Comparative evaluation of water hyacinth, vegetable waste and gliricidia as nitrogen sources for composting paddy husk
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Date
2024-11-01
Authors
Shamudika, H. U.
Nadeesha, M. A. Y. L.
Hewawasam, H. P. C. P.
Jayasanka, D. J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Paddy husk is one of the most widely produced agricultural wastes in rice production. The co-composting of paddy husk is an effective method for addressing this waste issue. This study aimed to transform ordinary paddy husk into high-quality compost using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), vegetable waste, and gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) as nitrogen sources. The quality of the compost was compared using pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and exchangeable potassium (K). The experiment followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments: T1 = paddy husk only, T2 = paddy husk + water hyacinth, T3 = paddy husk + Gliricidia, and T4 = paddy husk + vegetable waste, mixed in a 1:1 ratio. The mixtures were aerobically decomposed using the compost pile method and analysed after 67 days. The results were compared with the compost standards provided by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the prepared compost on the growth of water spinach (Ipomea aquatica). The pH values of all trials ranged between 6.5 and 7.9, and EC values ranged from 0.13 dS/m to 0.977 dS/m. The T2 compost mixture (paddy husk + water hyacinth) showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of total nitrogen (1.15% ± 0.03) and potassium (0.466% ± 0.01) compared to other mixtures. The T3 compost mixture (paddy husk + gliricidia) exhibited the highest phosphorus level (1.33% ± 0.08). Low potassium levels were consistent across all compost mixtures. Considering the pH, EC, total nitrogen, and phosphorus levels obtained for the T2 mixture (pH 7.96, EC 0.977 dS/m, N 1.15%, and P 1.257%), along with the highest fresh weight (6.836g ± 0.373) and dry weight (0.6075g ± 0.037) of plant samples from the pot experiment, the compost mixture containing paddy husk and water hyacinth was found to be the most suitable for field application.
Description
Keywords
Compost , Gliricidia , Paddy husk , Vegetable waste , Water hyacinth
Citation
Proceedings of the Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress (RESCON) -2024, University of Peradeniya, P 26