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Comparison Between Vermicompost and Conventional Aerobic Compost Produced from Municipal Organic Solid Waste Used in Amaranthus Viridis Production

M. S. Islam*
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

M. Hasan
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

M. M. Rahman
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

M. N. Uddin
Horticultural Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M. H. Kabir
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to determine the performance of vermicompost and conventional aerobic compost produced from municipal organic solid waste used in Amaranthus viridis production during the period from October 2014 to June 2015 at the Horticulture Research Centre of the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh. In this study, three compost varieties (vermicompost, conventional aerobic compost, combination of vermicompost and conventional compost) and three levels of compost treatments (0, 100 and 150 g/m²) with three replications were applied. The plots were arranged in randomized complete block design. Vermicompost was prepared by using Eisenia fetida. Different composts (vermicompost and conventional aerobic compost) and plant sample were taken first for chemical and physical analysis to find out the effect of these composts on the growth of amaranth. The result of the study showed that different compost varieties significantly affected the chlorophyll content, dry matter content, height per plant, numbers of leaves, weight per plant, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, total phosphorus positively in favour of vermicompost application and sulphur content, sodium, moisture content in conventional aerobic compost application. Vermicompost application showed higher result for growth and yield indices and nutrient content compared with conventional aerobic compost.

Keywords: Conventional aerobic compost, Nutrient, Solid waste, Vermicompost, Yield

Location: Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-10-2014

End Date: 00-06-2015

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Amaranth, Vermicompost and vermiculture, Manures

Objectives:

The study was conducted to determine the performance of vermicompost and conventional aerobic compost in the growth, yield and nutrient content of Amaranthus viridis known as red amaranth.

Methodology:

Study area The study was carried out at the research field of Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur for a period of 10 months from October 2014 to June 2015 is located on 23.98453ºN latitudes and 90.40431ºE longitudes, 100m above mean sea level which is geographically a part of the pleistocene terrace, popularly known as Madhupur tract. The area characterized by high temperature, high humidity and heavy rainfall. Average normal rainfall is 179mm, average humidity is 80% and average maximum temperature is 30.57ºC and average minimum temperature is 21.93ºC. Experimental procedure In the present investigation vermicompost (VC) and conventional aerobic compost (CC) were prepared from municipal organic wastes where vermicompost used red worms (Eisenia fatida). Cow dung and bedding materials such as coconut fibre, straw, shredded papers were used for vermicompost preparation. Rice husk, grass cutting and kitchen wastes were used for conventional aerobic compost preparation. The Amaranthus viridis (BARI-2) was taken as experimental plant. A land of 1.8m² (16.9m×5.6m) was used for experimental field where cow dung was added and then ploughed for three times and the soil was leveled properly. At the same time, the weeds, stubble and crop residues were removed from the plot. The experimental plot was divided into 27 plots with three replications of nine treatments, the distance between two adjacent plots was 30cm and one replication to another replication was 50cm which was used as water draining. The size of each unit plot was 1.5m×1.2m. The different doses of vermicompost, conventional aerobic compost and combination of both composts (VC+CC) were applied in the treatments as the sources of organic fertilizer. Well prepared vermicompost and conventional aerobic compost manure were incorporated in the plots as per treatment (T1=0 gm^-2, T2=100 gm^-2, T3=150 gm^-2) at 5 days before showing seeds and then they were mixed thoroughly with the soil. Seeds of amaranth (Amaranthus viridis) were collected from Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur. The seeds were sown in four rows and ten columns with distance between two rows and two columns were 30cm and 15cm respectively. Seeds were started to germinate 3rd day of sowing. On the 5th days maximum seeds were germinated. After the establishment of seedlings, careful and routine observation was made daily. Various intercultural operations viz. irrigation and drainage, gap filling, weeding, top dressing were accomplished for better growth and development of red amaranth seedlings. General observation was made every day to notice the growth of the amaranth. To evaluate plant nutrient, growth and yield of plant, crop was harvested 48 days after germination. Sample collection Vermicompost and conventional aerobic compost samples were collected from the upper layer of matured vermicompost and conventional aerobic compost. For chemical analysis of the soil from the experimental field, soil sample were taken from each plot at 0-15cm depth by an auger. For analysis of crop plants, a few representative plants were picked randomly from each plot. Data collection Two types of composts and soil of the study plot were taken and analyzed. The collected samples were then air-dried, and ground to pass through a 2mm sieve and stored in a clean plastic container for chemical analysis. The number of leaves per plant was count from representative plant of each plot. Data were recorded as the average of three plants selected at random from the inner rows of each plot starting from 30 to 60 days after germination (DAG) at 15 days interval. Three plants were randomly selected from each plot of the experiment. Height was measured in centimeter and weight was measured in gram and the data was averaged for each plot. Chlorophyll content or soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) value was measured by SPAD- 502 meter. Healthy, fresh and mature leaves were selected for measuring SPAD value. Samples were taken two times and then average value was calculated. Immediately after harvest, sample plants were cut into small pieces and were weighed by electric balance. The samples were then placed in an oven maintained at 100⁰C for 72 hours. Then final weights were taken by electric balance. Edible plant part of amaranth was collected as plant sample for chemical analysis such as nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, total phosphorus and sulphur content for determination of the nutrient difference between vermicompost applied crop and conventional aerobic compost applied crop. Plant sample collection and analysis took two months (April to June) of 2015. Sliced thin pieces of plants were put into an envelope and placed into oven and dried at 100°C for 72 hours. The sample was then transferred into desiccators and allowed to cool down to room temperature and finally weighted. The dry matter was calculated by using following formula: % Dry matter content = 100- Moisture content. Chemical analysis The seven types of nutrient content were analyzed from soil, vermicompost, conventional aerobic compost and plant sample for evaluating effectiveness of vermicompost compared with conventional aerobic compost. Soil, compost and plant nutrients were analyzed in different kinds of methods.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 9(2): 43-49, 2016 ISSN 1999-7361

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Achievement/Findings:

The results indicated that the application of vermicompost increased plant growth and yield compared with conventional compost or combination of these two composts and integrated effect of all the nutrients present in vermicompost also results in the increased growth of Amaranthus viridis. So it should be recommended for farmers to use vermicompost in crop production which is easily available, nutrient rich, economical and it improves soil physical properties. More research should be carried out to investigate the growth, yield and nutrient content of other crops in different season by the application of different compost varieties.

Knowledge Management: Journal