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Way of Compost Application for Organic Farming

M.A.I. Khan
Plant Pathology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M.H.R. Hira
Plant Pathology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

S. Rahaman
Agriculture, Food and Life (AFL), SGS Bangladesh Limited, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Z.R. Moni
Manpower and training unit, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

M.A.M. Hussen
Manpower and training unit, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

T. Someya
Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan

K. Ueno
Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Application of composts is an alternative of synthetic agrochemicals for eco-friendly farming. Work is limited on the effective and economic way of compost application in Bangladesh. A study was done at the Field Science Center, Saga University, Japan with green tea waste – rice bran compost (GRC) application. Radish (Raphanus sativus L.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. pervidis) were used as test plants. GRC was applied at 1.0 kg m^-2 by mulching on soil after seeding. It enhanced seed germination, seedling growth and improved crop yield of spinach and radish grown in a controlled condition. Among the two application methods, post-sowing mulching (PSM) reduced water loss from upper soil surface, thus enhanced seed germination and better growth compared to pre-sowing incorporation (PSI) system. This study also suggests that improper compost incorporation to soil may impair seed germination, seedling growth and likely crop yield.

Keywords: Compost application, Organic farming system, Vegetables production.

Location: At the Field Science Center, Saga University, Japan

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Manures

Objectives:

This study was designed to determine the effective way of compost application in an organic farming system for vegetables production.

Methodology:

The experiments were conducted consecutively for two seasons (autumn and spring) under greenhouse and laboratory conditions at the Field Science Center, Saga University, Japan (33º 18′ 20″ N and 130º 20′ 12″ E). Compost application Pre-sowing incorporation (PSI) and post-sowing mulching (PSM) of compost at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kg m^-2 were used and compared with control (0 kg m^-2). In PSI, compost was incorporated with the soil at 6 cm depth before seeding and for PSM, compost was applied on the upper soil surface after sowing of seeds. Effect of compost water extract on seed germination The effects of compost water extracts on seed germination were evaluated through seed germination test. A crude aqueous extract was prepared by stirring 100 g of oven dried (60ºC for 24 hr with forced air circulation) ground sample with 1000 ml of distilled water for 12 hrs and kept overnight. Then the suspension was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 30 min and the supernatant was used for bioassay. The concentrated water soluble fractions of compost was diluted with distilled water from 10-10 to 10-1. Twenty-five seeds of komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. pervidis) were used germination test in which seeds were imbibed in 5 ml of either solution of compost water soluble fraction or distilled water (control) in a covered 9 cm petridish on a double sheet of sterile filter paper (Advantec No. 2) and incubated at 25ºC for 72 hrs under completely dark conditions. Electrical conductivity (EC) of the respective concentrations of compost extract was measured and calculated the correlation coefficient between seed germination percentages after 12 hours incubation period and EC of the respective concentrations. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with the treatment replicated five times. Evaluation of plant growth and quality Ninety-six seeds of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) var. Jiromaru (Takii seeds, Japan) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) var. Hatsuka daikon, JA, Japan were sown in a 45 L pot (84.5 cm x 28.0 cm) at early October for autumn and early March for spring. The treatments were consisted of control (only soil), 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kg m^-2 of compost as PSI or PSM. Pots were watered to approximately field capacity. After seed germination, 32 plants pot^-1 were kept maintaining 15 cm line to line and 5 cm plant to plant distances. Plant height, leaf area and dry weight and root length, root diameter and root dry weight were measured at 30 days after seeding. Additionally, nitrate and iron concentrations in fresh spinach leaves were also determined spectroscopically (Tagliavini et al. 2000) using the Merck RQflex (E. Merck D 64271 Darmstadt, Germany) with specific tests (nitrate test n. 1.16971 and iron test n. 1.16982). Statistical analyses Statistical analyses were performed using SAS package version 6.12 (SAS Institute, 1996). Differences among the treatments were determined by LSD.

Source of Information: SAARC J. Agric., 17(1): 211-217 (2019)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v17i1.42774

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study demonstrated the effective way of compost application at 1.0 kg m^-2 by mulching on soil after sowing of seeds that enhanced seed germination and seedling growth, improved crop productivity and quality of spinach and radish under controlled conditions

Knowledge Management: Journal