Dr Md.zannatul Ferdous¹

¹Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Rangpur, Bangladesh

Abstract

Biogas slurry, a by-product of biogas production generated from anaerobic digestion of animal waste and crop residues, is often being considered as a waste. Being a cheap source of organic matter and plant nutrients, its application can improve soil fertility, grain quality, and crop yield. Field experiments were conducted at Lahirirhat Farming System Research and Development site, Rangpur, Bangladesh to assess the effects of biogas slurry in combination with synthetic fertilizer on Maize (Zea maize L.) yield and profitability. Treatments were soil test-based chemical fertilizer, Chemical fertilizer + cow dung manure @ 5 t∙ha–1 or + poultry manure @ 3 t∙ha–1, Chemical fertilizer + cow dung biogas slurry @ 5 t∙ha–1 or + poultry biogas slurry @ 3 t∙ha–1, and farmer practice. Grain yield was significantly higher for plants fertilized with chemical fertilizer + cow dung biogas slurry or + poultry biogas slurry compared with others, whereas soil test-based chemical fertilizer and farmer practice treatments had the lowest yield.

The highest gross return and gross margin were obtained by the application of chemical fertilizer plus cow dung biogas slurry or poultry biogas slurry. Application of chemical fertilizer in combination with bioslurry has the potential of greater maize yield and economic return compared with traditional farmer practices. Hence, application of bioslurry for maize could be an economically viable and environment friendly option needed for feeding the alarmingly increasing human population and the threats from the changing climate.

Biography:

Dr.Md. Zannatul Ferdous is a senior researcher at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute in Bangladesh. He did his PhD from Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand under the field of study Agricultural Systems and Engineering at School of Environment, Resources and Development. Last 12 years he also works as a farming system researcher at On Farm research Division in   Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh. His main research interests involve smallholder farming systems and participatory research, soil fertility management, integrated farming system research, cropping system, food security and sustainable crop production. Ferdous obtained his BSc Ag. & MSc Ag (Agronomy) from Bangladesh Agricultural University.