Temporal variation of soil nutrients under the influence of different organic amendments

Maintenance of tropical soil quality for crop production without damaging the environment is a challenge and thus the development of an efficient nutrient-management technique is important. Soil amendment by organic manures has been widely accepted as an efficient nutrient-management technique in tropical agriculture. In this study, a long-term laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of organic manures of different sources (e.g. cattle manure, poultry manure, vermicompost and oil cakes) on changes in pH, electrical conductivity, organic C and nutrient content (mineral N, available phosphorous and potassium) in tropical alluvial soil. Applications of organic amendments in this study indicated considerable changes in the basic soil physico-chemical properties and different nutrient levels. Soil pH declined slightly, whereas organic C and all the other nutrients increased distinctly, due to the application of organic manures. Thus, the magnitude of changes in the soil properties was dependent on the nature of the organic manure.     

蚓粪对厌氧发酵主要性能参数的影响

在厌氧发酵瓶中分别加入为废水质量10％、5％、1％的蚓粪,使其与不加蚓粪的发酵瓶在同等条件下从产气量、比产甲烷活性、pH、化学需氧量(COD)消化速度等方面进行了2个周期的对比研究.结果表明,在第一周期,随蚓粪添加量的增加,产气量和比产甲烷活性提高,但由于蚓粪的加入,厌氧发酵瓶内废水的COD浓度也增大,加大了前期厌氧反应器运行负荷,延长了其水力滞留期(HRT);在第二周期,添加蚓粪组的产气量、比产甲烷活性、COD消化速度都明显优于对照组.蚓粪对厌氧发酵污泥比产甲烷活性有明显的促进作用,可以提高沼气产率与COD消化速度,使pH更趋稳定,适宜的蚓粪添加量为1％～5％.     

Response of strawberry to organic versus inorganic fertilizers

The aim of this research was designed in order to optimize integrated plant nutrient supply (IPNS) through balanced fertilization of organic, inorganic and microbial inoculants in strawberry cv. Chandler. The potential efficiency of bio-organics used along with chemical fertilizers on cropping behaviour, physical-chemical and biological properties of rhizosphere soil, fruit yield, quality attributes and leaf nutrient content was investigated. The significant improvement in physico-chemical properties of the soil and nutrient uptake was recorded. The uninoculated control received farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic nitrogen (N) recorded the highest cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil organic carbon (OC) content. Highest available N and phosphorus (P) of soil were recorded in vermicompost and inorganic N applied in two and one split, respectively. The concentration of micronutrients cations viz., iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) in soil was higher in treatment received vermicompost and inorganic N in two splits. The integration of bio-organic nutrient supplements also significantly enriched the microbial status of the rhizosphere soil, leaf nutrient concentration and maintained soil health and productivity on long term basis for sustainable fruit production.     

Effects of vermicomposts obtained from rose oil processing wastes,dairy manure,municipal open market wastes and straw on plant growth,mineral nutrition,and nutrient uptake of corn

Study aims to investigate the effects of vermicomposts containing oil processing wastes, dairy manure, municipal open market wastes and straw on the growth, nutrient concentrations and nutrient uptakes of corn plant. For this, there different mixtures were prepared. Vermicomposts were applied with the rates of 0, 5000, 10000, and 20000 kg ha^?1 to 2 kg soil containing pots. Study was conducted in growth chamber for 2 months. Vermicompost applications increased plant growth, some plant nutrient concentrations and uptake. Also, vermicomposts showed the variation on parameters depending on their mixtures. Results showed that nutrients taken by the plant increased with the vermicompost until 10000 kg ha^?1 dose. Most of the nutrient concentrations such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn) were not increased in plant tissues, whereas uptake of them by the plant showed a significant increase. In addition, residual soil nutrients increased with the increase in vermicompost levels.     

Evaluation of different types of compost tea to control rose powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae)

Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae) is an important foliar disease which is found in all rose-producing greenhouses. An experiment was carried out in a commercial greenhouse in Hashtgerd, Iran, in 2014 to investigate whether compost teas can be used to control this disease. Taguchi's design of experiment (Taguchi's DOE) method was used to plan a minimum number of experiments and optimization to control rose powdery mildew. The test included three factors, namely the different types of compost tea (aerated and non-aerated compost tea, aerated and non-aerated vermicompost tea), the dosage (1:8 and 1:16, compost:water), and the number of spray applications (once and twice per week). The experiment was set up as an orthogonal array L₈ with three replicates. Based on the experimental results, the optimum treatment combination for controlling rose powdery mildew was found to be aerated compost tea with 1:8 dilution with an application of twice per week.     

蚯蚓粪对豇豆根际土壤生物学特征及微生物活性的影响

通过大田试验,研究CK（对照,不施肥）、CF（单施化肥）、VC（蚯蚓粪）和VC+CF（蚯蚓粪和化肥各提供50%的氮）处理对豇豆根际土壤微生物数量、微生物量碳、根系分级、根系分泌物、微生物呼吸及代谢熵的影响。结果表明：与CF处理相比,VC+CF处理显著增加了根际土壤微生物数量与微生物量碳,其中细菌数分别较CK,CF和VC处理增加124.13%,70.48%和17.83%。施用蚯蚓粪明显促进了豇豆根系的生长,尤其增加了毛细根的数量及在根体系中的比例。同时,VC+CF处理还显著提高了根际土壤中根系分泌物含量,并增强了土壤微生物呼吸作用,但降低了代谢熵,其中,土壤微生物呼吸分别比CK,CF和VC处理增加64.91%,36.23%和16.05%,而代谢熵分别下降10.85%,9.06%和5.32%。与VC+CF处理相比,VC处理对豇豆根际土壤微域的影响较小。综上,施用蚯蚓粪相比单施化肥能明显改善豇豆根际土壤的微生态环境,且能显著增强土壤微生物活性,尤以蚯蚓粪与化肥配施的效果更优。     

