In this experiment, the effect of the hard cover formed by bioslurry on soil water content, soil infiltration rate and corn growth was evaluated. Growth variables (leaf area and number, plant height, stem circumference), heating yield, soil water content and water infiltration rate were determined.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
- Background and introduction
- Scope of the study
- Aim and objectives
- Research hypotheses
- Outline of the thesis
However, the use of organic mulches such as crop residues can also pose challenges in terms of pest and disease infestation (Erenstein, 2002). The use of bioslurry as an organic mulch can potentially provide cheaper and alternative sources for the use of expensive mulch materials.
LITERATURE REVIEW
- Introduction
- Factors affecting the properties of bioslurry
- Types of feeding material used for bioslurry production
- The different forms of bioslurry and the effect on nutrient availability
- Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization from the bioslurry
- Mineralization rates of N and P
- Factors affecting the effectiveness of bioslurry in crop production
- Application rates
- Application time
- Application methods
- Storage
- The effect of bioslurry on crop performance
- Other uses of bioslurry
- The effect of mulches on crop production
- Types of mulches
- Scope of study
10 to identify knowledge gaps regarding current information regarding the use of biological slurry for crop production. Different forms of bio-manure can be used with different amounts because they have different nutrient contents.
EFFECT OF BIOSLURRY, GRASS CLIPPINGS AND PUMPKIN LIVE
Introduction
The use of mulch applying organic or inorganic material around the plant has been shown to prevent excessive evaporation or erosion of groundwater, enrich the soil and suppress the growth of weeds (Ramakrishna et al., 2006; Mupangwa et al., 2007 ). Mulching saves water by improving water infiltration, reducing runoff and retaining rainwater in the soil surface (Erenstein, 2003; Mupangwa et al., 2007). An ideal mulch material should be able to suppress weed growth, conserve water and should be renewable, biodegradable, durable, water permeable and affordable (Haapala et al., 2014).
This type of intercropping or mulch can increase crop productivity per unit area (due to edible leaves and squash fruits), conserve water, and suppress weeds (Li et al., 2011). 30 However, squash has been reported to have an antagonistic effect, competing for water and nutrients with maize, resulting in low maize yields (Tembakazi Silwana and Lucas, 2002; . Momirović et al., 2015). Biological slurry is a waste water produced as a by-product of biogas production during the anaerobic metabolism of organic material in a biogas digester (Nasir et al., 2012).
It is rich in micro and macro nutrients and is therefore considered a good source of soil nutrients (Nasir et al., 2012). Bioslurry contains organic matter and fiber that retain soil moisture and thus improve the organic matter content of the soil as well as water holding capacity when applied to the soil (Kumar et al., 2010). This is because after application it covers the soil surface and forms a hard shell of organic matter that can reduce soil evaporation.
Materials and methods
- Planting material
- Site Description
- Experimental design
- Soil sampling and analysis
- Agronomic practices and management
- Data collection
- Statistical analysis
The site was chosen because of the potential to integrate food and energy production (biogas) with soil water conservation. Most of the agronomic practices were conducted to simulate normal farmer practices, including land preparation, planting date, and harvest time. In bioslurry treatment plots, the initial application of bioslurry was applied as a source of N fertilizer and therefore incorporated into the soil.
Later, when the mulch treatments were implemented, bioslurry was added on top of the soil surface as a mulch. To simulate the farmer's practices under rain-fed conditions, no additional water was applied to the trial plots. To simulate the farmer's practices, no additional water was applied to the trial plots, as the farmer relies on rainfed crop production.
36 samples were air-dried for three weeks after cutting the grain from the corn cob. Harvest index is the ratio of harvested grain to aboveground dry matter and is an indicator of the relationship between biological yield and economic yield. The harvest index can be used to measure crop productivity as well as the ability of the crop to convert total dry matter into economic yield.
Results
- Soil analysis results before and after application of mulch
- Soil water content
- Growth variables
- Yield components and stover yield
There were no interactions (P> 0.05) between mulch treatments and time (weeks after planting) for plant height, stem girth, and leaf area. The biomanure treatment was significantly different (P < 0.05) from the control but not different (P > 0.05) from the other mulch treatments in terms of stem girth (Table 3.3). Leaf area was not significantly different (P> 0.05) between cut grass, live pumpkin mulch and control treatments, while it was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the biomanure treatment than in the other treatments (Table 3.3). .
Notes: Means within columns not followed by the same letter are significantly different at P<0.05; LSD = Least Significant Difference; CV = Coefficient of variation. Bioslurry and grass cuttings did not differ significantly (P> 0.05) in terms of grain yield (Table 3.4). The maximum weight of 1000 seeds recorded in the plots mulched with bioslurry was 0.49 kg, which was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that recorded in the control plots (0.22 kg).
There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) in the effect of different mulching treatments on spike volume. The highest yield (1147 kg ha-1) was observed in the biomanure mulch treatment, which was significantly (P<0.05) different from the control (633 kg ha-1). There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) in yield between the bioslurry, grass clippings, and squash live mulch treatments (Table 3.4).
