Abstract
A glasshouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of composting coffee pulp with phosphate rock on phosphorus (P) availability for plant uptake. Coffee pulps composted with or without phosphate rock and Minjingu phosphate rock applied alone were evaluated as source of P for tomato growing on a Chromic Acrisol. All P sources were applied at varying rates of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg P kg-1 and all other limiting nutrients were adjusted to recommend levels using industrial fertilizers and/or reagent grade laboratory salts. Phosphorus uptake of tomato plants receiving coffee pulp composted alone, Minjingu phosphate rock alone and coffee pulp composted with Minjingu phosphate rock increased 11, 13 and 18 times above the control. Observed P concentrations in tomato plants receiving external P sources were 23, 36%and 110% of the concentrations in control plants. Composting coffee pulp with Minjingu phosphate rock was concluded as a potential technique for improving phosphorus availability and uptake by tomato. Key words: phosphate rock, coffee pulp, phosphate rock enriched compost, tomato, phosphorus uptake.
Highlights
Most of the tropical agricultural soils are highly weathered, leached and acidic
Coffee pulps composted with or without phosphate rock and Minjingu phosphate rock applied alone were evaluated as source of P for tomato growing on a Chromic Acrisol
Phosphorus uptake of tomato plants receiving coffee pulp composted alone, Minjingu phosphate rock alone and coffee pulp composted with Minjingu phosphate rock increased 11, 13 and 18 times above the control
Summary
Most of the tropical agricultural soils are highly weathered, leached and acidic. These soils are highly deficient in phosphorus (P) require substantial P inputs for optimum crop production (Buehler et al, 2002). Phosphorus deficiencies are mainly corrected via application of water soluble P fertilizers and manures. Water soluble P fertilizers are of limited availability and unaffordable to most small holders in developing countries (Kpomblekou and Tabatabai, 2003; Mowo et al, 2006). Continuous cropping associated with low levels of fertilizers and manure applications results into soil degradation and subsequently season after season decline of small holder crop productivity.
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