Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench)
Sawdust as a soilless growth substrate for plants is becoming popular in greenhouse production. However, fresh sawdust often requires time for decomposition before it is ready for use as a growth substrate. We studied whether amendments of banana peels (as a source of potassium), eggshells (as a sou...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/3/354 |
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| author | Muhammad Yasin Hassan Noorani Farhan Anwar Manahil Siddiqui Muhammad Ehsan Safdar Christian Andreasen |
| author_facet | Muhammad Yasin Hassan Noorani Farhan Anwar Manahil Siddiqui Muhammad Ehsan Safdar Christian Andreasen |
| author_sort | Muhammad Yasin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sawdust as a soilless growth substrate for plants is becoming popular in greenhouse production. However, fresh sawdust often requires time for decomposition before it is ready for use as a growth substrate. We studied whether amendments of banana peels (as a source of potassium), eggshells (as a source of calcium), and urea (as a source of nitrogen) in non-composted fresh chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i>) sawdust could enhance its potential as a growth medium. In two pot experiments, the growth of okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) was evaluated using mixtures of non-composted <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust. The treatments were: (T<sub>1</sub>) 100% soil (control) (vol/vol); (T<sub>2</sub>) 100% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust (vol/vol); (T<sub>3</sub>) 80% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust +20% banana peel (vol/vol); (T<sub>4</sub>) 60% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust +20% banana peel +20% eggshell (vol/vol); and (T<sub>5</sub>) 60% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust +20% banana peel +20% eggshell (vol/vol) +91 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> (urea). There was no significant difference between the treatments regarding seed germination and okra emergence, but leaf area, chlorophyll content index, plant biomass, number of pods per plant<sup>−1</sup>, fresh pods, and dry weight were significantly lower in pots with fresh sawdust mixtures. Organic amendments of banana peels and eggshells improved the sawdust substrate. Adding a further 91 kg N hectare<sup>−1</sup> improved the growth but was insufficient to produce the same yield of okra as in non-fertilized sandy clay loam soil. We cannot exclude that non-composted <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust may be a potential growth substrate for okra, but the amendments added were not enough to obtain the same yields as when okra was grown in soil. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7cd92caeec684392b8af6111a8985bf12023-11-30T20:43:24ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-03-0112335410.3390/agriculture12030354Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench)Muhammad Yasin0Hassan Noorani1Farhan Anwar2Manahil Siddiqui3Muhammad Ehsan Safdar4Christian Andreasen5Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha PK-40100, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha PK-40100, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha PK-40100, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha PK-40100, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha PK-40100, PakistanDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegard Alle 13, 2630 Taastrup, DenmarkSawdust as a soilless growth substrate for plants is becoming popular in greenhouse production. However, fresh sawdust often requires time for decomposition before it is ready for use as a growth substrate. We studied whether amendments of banana peels (as a source of potassium), eggshells (as a source of calcium), and urea (as a source of nitrogen) in non-composted fresh chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i>) sawdust could enhance its potential as a growth medium. In two pot experiments, the growth of okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) was evaluated using mixtures of non-composted <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust. The treatments were: (T<sub>1</sub>) 100% soil (control) (vol/vol); (T<sub>2</sub>) 100% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust (vol/vol); (T<sub>3</sub>) 80% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust +20% banana peel (vol/vol); (T<sub>4</sub>) 60% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust +20% banana peel +20% eggshell (vol/vol); and (T<sub>5</sub>) 60% <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust +20% banana peel +20% eggshell (vol/vol) +91 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> (urea). There was no significant difference between the treatments regarding seed germination and okra emergence, but leaf area, chlorophyll content index, plant biomass, number of pods per plant<sup>−1</sup>, fresh pods, and dry weight were significantly lower in pots with fresh sawdust mixtures. Organic amendments of banana peels and eggshells improved the sawdust substrate. Adding a further 91 kg N hectare<sup>−1</sup> improved the growth but was insufficient to produce the same yield of okra as in non-fertilized sandy clay loam soil. We cannot exclude that non-composted <i>M. azedarach</i> sawdust may be a potential growth substrate for okra, but the amendments added were not enough to obtain the same yields as when okra was grown in soil.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/3/354bio-resourcecontainer plantsgrowth substraterecycling organic mattersoilless culturesustainable plant production |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Yasin Hassan Noorani Farhan Anwar Manahil Siddiqui Muhammad Ehsan Safdar Christian Andreasen Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) Agriculture bio-resource container plants growth substrate recycling organic matter soilless culture sustainable plant production |
| title | Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) |
| title_full | Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) |
| title_fullStr | Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) |
| title_short | Non-Composted Chinaberry (<i>Melia azedarach</i> L.) Sawdust Mixtures as Growth Medium for Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) |
| title_sort | non composted chinaberry i melia azedarach i l sawdust mixtures as growth medium for okra i abelmoschus esculentus i l moench |
| topic | bio-resource container plants growth substrate recycling organic matter soilless culture sustainable plant production |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/3/354 |
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