Comparative quality of phosphocomposts and single superphosphate and response of green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)
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Keywords

Paddy straw
Rock phosphate
Superphosphate
Phosphocompost
Phosphonitrosulphocompost
Vigna radiata

How to Cite

Comparative quality of phosphocomposts and single superphosphate and response of green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek). (1994). Tropical Agriculture, 71(2). https://journals.sta.uwi.edu/ojs/index.php/ta/article/view/2680

Abstract

Phosphocomposts containing approximately 5.7% P2O5 were prepared from paddy straw by incubating the straw for 4 months with the addition of 5% P2O5 in the form of low-grade Mussoorie rock phosphate containing 17.2% P2O5. The rock phosphate was applied to the straw in an aqueous slurry of 1:1:0.5 (dry weight) cow dung: alluvial soil: well-rotted compost to assist the composting process. Phosphonitrosulphocomposts were similarly prepared containing approximately 7.0% P2O5 and 1.4-1.6% N by adding through the slurry 5% P2O5 as rock phosphate, 10% pyrite (S 22.2%), and 1 % urea-N. Composts of moist paddy straw alone without slurry or other ingredients were also incubated. The quality and crop response to phosphocomposts were substantially improved compared with pure paddy straw composts; they contained higher total P, water-soluble and citrate-soluble P, total N, and NO3-N. Phosphocomposts at 10 t ha-1 performed similarly to single superphosphate at 30, 40, or 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 in terms of growth, nodulation, dry matter accumulation, seed yield, and P uptake by Vigna radiata.
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