Effects of Adding Nitrogen to Vermicompost on Tomato Seedlings Under Greenhouse Conditions

Vermicompost, a byproduct of earthworm digestion of organic solid waste is receiving attention as a peat substitute in the production of plug seedling media. We aimed to test the effects of adding nitrogen to vermicompost on the morphological development of tomato seedlings. Nursery experiments on tomato seedlings were carried out in the greenhouse. Urea at 0.00 kg/m³, 0.25 kg/m³, 0.50 kg/m³, and 1.00 kg/m³ was added to vermicompost and to the vermicompost-vermiculite (at a volume ratio of 4:1) mixture. Results showed that (1) Nitrogen application at different rates to the vermicompost significantly increased the strong seedling index (SSI) at the middle (T1) and late (T2) seedling growth stages. Besides, nitrogen application significantly increased concentrations of available nitrogen (available-N) at the beginning of seedling cultivation (T0) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^?-N) at T2 in vermicompost. (2) Adding nitrogen to vermicompost significantly increased the number of root tips at T1 and T2 and the root volume at T2. And it significantly decreased the electrical conductivity (EC), total N (TN), available N, ammonium N (NH₄⁺-N), and NO₃^?-N at T1 and T2. (3) Adding nitrogen to the vermicompost-vermiculite mixture significantly increased the root/shoot ratio, and SSI at T1 and T2. And it significantly increased the pH and reduced the EC at T1 and the available-N, NH₄⁺-N, and NO₃^?-N at T2. In short, adding nitrogen (0.5～1.0 kg/m³ urea) to vermicompost improved the shoot and root morphological development of tomato seedlings, as well as the biomass accumulation and allocation. Adding nitrogen to the vermicompost-vermiculite mixture further promoted the development of tomato seedlings.     

蚯蚓粪对土壤环境质量和作物生长影响的研究现状与展望

蚯蚓粪是一种优质、安全的天然有机肥料,对土壤环境质量和作物生长具有明显的改善和促进作用。综述蚯蚓粪的性质及其在改善土壤理化性状、提高土壤肥力和促进作物生长方面的研究现状,并提出了当前研究存在的局限和对未来工作的展望。     

Effects of vermicompost and urea fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of Vetiveria zizanioides stapf. grown under drought stress conditions

The use of vermicompost as a bio-fertilizer and urea (as chemical fertilizer) under drought stress conditions was tested in this research. Accordingly, a pot experiment was carried out and the seedlings of vetivergrass (Vetiveriazizanioides stapf.) were grown in the greenhouse at Malayer University. The experiment was conducted based on factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design using five replications. Irrigation levels included field capacity (FC) (as control), 60% FC and 30% FC. Vermicompost applications included zero (as control), 40, and 60% which were expressed as VC1, VC2, and VC3. Urea application levels included zero (0), 100, or 200 mg per kg per pot which were expressed as U1, U2, and U3, respectively. The highest and the lowest values of total protein contents (μMg-1 fresh weight (FW)), calcium and magnesium concentrations (mg g^?1 dry weight (DW)), and survival capacity (%) of the vetivergrass were found in the FC × VC3 × U3 and 30% FC × VC1 × U1 treatments, respectively, whereas the maximum and the minimum values of essential oil contents (%) were seen in the 60% FC × VC3 × U3 and FC × VC1 × U1 treatments, respectively. A different trend was seen in the changes of total chlorophyll content (%) values and the highest and the lowest values were found in the 60% FC × VC3 × U3 and 30% FC × VC1 × U1 treatments, respectively. However, the root dry weight increased significantly as the soil moisture content, percentage of vermicompost, or urea addition decreased.     

Study on Effects of Different Medium Compositions on Growth and Seedling Quality of Two Tomato Varieties Under Greenhouse Conditions

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of different medium compositions on physicochemical properties and the growth of two tomato varieties. Five treatments were applied, combining medium composition with rice husk ash (RHS) and coconut fiber (CF) with the following proportions: 1/3 Peat moss + 1/3 rice husk ash + 1/3 coconut fiber (T1); 1/3 Vermicompost + 1/3 rice husk ash + 1/3 coconut fiber (T2); 1/3 Cattle manure compost + 1/3 rice husk ash + 1/3 coconut fiber (T3); 1/3 Chicken manure compost + 1/3 rice husk ash + 1/3 coconut fiber (T4); 1/3 Hog manure compost + 1/3 rice husk ash + 1/3 coconut fiber (T5). The results demonstrated that between pH, electrical conductivity (EC) value, and nutrient content in the media, there was a significant difference that led to different concentrations of total macro- and micronutrients in the shoots of both varieties. In addition, the root weight, shoot weight, and root volume were affected by medium composition for two varieties in seedling stage. A mixture of cattle manures composted with RHS and CF under the rate (1:1:1 by volume), respectively, gave the highest value of germination rate, plant height, leaf number, and plant biomass. Medium composition significantly influenced the germination rate and elongation of seedlings, specifically for each tomato variety. Therefore, cattle manure compost as a medium supplement improves seedling quality and growth of the two tomato varieties.