Potentials of Two Brewery Waste-Based Composts on Soil Fertility for Amaranth (Amaranthus Caudatus) and Jackbean (Canavalia Ensiformis) Intercrop

Summary

The need for an increased production of vegetables to meet the human dietary necessitated a research in the use of different organic resources, for improving the soil fertility as well as improved yield and quality of amaranth. Thus, this report investigated the potential of two brewery waste based composts on soil fertility for amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) and Jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) intercrop. Six treatmentsL Compost IBBW1 (Ibadan brewery waste-based compost Grade A), Compost IBBW2 (Ibadan brewery waste-based compost Grade B), Compost IBBW1+ Jackbean (JB), Compost IBBW2+ Jackbean (JB), Jackbean and control (no fertilizer) were used. The compost was applied at the rate of 100 kgN/ha. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) of with four replications. The results revealed that the treatments had a significant effect on the total yield (fresh weight and dry weight in t/ha) of amaranths as well as some post soil chemical properties. Compost IBBW2 produced a significantly highest total fresh weight and dry weight of 31.3 and 2.64 t/ha respectively, which was better than control of 16.5 and 2.03 t/ha but not different from IBBW1. The control was significantly better than treatment combination with Jackbean. Based on the results from this experiment, both grades of the brewery waste-based compost increased the yield and improved the soil fertility. Thus, both grades A and B of the brewery wastes-based are recommended as organic fertilizers for crop production.