Synthetic Fertilizer Application Coupled with Bioslurry Optimizes Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i>) Growth and Yield
Zeqiang Shao,
Emmanuel R. Mwakidoshi,
Esther M. Muindi,
Rogério P. Soratto,
Shivani Ranjan,
Smruti Ranjan Padhan,
Andrew W. Wamukota,
Sumit Sow,
Daniel O. Wasonga,
Jamal Nasar,
Mahmoud F. Seleiman,
Harun I. Gitari
Affiliations
Zeqiang Shao
College of Resource and Environment Engineering, Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, Jilin 132022, China
Emmanuel R. Mwakidoshi
Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi P.O. Box 43844-00100, Kenya
Esther M. Muindi
Department of Environmental Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi P.O. Box 195-80108, Kenya
Rogério P. Soratto
College of Agricultural Sciences/Center of Tropical Roots and Starches, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. Universitária, 3780, Lageado Experimental Farm, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Shivani Ranjan
Department of Agronomy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur 848125, India
Smruti Ranjan Padhan
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012, India
Andrew W. Wamukota
Department of Environmental Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi P.O. Box 195-80108, Kenya
Sumit Sow
Department of Agronomy, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur 848125, India
Daniel O. Wasonga
Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Jamal Nasar
Institute of Rice Industry Technology Research, Key Laboratory of Functional Agriculture, College of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Mahmoud F. Seleiman
Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Harun I. Gitari
Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi P.O. Box 43844-00100, Kenya
Biogas bioslurry, which is normally a bio-digestion product from livestock refuse, can be utilized as an inorganic fertilizer, thus boosting not only soil fertility but also crop growth and yield. Its use can mitigate climate change by reducing methane gas emissions, which are associated with the direct application of fresh animal manure. The current study was carried out on farmer’s fields based at Wusi-Kishamba and Werugha wards in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, and it aimed at investigating the effect of bioslurry coupled with synthetic fertilizer on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth and yield. There were four treatments: sole bioslurry, sole fertilizer (DAP), bioslurry + DAP, and control, which were replicated five times in a randomized, complete block-designed layout. Data were collected on plant growth (plant height and leaf length) and yield (marketable and unmarketable tubers and the number of tubers plant−1). The results indicated a general increase in plant height from week one to week seven, where peak values were noted with sole slurry, sole fertilizer, and bioslurry + DAP treatments, which recorded 9, 18, and 43% taller plants, respectively, relative to control. Further, the combined application of bioslurry and DAP fertilizer significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved potato growth and yield. For instance, there was a higher (23.3 t ha−1) yield in bioslurry + DAP treatment compared to the respective least record of 14.2 t ha−1 in control. Therefore, the study recommends a synergistic application of synthetic fertilizer (DAP) and bioslurry to potato crops for optimal crop growth and production.
