Formulation of a liquid fertilizer for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) using vermicompost leachate.
Leachate from vermicomposting contains large amounts of plant nutrients and can be used as liquid fertilizer, but normally diluted to avoid plant damage. The amount of nutrients applied is thus reduced so that an additional fertilizer is required. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of NPK triple 17 fertilizer, and polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol as dispersant and polyethylene nonylphenol as adherent to increase efficiency of fertilizer uptake, affected sorghum plant development. The vermicomposting leachate with pH 7.8 and electrolytic conductivity 2.6 dS m(-1), contained 834 mg K(+) l(-1), 247 mg NO(3)(-)l(-1) and 168 mg PO(4)(3-) l(-1), was free of pathogens and resulted in a 65 % germination index. Vermicompost leachate can be used as liquid fertilizer for the cultivation of sorghum without dilution and mixed with 140-170 g l(-1) of NPK triple 17 fertilizer and 2-3 ml(-1) of dispersant and 0-1 ml l(-1) adherent. It was found that vermicompost leachate stimulated plant development, but fertilization with NPK was required for maximum growth.
Gutiérrez-Miceli
Federico Antonio
FA
Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal, Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla-Gutiérrez, Carr. Panamericana km. 1080, CP 29050, Tuxtla-Gutiérrez, México. biotecveg@yahoo.com
García-Gómez
Roberto Carlos
RC
Rincón Rosales
Reiner
R
Abud-Archila
Miguel
M
María Angela
Oliva Llaven
OL
Cruz
Marcos Joaquín Guillen
MJ
Dendooven
Luc
L
D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D045868:Sorghum / Q000254:growth & development*
D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil