The potentiality of using bio-slurry as organic manure for cabbage production

Abstract

Vegetable cultivation is becoming more costly due to the increasing use of purchased inputs. Bio-slurry is a by-product of anaerobic digestion of biogas plant that will be the alternative to chemical inputs. A field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm Mymensingh with an objective to evaluate the performances of poultry manure bio-slurry and cowdung bio-slurry in cabbage production. There were seven treatments which includes T1 (Control), T2 (100% NPKS), T3 (70% NK), T4 (70 % NK+ PM bio-slurry), T5 (70 % NK+CD bio-slurry), T6 (70 % NK+PM) and T7 (70% NK+CD). Treatment effects were examined on plant height; unfold leaves, length of breath, root length, head diameter, % marketable head, marketable head weight, head yield, and N, P, K & S uptake by the crops. There was a significant positive effect of the treatments on yield, yield components, and nutrient uptake of cabbage. Treatments T4 (70%NK+poultry manure bio-slurry) and T6 (70%NK+poultry manure) produced significantly higher crop yield and nutrient uptake over sole chemical fertilizers (T2:100%NPKS). Between the digested and fresh sources, digested sources gave better results. Again, among the two sources, poultry bio-slurry and poultry litter performed better than the cowdung and their bio-slurry. The overall results indicate that it is possible to reduce 30% of the recommended N & K fertilizers and 100% of the P & S fertilizers through the use of poultry or cowdung bio-slurry in cabbage production. Integrated use of inorganic fertilizers with organic manures not only sustains the crop production but also the effective in improving soil health.