Kamla Persaud, Kaslyn Holder-Collins, Seon Hamer and Chetwynd Osborne
📃• URC22 Abstract •
Published: May 16, 2022 • Book of Abstracts (Forthcoming) of the 4th Undergraduate Research Conference. University of Guyana, Office for Undergraduate Research.
Kamla Persaud ✉️ Kaslyn Holder-Collins Department of Biology. Faculty of Natural Sciences. University of Guyana-Turkeyen Campus. Greater Georgetown, Guyana.
Seon Hamer, Chetwynd Osborne Department of Environmental Studies. Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences. University of Guyana-Turkeyen Campus. Greater Georgetown, Guyana.
Vermicomposting and traditional composting techniques were employed in this study as methods of sustainable agriculture, promoting organic farming. This study investigated the effects of soil amelioration with vermicompost and traditional compost materials on soil nutrient composition, chlorophyll absorption of sunlight, plant growth and yield parameters. Experimentation was subjected to a randomised complete block design and was conducted under a shade house. In this study three treatments were involved: vermicompost of municipal waste (VC1), traditional compost of municipal waste (TC2) and control (CO), clay soil. Significant differences in soil nutrient content were observed among the various treatments at harvest, since the p-values were <0.05. Soil mineral N level was not improved by addition of any of the applied treatments. CO had the highest N content (46.83 ppm), followed by VC1 (35.11 ppm), then TC2 (30.32 ppm). However, addition of vermicompost significantly enhanced soil P & K contents above that control treatments 272.47 ppm and 856.77 ppm respectively. The P and K content for TC2 were 34.01ppm and 790.47ppm respectively. CO had a P and K content of 55.00ppm and 83.42 ppm respectively. The applied treatments failed to improve chlorophyll absorption capacity of sunlight between 400 and 700 nm range. Addition of vermicompost resulted in significant increases in plant height, number of leaves, and crop yield at harvest compared with traditional compost and control treatments. Overall, the results of the study suggest that amelioration of the soil with vermicompost materials, can improve the productivity of Kale and in general, promote more sustainable and environmentally acceptable agricultural practices.
Keywords: Organic agriculture, Vermicompost, Soil nutrients, Plant productivity
The 4th Undergraduate Research Conference (URC22) is hosted by the University of Guyana’s Office for Undergraduate Research on May 18-20, 2022.
