The use of piggery sludge compost in the growing of grain maize
1989
Ong, H.K. (MARDI (Malaysia). Livestock Research Div.) | Tan, S.L. (MARDI (Malaysia). Miscellaneous Crops Research Div.) | Choo, P.Y. (Selangor State Dept. of Veterinary Services (Malaysia))
Sludge from an anaerobic lagoon receiving piggery slurry was recovered by pumping sludge onto mesh-lined drying beds. Windrow-composted sludge has a chemical composition of 1.55% total N (0.041% NH3-N), 0.91% P, 0.15% K, 3.11% Ca and 1 689 ppm Mg on a dry-weight basis. The high N content and relative proportions of P and K make it a good candidate as a fertilizer for maize which has high N requirements. The compost was tested as a total and partial substitute for chemical fertilizers in growing grain maize. Preliminary results after one season of cropping show that the yield of grain (2.52 t/ha) when pig sludge was used as a partial substitute was not significantly different from the yield obtained (2.72 t/ha) when only chemical fertilizers were used. Yield was significantly lower (1.98 t/ha) when only pig sludge was applied. The rate of sludge used was 7.74 t/ha incorporated into the soil after the first round of ploughing and before the final rotortilling. Instead of 2 t lime, 129 kg N, 26 kg P and 33 kg K applied per ha as is usual when only chemical fertilizers are used, sludge application rate was supplemented with 1.5 t lime, 60 kg N and 27.2 kg K. This represents a saving of approximately $118 per ha or 52% in the cost of chemical fertilizers. Further work is required to determine if given sufficient time to break down, the nutrients in the sludge compost will become more available for cropping, and therefore even less supplementation with chemical fertilizers will be required. In the context of a centralised pig farming area (PFA) envisioned under the National Agricultural Policy, the use of piggery sludge for grain maize production in the buffer zones of PFA's would be appropriate, since maize is a significant component of pig feed
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