Synthesis and Evaluation of Organo-Mineral Phosphatic Fertilizers from the Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Wastes to Improve the Phosphorus Use Efficiency of Bell Pepper (Capsicum Annuum)

Abstract

The conversion of animal waste and agricultural by-products into organ mineral fertilizers is the best way to manage animal waste and use them as soil amendments to improve soil health and enhance nutrient availability. Animal waste can cause serious environmental consequences if not managed properly. This study was planned to convert animal waste into valuable and nutritional fertilizer for plants. We used cow dung, poultry manure, and different ratios of elemental sulfur and humic acid for the preparation of Organo-mineral Phosphatic fertilizer (OMPF). Di-ammonium phosphate was also used as a mineral source of Phosphorus (P). A total of six treatments (4 of OMPF with 5% humic acid, 5% elemental sulfur, 2.5% humic acid with 2.5% elemental sulfur, and only OMPF, 1 of DAP, and 1 as a control with no P) were evaluated under a pot trial using Bell pepper (Capsicum Annuum) as a test crop. Treatments were applied according to a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications, and achieved 20% higher PUE as compared to DAP. It is concluded that application of P as OMPF can significantly enhance shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, and chlorophyll content with 45 %, 52.6%, and 21%, respectively. And OMPF performs more significantly than the control treatment and positively effect on plant nutrients availability. However, more field studies are needed for broader applications of this technology.