Rice Growth and Nutrient Accumulation as Affected by Different Composts

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of four different kinds of compost: pea–rice hull compost (PRC), cattle dung–tea compost (CTC), hog dung–rice hull compost (HDR), and hog dung–sawdust compost (HDS). These types of compost differ in nitrogen composition and in the dry matter yield and nutrient accumulation [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)], of rice plants. The rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were planted in an Oxisol soil. Plants were cultivated in pots, which contained 3 kg of soil, mixed with the four different composts (PRC, 404 g; CTC, 395 g; HDR, and HDS, 450 g) and chemical fertilizer (CHEM) (N:P₂O₅:K₂O=120:96:72) The residual effect was studied after the crop was harvested. All treatments were replicated four times, with a randomized complete block design. The nutrient concentrations in the root, leaf sheath, leaf blade, stalk, and grain were analyzed at different growth stages. After the first crop, the dry matter yield and the amount of N, P, and K absorbed from the CTC or HDS treatments were higher than those of the other treatments, at the most active tillering stage. The growth and nutrient accumulation of rice plants given the PRC treatment were higher than those given the CHEM treatment at the heading stage or the HDR treatment at the maturity stage. In the second crop, the dry matter yield from the PRC, CTC, and HDR treatments was higher than from the other treatments. The nutrient accumulation of the rice plants was positively correlated with the dry matter yield. The residual effect of the HDS compost was the least among all four composts.