Effects of Different Composting Methods and Application Rates on Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Abstract

The world population is expanding, cities are becoming more populated, living standards are growing, and technology is developing quickly. These factors have all led to an increase in the quantity and variety of solid wastes produced by industrial, residential, and other activities. The root crop yields have been increased through a number of efforts, but these efforts have raised questions about the use of inorganic fertilizers, which depletes soil fertility and soil health. Solid waste materials from industries and households were collected and used for the production of compost, an organic source of fertilizer which could be used to replace inorganic fertilizers. A field experiment was carried out from January to August 2022 at the research farm of Adanwomase Senior High School and the Teaching and Research field of Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mamponteng Municipality, Ashanti Region, to determine the composting technique that offers most nutrients for crop growth and to evaluate the compost application rate needed to produce carrots at the maximum level possible. The experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were composting technique (pit method, heap method and bucket method) and composting rates of (5t/ha, 10t/ha and 15t/ha). Agronomic parameters measured of the carrot crop were plant height, number of leaves of plant, root length, root width, number of harvested roots, and number of deformed roots, fresh root weight, and fresh leave weight. The results showed that the heap method of compost technique supplies adequate amount of macro and micro nutrients to plants for proper growth and that applying heap method of compost at an application rate of 15 tons/ha would give maximum performance and good yield of the crop than the other application rates of composting.