Abstract
A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of ammonium-nitrate, food waste compost, bacterial fertilizer (EM-1) and their combinations on production and nutrient contents of carrot. The study was conducted on a calcareous chernozem and acidic sandy soils in a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments and four replications. NH4NO3 in chernozem soil increased the weight of carrot leaves only, while in sandy soil resulted in reduced yield and highly increased NO3-N content of roots. Sandy soil showed higher response of biomass production to food waste compost application than chernozem soil. The highest carotenoid content of roots was measured with compost treatment. Combined application of compost and NH4NO3 in chernozem proved to be good combination but in sandy soil have turn out to be less favourable than sole compost treatment. Bacterial fertilizer (EM-1) did not cause marked effect on the yield parameters, but caused increased phosphorus content of plant. In chernozem soil the maximum yield parameters were achieved with the combined treatment of ammonium-nitrate+compost+EM-1. In sandy soil the most favourable treatment proved to be the compost treatment. Results suggest that application of food waste compost as a nutrient source could be a promising agrochemical practice especially in soils having low organic material and low nutrient supply.
Highlights
The conventional agriculture uses large quantities of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to control diseases and to provide nutrients to crops
The objective of this study was to compare the effects of food waste compost, a commercially available bacterial fertilizer (EM-1) and their combined applications on biomass production and nutrient content of carrot with the effects of mineral fertilizer (NH4NO3) and untreated pots
The greenhouse pot experiment was performed on carrot (Daucus carota, Katop F1) in a calcareous chernozem soil and in an acidic sandy soil
Summary
The conventional agriculture uses large quantities of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to control diseases and to provide nutrients to crops. These practices may have led to a decrease in organic matter content and to a decline in soil quality. Organic fertilization is one of the oldest methods of soil cultivation. Organic fertilizers are major components of organic farming, which offer an economically attractive and ecologically sound means of reducing external inputs and improving internal resources. Organic materials play key roles in terms of maintaining or improving soil fertility, soil organic matter and plant nutrition through the direct and indirect effects on microbial activity and nutrient availability (Clark et al 1998)
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