg/m2/Annual amount of chicken manure is decent enough.
But the manure should be well-composted form other ways, the excess nitrogen present in the compost will cause more harm than good.

When is the Ideal Time to Fertilize Tomato Plants with Chicken Manure?
It is always suggested to apply chicken manure for tomato plants at the start of the planting season. Tomato plants mostly require nitrogen, and frequent fertilizing with chicken manure in the entire growing season will provide that nutrient.
If you plan to side-dress your tomato plants, split one-fourth of the total amount into four equal parts and spread it around the plants every three weeks just like urea is done for other plants.
However, if you have already planted chicken manure for your tomatoes, then you can be sure of reaping an abundant harvest.
All in all, the best practice is to start with small amounts and adjust accordingly. This way, you will ensure that your tomato plants get enough nutrients without damaging them with the excess application of fertilizers.
Methods: How To Use Chicken Manures?
Here I will discuss some unique methods and tips for using chicken manure for tomatoes.
Direct Application:
You can directly apply the well-composted chicken manure on the soil around your tomato plants. Make sure to spread it evenly and lightly, so that it doesn’t disturb the root system. You can maintain the weekly interval or give the nutrient to the soil before planting.
Aged Compost ( Long Seasoned ):
You can create your compost using chicken manure. But use it in the next season, within these days the manure will have a high potential for use on the tomato bed and give you the best result.
Furthermore, the microbes and soil bacteria present in the manure will also help to make your plants stronger.
Foliar Spray:
I know it’s interesting though!
But it is a very useful technique for tomato plants. You can make a spray using composted chicken manure and apply it to the foliage of your plants. This method is beneficial if you want to give nutrients directly into the leaves and stems of your tomatoes.
However, this technique should only be used as an ultimate measure or preferably after you have consulted a veteran farming specialist.
Personally, I tried these techniques but found that the outcomes were not satisfactory. Therefore, from my point of view, I would advise against utilizing them.
Chicken Manure Compost Tea
Compost tea is a combination of aged chicken manure and other beneficial bacteria that can be used to nourish the soil. You can make this compost tea at home and add it to your tomato plants’ soil for an extra boost of nutrition.
Once you have collected the manure, put it in a bucket with water and let it sit for 2-3 weeks or so. This will give bacteria and microbes time to form in the mixture, which can then be used as a fertilizer tea for your tomato plants.
its fermented state, the tea can be poured into the soil around your plants and will give them the vital nutrients they need for growth.
Does Chicken Manure Pellet Make a Difference?
Yes, chicken manure pellets do make a difference in the growth of tomato plants. These pellets are made from chicken manure that has been dehydrated and then compressed into small pellets.
These pellets provide an easy-to-use form of fertilizer, as they can be spread around your plants much more evenly than raw chicken manure.
The pellets also have the advantage of having a slower release rate, meaning that the nutrients are released gradually over a longer period, providing your plants with a consistent supply of nutrition.
In addition to this, chicken manure pellets contain trace elements and minerals that can be beneficial to your tomato plants. So if you want to ensure that your tomato plants get the best start possible, chicken manure pellets are a great option.
Its occurrence is as granular fertilizer which is easy to apply and also provides long-term nutrition. If you craft your own, it can be fashioned into a variety of sizes and granular forms ranging from 4 to 12 mm in diameter.

Can You Process Chicken Manure For Tomato Plants?
If you have a chicken farm and want to process the chicken manure for your tomato plants, then first you need to make sure that the chickens are healthy and eating high-quality feed. Unhealthy or sickly birds can produce unhealthy waste which is not suitable for use in your garden.
Once you have verified that they are healthy, reduce their moisture level by drying the manure before you process it.
You can use a variety of methods to do this, including spreading the manure out in a thin layer and allowing it to the sun or using an industrial-grade fan to blow the moisture away.
After the chicken manure has been dried you can add composting agents like rotted leaves or wood chips to help break down any remaining nutrients.
Finally, you can add some lime or wood ash to balance the pH levels of the manure before adding it to your soil. It is best to do this a month before planting tomatoes so that all nutrients are absorbed by the soil.
- Note: If you’re not sure about the process, it is better to purchase chicken manure from a reliable vendor.
Efficiently using chicken manure as fertilizer for tomato plants can bring significant advantages not only in terms of crop yield but also financially.
Is There Any Hard Point For Using Chicken Manure?
Yes, of course.
All types of raw animal manure can potentially contain harmful bacteria and parasites which can be a risk to human health. Therefore, it is essential to prepare the chicken manure properly before using it in the garden.
Also, too much mineral content in the soil will drastically reduce its quality. Thus, regular testing of the soil should be done to make sure that the overall mineral content is in balance.
Furthermore, chicken manure contains a lot of nutrients that can affect the taste and texture of your tomatoes.
Conclusion:
From the above discussion, it’s clear that chicken manure is one of the best options for fertilizing tomato plants. It provides the necessary nutrients that can help to maximize the growth and yield of your crop. However, it is important to remember that proper processing, storage, and application are essential for maximum benefit. Additionally, regular testing of soil should also be done to ensure that the mineral content remains balanced.
Overall, with adequate preparation and proper application, chicken manure can be an excellent choice for fertilizing tomato plants.

I am a graduate of Bangladesh Agricultural University, where I delved into various agricultural disciplines, equipping me with a profound understanding of agriculture. Beyond academics, I have hands-on experience in gardening and crop cultivation. My passion is to embrace sustainable farming and horticulture. With a BSc in Agriculture, I am dedicated to promoting environmentally conscious and efficient agrarian practices.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agriculture (Hons.)
Master of Science. (Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security ) (MS)
Bangladesh Agricultural University