The effect of integrated use of manure and fertilizers on crop yield, nutrient uptake and soil fertility was studied in the Boro-fallow-T. Aman cropping pattern over two years. The experiment was set up at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm, Mymensingh under the AEZ 9 (Old Brahmaputra Floodplain). The field trial consisted of eight treatments and control (no fertilizer or manure), 100% chemical fertilizers (CF), and IPNS based six treatments with six types of manure. Cowdung (CD), CD slurry, Trichocompost (TC) and vermicompost (VC) were added to soil at 5 t ha -1 and poultry manure (PM) and PM slurry applied at 3 t ha -1

Having up-to-date knowledge on the mineralization of organic materials and release of nutrients is of paramount significance to ensure crops’ nutrient demands, increase nutrient use efficiency and ensure the right fertilizer application at the right time. This study seeks to evaluate the mineralization patterns of various manures viz. cowdung (CD), cowdung slurry (CDSL), trichocompost (TC), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM), poultry manure slurry (PMSL), and mungbean residues (MR). The objective being to establish their efficiency in releasing nutrients under aerobic (field capacity) and anaerobic (waterlogging) conditions. The incubation experiment was designed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) that took into account three variables: Manures, soil moisture, and incubation period. The mineralization of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) ranged from 11.2 to 100.1% higher under aerobic conditions rather than anaerobic ones. The first-order kinetic model was used to mineralize both elements. C mineralization was 45.8 to 498.1% higher in an amount from MR under both moisture conditions. For N release, MR and PM exerted maximum amounts in anaerobic and aerobic scenarios, respectively. However, the rate of C and N mineralization was faster in TC compared to other manures in both moisture conditions. Although TC was 1.4 to 37.7% more efficient in terms of rapidity of mineralization, MR and PM performed better concerning the quantity of nutrient release and soil fertility improvement. PM had 22–24% higher N mineralization potential than PMSL while CDSL had 46–56% higher N mineralization potential than CD. C and N mineralization in soil was greater under aerobic conditions compared to what occurred in the anaerobic context. Depending on mineralization potential, the proper type and amount of manure should be added to soil to increase crops’ nutrient use efficiency, which in turn should lead to better crop production.

A good understanding of nutrient release from manure or compost after application through mineralization is important to assure meeting the nutrient demand of crops, to secure timely fertilizer application and to enhance nutrient use efficiency. The current study was done to evaluate phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) release patterns from different types of manures viz. cow dung, cow dung slurry, tricho-compost, vermicompost, poultry manure, poultry manure slurry and mungbean residues. The mineralization study was performed under aerobic (field capacity) and anaerobic (waterlogging) conditions for 180 days at 25 ± 1 °C in the laboratory. The release of P and S showed the highest values within 75–180 and 75–150 days, respectively, and was always higher in aerobic conditions than in anaerobic conditions. The first-order kinetic cumulative model was a good fit for mineralization, which was significantly influenced by manure type, soil moisture level and incubation period. Poultry manure slurry exerted the highest P and S release under both moisture conditions. Both slurries showed higher potential mineralization, with a lower rate constant for these elements compared to that in their manure states. Hence, appropriate manures should be chosen and applied in the proper quantity to provide exact amounts of nutrients, to increase crops nutrient use efficiency and to formulate correct fertilizer recommendations.

The present study was done at Bangladesh Agricultural University farm to evaluate the field performances of different types of manures viz. cowdung (CD), cowdung slurry (CD slurry), trichocompost (TC), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM) and poultry manure slurry (PM slurry) with chemical fertilizers in the potato-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping pattern during 2011-12 and 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and eight treatments including T1 (Control), T2 [HYG based 100% chemical fertilizer (CF)], T3 [CD + CF (IPNS basis)], T4 [CD slurry + CF (IPNS basis)], T5 [PM + CF (IPNS basis)], T6 [PM slurry + CF (IPNS basis)], T7 [TC + CF (IPNS basis)] and T8 [VC + CF (IPNS basis)]. Trichocompost + CF and vermicompost + CF containing treatments produced higher crop yield followed by poultry manure slurry and cowdung slurry. Integrated use of manures and fertilizers gave on an average 6.7-33.7%, 8.3-33.8% and 2.9-18.3% yield increase in potato, mungbean and T. aman rice, respectively over sole application of chemical fertilizers (data not shown). Use of IPNS improved nutrient content and uptake of mungbean. The present study thus indicates that use of manure, especially trichocompost, vermicompost, PM slurry and CD slurry integrated with chemical fertilizers would help increase crop yield and improve soil fertility. However, Trichocompost + CF was the best option in this regard. SAARC J. Agri., 16(2): 167-179 (2018)

An experiment was conducted at the Mushroom growth house and Tissue Culture Laboratory, Horticulture Demonstration and Training Centre (HDTC), Kewatkhali, Mymensingh during February to May, 2006 to investigate the effect of different substrate on growth and yield of Button mushroom (Agaricus biporus). The substrates which were used in the experiment were wheat: paddy (1:1) straw compost, paddy straw compost and decomposed cowdung. The parameters observed in first and second flush were number of primordia, number of fruiting bodies and fresh weight of mushroom. Data were statistically analyzed following Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data revealed that different substrate significantly affected the production of number of primordia, number of fruiting bodies and fresh weight. In both the first and second flush, all the three observed parameters were obtained highest in wheat: paddy straw compost and the lowest were in decomposed cowdung.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i2.14810 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(2): 177-180 2012