Low-cost organic fertilizations and bioactivator for arugula-radish intercropping

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of boiled chicken manure doses (via fertigation), bokashi and Penergetic bioactivator on radish-arugula intercropping production variables. The treatments were control, Penergetic, Bokashi (9 g per plant), and boiled chicken manure (BCM) on 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% concentrations in water, for fertigation. The following variables were analyzed: leaf biomass (LB), leaf length (LL), for both plants. Bulb fresh biomass (BB) and bulb volume (BV) variables for radish only. A completely randomized design with nine replicates was used for first and second crop cycles, and five replicates, for third crop cycle. All production variables were influenced by the treatments, except radish LL, on third cycle. Bokashi increased production variables of arugula and radish. Penergetic increased radish bulb biomass (two cycles, only) and bulb volume. BCM increased arugula biomass at 10% and radish bulb biomass at 7.5% on three crop cycles, and with BCM concentration at 5, 7.5% and 10% bulb volume was increased (two crop cycles, only).

Bokashi, Boiled Manure and Penergetic Applications Increased Agronomic Production Variables and May Enhance Powdery Mildew Severity of Organic Tomato Plants

“…Our results are in line with studies where Bokashi was reported to increase productivity on several vegetables [2,5,7,24,25]. Bokashi is a soil amendment that is a product of raw organic material fermentation which is transformed by specific naturally occurring microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, and photosynthetic bacteria, often called "efficient microorganisms" (EM) [4,26].…”

“…There have been few studies of BM use. For arugula, the use of 10% BM increased leaf biomass during three cultivation cycles, and radish root biomass was increased with 7.5% BM during the three crop cycles [2].…”

“…Boiled manure (BM) from chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) has been used by organic strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) growers at a 7% concentration (vol/vol) [1]. However, for arugula (Eruca sativa L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), higher yields have been achieved with 10% and 5% BM, respectively [2]. Effective microorganism (EM) Bokashi is a well-known soil amendment used in agriculture [3,4], and has been tested with promising results for tomato [5,6], arugula [2], radish [2], and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) [7].…”

“…However, for arugula (Eruca sativa L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), higher yields have been achieved with 10% and 5% BM, respectively [2]. Effective microorganism (EM) Bokashi is a well-known soil amendment used in agriculture [3,4], and has been tested with promising results for tomato [5,6], arugula [2], radish [2], and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) [7]. Based on 130 long-term experiments, organic amendments provided stability in plant and fruit production, and may increase yield by up to 15% in tropical conditions [8].…”

“…For radish, Penergetic treatment increased root biomass and root volume [2]. A study with lettuce revealed that commercial head diameter and total mass were increased by the use of Penergetic [7].…”