Articles
EFFECT OF COMPOST AND VERMICOMPOST USE ON THE YIELD OF TOMATO AND THEIR ECONOMICS
Article number
1018_18
Pages
187 – 194
Language
English
Abstract
An experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) central farm to evaluate the efficiency of conventional compost (CC) and vermicompost (VC) on the yield of tomato and thereafter to estimate their cost-return.
There were ten treatments replicated three times.
It was observed that 75% RDCF (Recommended Dose of Chemical Fertilizer)+VC at 2.0 t/ha gave the tallest plant and maximum number of fruit per plant and thereby produced the highest yield (61.1 t/ha) of tomato.
The yield was statistically identical with 100% RDCF (58.1 t/ha); and 75% RDCF+CC at 2.0 t/ha (56.6 t/ha). The lowest yield
(19.0 t/ha) was observed in native fertility (no fertilizer) which was followed by 0% RDCF+CC at 10 t/ha (38.9 t/ha). Vermicompost exhibited better performance than conventional compost in all studied parameters except individual fruit weight.
The highest (2.59) benefit cost ratio (BCR) was recorded in 75% RDCF+VC at 2.0 t/ha fertilizer combination which was followed by 100% RDCF (2.45); and 75% RDCF+CC at 2.0 t/ha (2.34) respectively.
The least BCR (0.58) was obtained from the control (no fertilizer) which was followed by 0% RDCF+CC at 10 t/ha (1.10) and 0% RDCF+VC at 10 t/ha (1.21). Although the sole use of VC and CC gave lower BCR, they play a vital role in organic and chemical-free production system.
In that case, they (sole VC and CC at 10 t/ha) have potential to give higher BCR due to higher market value of chemical-free products.
There were ten treatments replicated three times.
It was observed that 75% RDCF (Recommended Dose of Chemical Fertilizer)+VC at 2.0 t/ha gave the tallest plant and maximum number of fruit per plant and thereby produced the highest yield (61.1 t/ha) of tomato.
The yield was statistically identical with 100% RDCF (58.1 t/ha); and 75% RDCF+CC at 2.0 t/ha (56.6 t/ha). The lowest yield
(19.0 t/ha) was observed in native fertility (no fertilizer) which was followed by 0% RDCF+CC at 10 t/ha (38.9 t/ha). Vermicompost exhibited better performance than conventional compost in all studied parameters except individual fruit weight.
The highest (2.59) benefit cost ratio (BCR) was recorded in 75% RDCF+VC at 2.0 t/ha fertilizer combination which was followed by 100% RDCF (2.45); and 75% RDCF+CC at 2.0 t/ha (2.34) respectively.
The least BCR (0.58) was obtained from the control (no fertilizer) which was followed by 0% RDCF+CC at 10 t/ha (1.10) and 0% RDCF+VC at 10 t/ha (1.21). Although the sole use of VC and CC gave lower BCR, they play a vital role in organic and chemical-free production system.
In that case, they (sole VC and CC at 10 t/ha) have potential to give higher BCR due to higher market value of chemical-free products.
Authors
M.K. Alam
Keywords
organic manure, soil fertility, organic farming, earthworms, benefit-cost ratio
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