Evaluation of Nutrients Released from Phosphorus-Enriched Empty Oil Palm Fruit Bunches As Growing Media UsingSetaria splendida

Abstract

The use of oil palm empty fruit bunch, an agricultural waste from oil palm plantations, as a feeding material for earthworms during composting provides an alternative source of nutrients for plants. Information regarding the ability of earthworms in processing phosphorus-enriched empty oil palm fruit bunch and their effects on plants is still lacking. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of phosphorus-enriched empty oil palm fruit bunches applied as fresh, composted or vermicomposted media in supplying nutrients on a test crop, Setaria splendida L., grass planted on Bungor (Typic Kandiudult) soil. The soil treated with phosphorus-enriched vermicomposted empty oil palm fruit bunch increased the grass dry matter yield significantly higher compared to that treated with composted empty oil palm fruit bunch and control. The root volume of vermicomposted-and composted-empty oil palm fruit bunches treated soil was similar but significantly greater than the control. There was significant interaction between dosage and type of growing media on cumulative N, P, K, Ca, and Mg uptake. However, these factors did not show significant influence on total N, P, Ca and Mg in the soil amended with composted oil palm empty fruit bunch at the end of the experiment. In general, phosphorus-enriched vermicompostedand phosphorus-enriched composted-empty oil palm fruit bunches treated soil resulted in a greater positive effect on growth and nutrient uptake of S. splendida, and also on the total nutrient content in soil except for total K. Total soil K in the control treatment was 242.0 mg/kg and significantly higher compared to soil treated with composted-(173 mg/kg) and vermicomposted-empty oil palm fruit bunches (167 mg/kg). The vermicomposted empty oil palm fruit bunch resulted in better growth performance of the S. splendida in comparison to composted-and fresh-empty oil palm fruit bunches due to the readily available P and other nutrients being readily available to the plants.

Rock phosphate enriched compost as a growth media component for organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) seedlings production

“…A similar result was reported by Sabrina et al (2011) who confirmed that phosphorus enriched compost resulted in better growth and nutrient uptake by Setaria splendida.…”

“…In contrast, there are few reports (Biswas & Narayanasamy 2006;Sabrina et al 2011) regarding the use of P enriched compost to substitute for peat either partially or wholly. Organic nursery producers could save additional costs for fertilizers allowed in organic farming by using P enriched compost.…”

Application of Raw Rock Phosphate and Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris L.) On The Development and Nutrient Content of Corn Plant

“…Earthworms have ability to increase plant development by enhancing the physical characteristics (Baker, 1999) and chemical conditions (Tuffen et al 2002;Sabrina et al 2009a;2011) of the soil, so they are important elements of rhizosphere ecosystem. Earthworms use the large part of organic wastes such as crop wastes, animal manure, biosolids and industrial wastes (Chan and Griffiths 1988;Hartenstein and Bisesi 1989;Edward 1998).…”

Critical evaluation of oil palm fresh fruit bunch solid wastes as soil amendments: Prospects and challenges

“…However, the total nitrogen content of the EFB fine particles was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the coarse particles (1.8, and 1.6 %, respectively). Nahrul Hayawin et al 2010 Table 5 shows the characteristics of vermicomposted EFB, non-vermicomposted (naturally composted) EFB, and non-composted (fresh) EFB treated with Gafsa rock phosphate (Sabrina et al, 2011). The nutrient contents of the EFB increased in the order of vermicompost>non-vermicompost>fresh.…”