Nutrient Release from Vermicompost under Anaerobic Conditions in Two Contrasting Soils of Bangladesh and Its Effect on Wetland Rice Crop

Tahsina Sharmin Hoque, Ahmed Khairul Hasan, Md. Arefin Hasan, Nurun Nahar, Debasish Kumer Dey, Shamim Mia, Zakaria M. Solaiman and Md. Abdul Kader
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Tahsina Sharmin Hoque: Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Ahmed Khairul Hasan: Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Md. Arefin Hasan: Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Nurun Nahar: Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Debasish Kumer Dey: Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh, Senpara Parbatta 88, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Shamim Mia: Department of Agronomy, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
Zakaria M. Solaiman: UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Md. Abdul Kader: Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Although its mechanism of action, particularly under wetland condition, is not clearly understood, vermicompost, a good source of humus and plant nutrients, has been used as organic manure in many parts of the world in order to increase crop production. Here, an anaerobic incubation study and a field study were conducted to observe the nutrient release pattern from vermicompost and its influence on performance and nutrient uptake in wetland rice. Two contrasting soils, viz. highly weathered terrace soil and very young floodplain soil, were subjected to anaerobic incubation, while the field trial was conducted in the terrace soil with control (no amendments), mineral fertilizer, vermicompost (10 t ha −1 ) + mineral fertilizer, cow dung (10 t ha −1 ) + mineral fertilizer, vermicompost (20 t ha −1 ) + mineral fertilizer and vermicompost (local farmer’s practice) + mineral fertilizer treatments. Results showed that there were significant increases in nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) release in floodplain soil but not in terrace soil, suggesting that nutrient release from vermicompost is soil-dependent. The performance of Boro rice in terms of yield and yield attributes improved significantly in the case of the integrated application of vermicompost with mineral fertilizer. Specifically, combined application of mineral nutrients and vermicompost (10 t ha −1 ) significantly increased grain yield by 25% compared to the control treatment. We believe that this occurred due to an improvement in supply and subsequent uptake of nutrients, especially N and P. Altogether, our results suggest that vermicompost could increase crop performance under field conditions, and, although these effects may not be significant in short-term incubation studies, they may be even larger in floodplain soil.

Keywords: vermicompost; anaerobic incubation; nitrogen mineralization; rice; nutrient release; nitrogen use efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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