Formulation and use of organo-mineral fertilizer in soil and plant nutrition.
Excessive use of inorganic fertilizers leads to a decline in soil organic matter content, increased soil acidity, degradation of soil physical properties, nutrient toxicity and increased rate of erosion due to the instability of the soil aggregates. Thus, organic fertilizer could be used to improve effects of the overuse of chemical fertilizers. The combined use of mineral and organic fertilizers increases nutrient availability and stimulates crop growth and development. In Zimbabwe, fertilizer production and consumption declined after the introduction of the Land Reform program. To create a vibrant fertilizer industry in Zimbabwe, a policy shift that promotes competitive fertilizer marketing to support a broader range of farmers leading to agricultural productivity growth is needed. Therefore, this study was done at the EcoHum Processing Plant, Academic fields and the Soil Science laboratory; located at EARTH University, Las Mercedes, Guácimo, Limon, Costa Rica to determine organo-mineral fertilizer formulation and assess its soil availability and efficacy in plant nutrition. Four fertilizer treatments used for this study include (i) conventional N-P-K fertilizer (10- 30-10), (ii) organo-mineral pellet fertilizer (poultry manure, soil peat, KNO3 and MAP), (iii) organic pellet fertilizer (poultry manure and soil peat) and (iv) physical mixture of poultry manure, soil peat, KNO3 and MAP. The fertilizer treatments were applied on maize crop (Zea mays) and data collection was done at 66 and 87days after germination (DAG); and evaluation of residual effect of the fertilizer treatments. To introduce the organo-mineral fertilizer in Zimbabwe, a competitor analysis, market share analysis, market and marketing survey were done. Results showed a great increase in yield and yield components, nutrient concentrations of maize crop with the application of organic and organomineral fertilizers relative to the sole use inorganic fertilizer. Residual effect of the organomineral and organic pellet fertilizer showed relatively high macronutrient content. Therefore, the use of organomineral and organic pellet fertilizers is recommended because they are affordable and efficient options for increasing maize yields by improving soil fertility. It is possible to establish a pellet fertilizer company in Zimbabwe because of high availability of poultry manure at Irvine’s Africa, the major poultry company in the country.
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| Format: | info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
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Universidad EARTH
2018-12
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| Subjects: | ABONOS ORGANICOS, FERTILIZANTES, NUTRICION DE LAS PLANTAS, ZIMBABWE, MERCADEO, FERTILIDAD DEL SUELO, https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.01, |
| Online Access: | https://repositorio.earth.ac.cr/handle/UEARTH/320 |
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