Discussion
- Soil analysis results before and after application of mulch
- Soil water content
- Growth variables
- Yield components and stover yield
These results are in agreement with those obtained by Olasantan (2007) who concluded that high soil water content in live squash mulch is associated with rapid ground cover of squash, which further reduces evaporation. of the soil, thus increasing soil water. However, grass cuttings had the highest plants compared to bioslurry, live pumpkin mulch and the control (Table 3.3). Grass clippings mulch resulted in higher corn growth than live squash mulch in terms of plant height and stem girth (Table 3.3).
44 Living pumpkin mulch had a smaller effect on corn growth than biomanure and grass clippings. This could be attributed to the competition for space and nutrients between the maize and squash plants treated with squash mulch (Tembakazi Silwana and Lucas, 2002), as the squash mulch was able to retain soil moisture. Grain yield, ear length, yield, and 1000 seed weight were higher in plots mulched with grass clippings than those treated with live squash mulch and control plots.
The high grain yield obtained from grass clippings than living mulch showed that squash competed with corn for growth resources, reducing corn yield. The current study found that living pumpkin mulch resulted in significantly lower corn grain yield compared to mulch and bioslurry from grass clippings. Similar observations regarding reduced maize yield in pumpkin living mulch treatment have been reported in previous studies (Tembakazi Silwana and Lucas, 2002; Mashingaidze, 2004; Momirović et al., 2015).
Conclusions
Evaluation of sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas) living cover in different spacings for weed suppression and yield response of maize (Zea Mays L.) in Southwest Nigeria. Running water harvesting for drought spell mitigation in maize (Zea Mays L.): Results from on-farm research in semi-arid Kenya. Excess yields and interspecific interactions mediated by nitrogen fertilization in intercropping maize with broad bean, wheat and barley.
Interactions of corn and Italian ryegrass in a living mulch system: (1) Shoot growth and rooting patterns. Effect of minimum tillage and mulching on maize (Zea Mays L.) yield and water content in clay and sandy soils. Growth and yield response of maize (Zea mays L.) to different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers in southern Nigeria.
Effect of mulch on soil temperature, moisture, weed infestation and groundnut yield in Northern Vietnam. The effect of planting combinations and weeding on the growth and yield of corn/bean intercrops and corn/pumpkin intercrops. Effects of plant density and pattern on physiological growth indices in maize (Zea Mays L.) under application of nitrogen fertilizers.
EFFECT OF BIOSLURRY APPLICATION ON SOIL WATER
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods
- Controlled temperature pot experiment
- Field experiment
- Data collection
- Statistical analysis
- Results
- Controlled temperature chamber pot experiment
- Field experiment
- Discussion
- Controlled temperature chamber pot experiment
- Field experiment
To determine the influence of the hard cap, which is formed after the application of biofertilizer, on the water content of the soil at different temperature regimes. Soil water content was measured in pots at the end of a four-week (30 day) period using a HydroSense II Probe system (Campbell Scientific, Africa) with 12 cm rods. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a hard cover formed by biomanure on soil water content, water infiltration rate and maize growth under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions.
At 25 °C, the soil water content in the treatment with biological slurry (2.1%) was significantly higher than in the treatment with water (1.7%) and the control (0.9%) after 30 days of application of the treatments. With this experiment, we tried to determine the effect of the hard cover, which is formed after the application of biofertilizer, on the conservation of water in the soil at different temperature regimes. At the highest temperature (35 °C), the recorded soil water content was equal to zero in all treatments (Figure 4.2) after 30 days of application of the treatments.
In the field experiment at the station, the effect of the hard cap formed after biosludge application on soil water content and water infiltration rate and maize growth under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions was determined. The results showed that irrigated plots with biomanure had a higher water content in the soil than irrigated plots without mulch. Both non-irrigated plots with biomanure and without mulch had low water content in the soil (Fig. 4.3).
GENERAL DISCUSSION
The better performance of corn in plots with bioslurry mulch was due to the high water content of the soil under the bioslurry and the nutrients supplied to the crop by the bioslurry. The significantly higher soil water content in the bioslurry treatment compared to the control may be due to the hard cover formed, which reduced evaporation from the soil surface. Effects of biomanure mulching on soil water content, water infiltration and maize growth.
The results of the study showed that bioslurry increased soil water content and maize growth compared to the control under irrigated conditions. This can be explained by the higher soil water content recorded under these treatments, which was highly beneficial for maize growth. In conclusion, the results of the study have clearly shown that the use of bio-manure as mulch can significantly increase maize yields.
Although there were no significant differences in soil water content between the bioslurry mulch, grass clippings mulch, and live squash mulch, there are clear advantages to using bioslurry as a mulch to conserve soil water. Further research is still needed to address the use of bioslurry as a mulch source. Such studies are critical for developing concrete recommendations regarding the use of bioslurry as a fertilizer source by smallholder farmers.
Calculations of amount of N supplied by bioslurry
List of ANOVAs for Chapter 3
