The researchers wanted to see how chicken manure and compost made from it affect the humus balance in degraded soil. They studied the soil in the field and in the lab, and calculated the humus balance. They found that using compost based on chicken manure increased humus content by 8% during the experiment and 6% after. Over 3 years, they achieved a positive humus balance in the soil. The soil without any fertilizer had the lowest humus balance, while the soil treated with chicken manure and compost had a positive balance. Compost had a greater impact on humus balance than chicken manure alone, likely due to more organic matter in the compost.