ORGANIC ALFALFA PRODUCTION USING DIFFERENT EM.1 COMPOSTS

Authors : İhsanullah DAUR

Pages : 139-147

Doi:10.17557/tjfc.23036

View : 19 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2016-06-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Organic agricultural production systems are favored as they avoid the soil, air, and water contamination. Cow and poultry manure composts are key sources of fertilizer for organic crop production, but their natural degradation is slow that result in the loss of nitrogen. Therefore, the current study aimed to improve the composting process of cow and poultry manures through the addition of effective microorganisms insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EM.1);, a different exploitation from its normally intended use. Cow and poultry manures, with insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CMEM.1 and PMEM.1); and without insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CMplain and PMplain); EM.1 were composted and evaluated for organic alfalfa production. Compost analysis indicated superiority of EM.1 compost over plain compost. Significant insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p < 0.05); variation between treatment groups was found for most parameters, including plant height, leaf to stem ratio, fresh and dry forage yields, and mineral insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(N, P, Ca, B, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn); composition. Only nodulation and some mineral compositions insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(K, Mg, S, Na, Co, and Mo); were not significantly different between treatments. Overall superiority of the treatments was in the order of CMEM.1 > CMplain > PMEM.1 > PMplain. We conclude that EM.1 enhances compost quality and alfalfa crop yield. These findings are hoped to encourage sustainable organic alfalfa production and may be applicable to other crops. Furthermore, the article includes analysis for manures, soil, and alfalfa crops that may be useful as reference. 
Keywords : composting, crop growth, kitchen waste, manure, nodulation