Application of Compost and Vermicompost as Substitutes for Mineral Fertilizers to Produce Green Beans

Abou-El-Hassan, Saad; Abd Elwanis, Mona; El-Shinawy, Mohamed Zaky

doi:10.21608/ejoh.2017.1596.1019

Application of Compost and Vermicompost as Substitutes for Mineral Fertilizers to Produce Green Beans

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Central Lab. Organic Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center

² Protected Agriculture Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center

³ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Egypt.

10.21608/ejoh.2017.1596.1019

Abstract

SUSTAINABLE agricultural development need to provide alternatives of mineral fertilizers to produce safe food for humans, maintain of soil fertility and preserve of environment from pollution. Field experiment was conducted at the site of Vegetable Research Departments, Horticulture Research Institutein Giza Governorate, Egypt, to study possibility of using compost and vermicompost (compost of earthworm) as substitutes partial or fully for mineral fertilizers used in the production of green beans. The beanseeds (cv. Paulista) were sown in clay soil duringthe summer season of 2016 and 2017. Treatments of compost and vermicompost individually orin combination with or without adding 50% of recommended dose of mineral fertilizers,were investigated on bean plants. The effects of these treatments on the growth and yield of green beans were compared tofull recommendeddose of mineral fertilizers as control. All treatments of compost and vermicompostwithout mineral fertilizers decreased all the vegetative properties of bean plants. Compost and vermicompost singly or in combination + 50% mineral fertilizers were not showed any significant differences compared to 100% mineral fertilizers. The treatments of 100% mineral fertilizers and 50% mineral fertilizers + vermicompost sole or combined with compost gave the highest early and total yield compared to other treatments.Applyingcompost and vermicompostwith or without mineral fertilizers, decreased nitrate content of bean pods. This study suggested possibilityfor using compost and vermicompost to reduce the amount of mineral fertilizers to produce good yield,healthyand safe of green beans.

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