Effect on fruit quality and economic evaluation of raising broilers in loquat orchard

Using broilers raised indoor as control to compare with those in a loquat orchard that was intercropped with Chamaecrista routundifolia,a trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of such practice.The result showed that:(1) The broiler's average daily weight gain was 55.5 g for the orchard-raised group and 58.5 g for the control.After 80 days,the average broiler weight was 2.965 kg for the treatment group,and 3.125 kg for the control.However,the orchard-raised broilers were of more desirable quality demanding a higher market price than those from the control group.The net income increased by 95.04%,as a result.(2) By intercropping C.routundifolia while raising broilers for two consecutive years,the orchard had a total N of 2.217 gkg-1 soil.The practice also reduced pest population,improved weed-control saving on weeding labor,and enhanced soil fertility for the orchard.And,(3) The single fruit weight and soluble solid content of the loquat fruits harvested from the trees in the treatment orchard increased by 13.68% and 12.25%,respectively,in comparison to those from a conventional orchard.