The indiscriminate application of various inorganic fertilizers has triggered many soil, water and health issues around the world. Due to the extent of these concerns, various forms of organic fertilizers have since been explored. This study sought to establish the suitability of two organic composites (vinasse and vermicompost) as fertilizers in cash crop production. The crops selected were leafy vegetables from the Class of Magnoliopsida and included Brassica rappa spp. Chinesis (pakchoi), Lactuca sativa (lettuce) and Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage). The response of these crops to four fertilization regimes (control -no fertilizers, vermicompost, vinasse and NPK) were monitored. Upon harvesting, data regarding weight of plants and number of leaves were recorded and analyzed. There was a 35.8%, 15.6% and a 20.7% greater yield of lettuce, pakchoi and cabbage, when vinasse was used as the fertilizer, as compared with NPK. With vermicompost, there were 19.5% and 5.2% higher yields for lettuce and cabbage with a 15.6% reduction of yield for pakchoi as compared with NPK. Considering the increased yield demonstrated from this study coupled with the environmental, soil and crop nutrient benefits posited by other researchers, vinasse and vermicompost should be utilized as an organic replacement for inorganic fertilizers.
The development and diversification of energy sources have recently been given much attention in Guyana. The establishment of the Albion Bioethanol Demonstration Plant is one step forward for the country to achieve a sustainable and green economy. It was observed that the effluent "vinasse" that is discharged from the plant is acidic with high levels of chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, total solids and heavy metals. This study investigated the spatial variability of elements due to vinasse disposal into the main canal that runs through to the sugar factory and meanders into the secondary channels around the cane fields. Water samples were collected in triplicates at four locations along the canal: (1) point of effluent discharge, (2) five metres, (3) twenty metres and (4) one hundred metres downstream for five different time periods (one week prior, first day of operation, one month after, two months after commencement of the crop and approximately one week after completion of the operation for that season). These samples were analyzed for the following physical and chemical parameters: electrical conductivity, total suspended solids, turbidity, total dissolved solids, pH, chemical oxygen demand, nitrates, orthophosphates, magnesium, aluminum, iron, manganese, copper, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, lead and zinc. It was determined that continuous disposal of vinasse in the waterway could result in the depletion of the oxygen supply and the accumulation of very toxic levels of heavy metals eventually causing the canal to become uninhabitable for aquatic life. Further, the impact could be detrimental to human life hence it is recommended that studies be conducted on various techniques for the utilization and treatment of this effluent, making it more environmentally friendly.
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