The Effects of EM-Bokashi Compost and Vegetable Wastes Compost on the Growth of Hibiscus Esculentus L

The effects of EM-Bokashi compost and vegetable wastes compost on the growth of Hibiscus esculentus L. (lady’s finger) plant Min Aung, Kyaw Zan Aung, Nay Thwe Kyi* Department of Chemistry, Myeik University, Myanmar *E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Application of organic composts can improve soil quality as well as sustainability of agricultural production. This research concerns with the effects of EM-Bokashi compost and vegetable wastes compost on the growth of lady's finger plant. The experiment comprised two treatments viz., EM-Bokashi compost (soil:prepared EM-Bokashi = 1:1) and vegetable wastes compost (soil:organic matter such as tea and vegetables wastes = 1:1). Increase in the contents of moisture, organic carbon, humus and phosphorus were noticed in EM-Bokashi compost when compared to vegetable wastes compost. The contents of nitrogen and potassium were not much different from each other. The effects of EM-Bokashi compost and vegetable wastes compost on the growth of lady's finger plant such as plant height, circumferences of stem, number of fruits and leaves per plant were measured after 15 days, 30 days and 45 days. Plant height, stem circumference, number of leaves, yield and fruit size of lady’s finger plant on EM-Bokashi compost was larger than vegetable wastes compost because EM-Bokashi compost has high organic carbon, humus and available phosphorus contents. In fact, the prepared EM-Bokashi compost can be used as a good source of nutrients for the plant growth and can reduce the farmer's budget for crop fertilization. 1. Introduction 2. Materials and Methods In many countries large proportions 2.1 Sample collection of municipal waste are not disposed properly Soil sample was collected from the posing a potential environmental threat due campus of Myeik University, Tanintharyi to the presence of pathogens and toxic Region, Myanmar. In this research work, the pollutants.1 Organic municipal waste and soil from the upper position near to the other organic material such as manure can be surface about (15 cm) was digging in zigzag composted. Composting is an action of manner according to the sampling of soil encouraging the breaking down of organic samples. waste. Composting is an aerobic process 2.2 Preparation of vegetable wastes during which the organic matter is compost decomposed to humus-like substances. Vegetable wastes compost was Composting can also be an anaerobic prepared by using 1:1 weight ratio of the process, where breakdown occurs in the collected soil sample with vegetables wastes absence of oxygen. In this case, the main as green materials and tea residues as brown byproducts are methane, carbon dioxide and materials. A shady place under a thatched various low organic acids and alcohols. roof to protect the compost from the sun and Since aerobic composting is more efficient rain was chosen. The soil mixture was added and presents fewer undesirable by products.2 to earth pot and pushed in a stick in to mark Moreover, composting is the transformation the center of the pile. This pot was covered of organic material (plant matter) through with plastic sheet. decomposition into a soil-like material called After four weeks, turn the pile over to compost. Compost is an organic fertilizer mix the different layers. The pile was that can be made on the farm at very low watered for another week and then left for 8 cost. Compost also helps the soil stay loose weeks. Soils were incubated at 28 °C for and easy to cultivate.3 eight weeks and rewetted to 70% of water © The 2018 Pure and Applied Chemistry International Conference (PACCON 2018) FA19 holding capacity. The pile was watered about and then vegetable wastes compost and EM- three times a week. After eight weeks, Bokashi compost were added into each pot. vegetable wastes compost was obtained. The Lady's finger was planted in the 2.3 Preparation of effective micro- prepared two composts. The seeds were organism (EM), EM-Bokashi and EM- sowed at 2.5 cm deep on the pots. Two seeds Bokashi compost were sowed in each planting hole. Seedlings One bin of rice was dissolved in one emerged after 4 to 5 days of sowing. One liter of chlorine free water and stored at healthy seedling was retained in each pot. room temperature without direct sunlight. After 2 weeks, only one healthy seedling per After seven days, the fermented rice water planting hold was left as shown in Figure 1. was mixed with milk (1:10 ratio). After two The plants were watered once a day every weeks, the yellow brown EM solution was morning. The fruit is soft and crunchy to obtained and stored in a cool dry place. The allow a continuous yielding; the plant must aqueous brown jaggery was added into the be planted at this stage. The effects of EM- prepared EM solution and placed out of Bokashi compost and vegetable wastes direct sunlight for 1-2 hours to allow the EM compost, on the growth of lady’s finger plant to activate more fully.4 such as plant height, circumferences of stem, Weight of ten lbs of rice bran was number of fruits and leaves per plant were mixed with one spoon of brick powder, one measured after 15 days, 30 days and 45 days. spoon of salt, three liters of chlorine free hot The NPK contents left in the soil were water and 30 mL prepared EM and these determined at 30 days, and 45 days. mixtures were added in sack. The sack was tightly packed with rope and sit about two weeks in dark room at room temperature. After two weeks, gold yellow pleasant smell bokashi was obtained. EM-Bokashi compost was prepared by mixing 1:1 weight ratio of the collected soil sample and prepared EM-Bokashi. After five days, EM-Bokashi compost was obtained. (a) (b) 2.4 Determination of physicochemical Figure 1. Plantation of lady’s finger in (a) properties of prepared composts vegetable wastes compost (b) EM-Bokashi The physicochemical properties and compost nutrients of prepared two composts were determined by conventional methods and 3. Results and Discussion modern techniques such as moisture content 3.1 Texture of prepared composts by oven drying method, pH by pH meter, The texture of vegetable wastes soil texture by particle sizes analytical compost and EM-Bokashi compost were method, organic carbon and humus by determined and the results are shown in titration methods, amount of soil nitrogen Table 1. All prepared composts were loam released by Kjeldahl method, content of type. Decrease in sand and clay percentage available phosphorus by spectrophotometer, and increase in silt percentage were noticed content of potassium by flame photometer, in EM-Bokashi compost when compared to contents of exchangeable magnesium, vegetable wastes compost. These increases calcium, potassium and sodium by using might be related to the positive effect of titration methods. microorganisms in EM-Bokashi compost. 2.5 Plantation of lady’s finger Two experimental pots (13.5 inches diameter 10.5 inches height) were prepared © The 2018 Pure and Applied Chemistry International Conference (PACCON 2018) FA20 Table 1. Texture of vegetable wastes Table 2. Moisture, pH, organic carbon and compost and EM-Bokashi compost humus contents of prepared composts Sample Texture Soil Sample Moist pH Organic Humus Sand Silt Clay Total Type ure Carbon (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Vegetable 39.55 41.90 17.05 98.50 Loam Vegetable 1.07 5.53 3.26 5.62 Wastes Wastes Compost Compost EM- 38.65 46.75 13.35 98.75 Loam Bokashi EM-Bokashi 1.78 6.11 4.60 7.93 Compost Compost 3.2 Physicochemical properties of are shown in Table 3. The macronutrients in prepared composts vegetable wastes compost on available N The physicochemical properties of (0.23%), P (17.10 ppm) and K (22.62 two prepared composts were determined and mg/100 g) while macronutrients in EM- the resulted data are shown in Table 2. The Bokashi compost on N (0.21%), P (20.14 moisture percent of two composts were ppm) and K (21.99 mg/100 g) were 1.07% and 1.78%, respectively. It was found observed. Nitrogen helps plants with rapid that the higher moisture content due to the growth, improving the quality of leaf and organic carbon content. When the organic forage crops. Phosphorus in soil as inorganic carbon content was increased the soil phosphate ions and sometimes as soluble porosity was increased and the moisture organic phosphorus can be absorbed and content was also increased. Increase in made available to meet plant. Plants need organic carbon content (4.60%) of EM- phosphorus for strong root growth, fruit, Bokashi compost was observed when stem, disease resistance and seed compared to organic carbon content (3.26%) development. The increase in phosphorus of vegetable wastes compost. The content of content of EM-Bokashi compost was humus (7.93%) in EM-Bokashi compost was observed by the greater multiplication of larger than vegetable wastes compost microbes. The nutrient, sometimes called (5.62%). The higher the humus levels of the potash, is essential for vigorous growth, soil the greater the exchange capacity. Soil disease resistance, fruit and general plant acidification may also occur by addition of function. hydrogen, due to decomposition of organic matter, acid-forming fertilizers, and Table 3. Contents of macronutrients of exchange of basic cations for H+ by the prepared composts roots. Basic soils have a high saturation of Sample Total N P K2O base cations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+). The (%) (ppm) (mg/100 g) higher the amount of exchangeable base Vegetable 0.23 17.10 22.62 Wastes cations, the more acidity can be neutralized Compost in the short time perspective.

Load more