Influence of Waste Recycling on Nutrient Status of the Soil in High Density Multispecies Cropping System
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Date
2002
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Abstract
A project was initiated at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Vittal, India during 1999 in an existing areca garden with the objective to assess the biomass availability and feasibility of recycling into the system. The main crop was arecanut and other crops in the system were cocoa, clove, coffee, banana and pepper. The areca was planted in 1965, cocoa and clove in 1983 and the other crops in 1999. There were four treatments viz., control (only organic matter recycling (OMR)), 113rd of the recommended chemical fertilizer and OMR, 213rd of the recommended chemical fertilizer and OMR and full chemical fertilizer and OMR. The treatments were replicated five times. The wastes available from different crops were collected and they were converted into compost using earthwonns. The total recyclable biomass through the waste materials from the cropping system was recorded as about 7.7 tlhalyear from areca, cocoa and clove. The materials were converted into compost using earthworms with 80 per cent recovery. The soil was analysed for organic carbon, mineralisable nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. There was an increase in the organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the s il after the application of compost. The increase was to the extent of about 30%. Thus recycling of the wastes avafS a ble garden has improved the nutrient content of the soil. Thus in the present day of scarce availability of organic materials from external sources, recycling of the available wastes from the existing gardens especially in arecanut based cropping systems would be an important practice for sustainable agriculture.
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Proceedings of Placrosym XV (2002): 428-431