Effects of compost and biofertilizer on carbon dioxide emission, yield, and quality of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) plants grown on clay loam

Abstract

Use of compost and biofertilizer provides nutrients to crops and improves the chemical and physical properties of soils. A pot and incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of compost and Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasiliense as biofertilizer on the carbon dioxide emission, nutrient availability under various incubation periods (0-time, 3, 7, 14, 30, 45, and 60 days) and growth, quality, and yield of roselle plants in pots. The treatments were control (C), compost 14 ton ha−1 (T1) and compost + biofertilizer (T2). Results showed that the soil CO2 flux was increased by 24.38, 33.16, 68.46, 70.17, 62.62, 50.34, and 47.49% over the control for 0-time, 3, 7, 14, 30, 45, and 60-days incubation periods, respectively, at compost + biofertilizer treatments. Available N was increased by increasing incubation period to two months 71.07, 63.67, 63.17, 57.77, 62.57, 57.89, and 58.01%, respectively, under treatment of compost + biofertilizer. The heaviest sepals of fresh and dry weights of sepals were gained by compost + biofertilizer treatment. Total anthocyanin and total flavonol increased by 29.68 and 32.45%, respectively, above the untreated plants. Also, the available N, P, and K content in the soil after the harvesting stage of roselle plants increased by 174.85, 178.24, and 50.96%, respectively, using compost with bio fertilizer treatment. Compost application with biofertilizer may, therefore, be a good strategy for increased to nutrient availability, growth parameter, and yield.