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Comparative Assessment of Cow Manure, Vermicompost and Npk Fertilizers and on the Growth and Production of Zinnia (zinnia Elegans) Flower

Shahin Sultana
Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Md. Abul Kashem*
Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh Department of Soil Science, Chittagong University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Abul Kalam Mohammad Moniruzzaman Mollah
Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the comparative effect of cow manure vermicompost and NPK fertilizers on the growth and flower production of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans). An air dried sandy loam soil was mixed with four rates of NPK fertilizer equivalent to 0 (control), 0.5 dose (N-P-K = 69-16-35 kg ha⁻¹), 1 dose (recommended) (N-P-K = 137-32-70 kg ha⁻¹), 2 doses (N-P-K = 274-64-140 kg?ha^–1) and 4 doses (N-P-K = 548-128-280 kg ha⁻¹) and three rates of vermicompost equivalent to 5%, 10%, 20% by oven dry weight. Two plants were grown in each pot. After blooming of flowers, the plants were harvested at 50 days of growth and leaves and stems were separated. The growth parameters (shoot height, root length, leaf number, total number of flower, flower diameter, fresh and dry weight of flower) of Zinnia plant increased by the application of vermicompost and the effect of NPK fertilizer was not found effective. The growth performance was similar between 10% and 20% and hence 10% vermicompost should be taken into consideration when ornamental plants are grown in potting media.

Keywords: Organic Fertilizer, Soil, Rates of Fertilizer, Flower

Location: Asian University for women in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of cow manure, vermicompost and NPK Fertilizer on the growth and production of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) flower.

Methodology:

A pot experiment was carried out in the roof top of a building of Asian University for women in Chittagong, Bangladesh. A sandy loam surface soil (0 - 15 cm) was used. Soil sample was air dried and passed through a 4- mm sieve for using the soil in the pots for plant growth experiment. A sub sample was air dried and passed through a 2-mm sieve and stored for laboratory analysis, Soil pH of 5.1 was measured at 1:2.5 soil to water ratio, soil organic carbon of 0.93% was measured by Walkley and Black and CEC of 4.01 cmol kg−1 was measured with 1 M NH4OAc extraction. The percentages of sand (73%), silt (13%) and clay (14%) were measured by hydrometer method. The vermicompost used in this research was resulted from processing on the cow manure with the help of Eisenia fetida worms. The pH of vermicompost was of 7.17 and organic carbon was of 17.8% measured by ignition method. Other chemical properties (N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) in the vermicompost were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and P by Flame Photometry after digestion with H2O2-H2SO4 acids mixture. Four rates of NPK fertilizers equivalent to 0 (control) 0.5 dose (N-P-K = 69-16-35 kg ha−1), 1 dose (recommended) (N-P-K = 137-32-70 kg ha−1), 2 doses (N-P-K = 274-64-140 kg ha−1) and 4 doses (N-P-K = 548-128-280 kg ha−1) and three rates of vermicompost equivalent to 5%, 10%, and 20% by oven dry weight were applied separately in each pot containing five (5) kg soil. The 1 dose (N-P-K = 137-32-70 kg ha−1) fertilizer rate is consider as normal dose for most crops grown in this soil. The pots were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The PK fertilizers were applied in the form of tripple super phosphate (TSP) and murate of potash (MP) during soil preparation prior to transplanting and N was applied as urea after 15 days of transplanting the Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) plant. Two seedlings Zinnia of 20 days old were grown in each pot and water was maintained at field capacity. The plants were harvested at 50 days of growth after transplanting and flowers were collected during this growth period. At harvest, growth parameters (shoot height, root length, total leaf number, leaf length, total number of flower, flower diameter, fresh and dry weight of flowers) were recorded. To get dry weight of flowers, the fresh flowers were kept in oven at 60?C for 72 hours. Statistical Analysis Microsoft Excel and Minitab program were used for analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Source of Information: Open Journal of Soil Science, 2015, 5, 193-198

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

To avoid the negative impacts on soil, plant growth and surrounding environment, the uses of vermicompost needs to be increased as they are cheap, production sources are available, organic, reduce the pool of waste from our environment and keep our environment clean and healthy. Vermicompost plays an important role for improving soil physical and chemical properties and hence promote plant growth. For growing ornamental plants, the use of vermicompost should be given priority instead of inorganic fertilizer and the rate of vermicompost 10% should be taken into consideration.

Knowledge Management: Journal