Effectiveness of Organic Fertilizer Derived from Napier Grass Fermentation Sludge on the Growth of Pak Choi (Brassica rapa L.)
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Abstract
The anaerobic digestion of napier grass for biogas production generates a large amount of residual sludge, which remains underutilized. Converting this waste into high-quality compost could improve soil fertility and promote plant growth. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of organic fertilizer produced from napier grass sludge mixed with water hyacinth and rain tree leaves, as well as to assess the effectiveness of these organic fertilizers on the growth of Pak Choi (Brassica rapa L.). The experiment involved growing Pak Choi in soil amended with different organic fertilizer treatments. Four treatments were applied: (1) soil alone (control); (2) soil mixed with organic fertilizer formula A (100% napier grass sludge); (3) soil mixed with organic fertilizer formula B (napier grass sludge and water hyacinth at a 1:1 ratio); and (4) soil mixed with organic fertilizer formula C (napier grass sludge and rain tree leaves at a 1:1 ratio). Organic fertilizer was mixed with soil at a 1:1 ratio. Data collected included the number of leaves, leaf width, plant height, and fresh weight. The analysis of nutrient contents in each organic fertilizer formula showed that formula A contained the highest nitrogen (0.80%) and potassium (0.27%), while formula B had the highest phosphorus (0.11%). However, the macronutrient contents of all formulas were below the standard for organic fertilizers. When applied to Pak Choi cultivation for 45 days, all organic fertilizer treatments significantly enhanced plant growth compared with the control. Treatment C produced the best growth performance, with an average of 17.7 leaves per plant, a plant height of 28.6 cm, and a fresh weight of 44.1g. The results indicate that although the nutrient contents of some compost formulations were lower than the standard requirements, combining napier grass residue with rain tree leaves enhanced the effectiveness of the organic fertilizer. Therefore, the use of agricultural residues for compost production should be promoted to improve soil quality and support sustainable agriculture.
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บทความ ข้อมูล เนื้อหา รูปภาพ ฯลฯ ที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่ในวารสารวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี มรย. นี้ ถือเป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสารวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี มรย. หากบุคคลหรือหน่วยงานใดต้องการนำทั้งหมดหรือส่วนหนึ่งส่วนใดไปเผยแพร่ต่อหรือกระทำการใดๆ จะต้องได้รับอนุญาตเป็นลายลักษณ์อักษรจากวารสารวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี มรย. ก่อนเท่านั้น
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