JATROPA CURCAS SEED CAKE AS AN ORGANIC FERTILIZER ON ONION PLANT

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JATROPA CURCAS SEED CAKE AS AN ORGANIC FERTILIZER ON ONION PLANT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

In many countries of the world soils are being degraded at an alarming rate by wind and water erosion, desertification, and salinization resulting from misuse and improper farming practices [1]. Soil health is a term which is widely used within discussions on sustainable agriculture to describe the general condition or quality of the soil resource. Soil is undeniably a very complex structure. It may be described as a multicomponent and

Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic, phone +420 545 133 324, +420 545 134 037, email: [email protected], [email protected] 2

Department of Morphology, Physiology and Animal Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic, phone +420 545 133 146, +420 545 133 155, +420 545 133 152, email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 3

Department of Applied and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic, phone +420 545 132 484, +420 545 132 483, email: [email protected] 4

Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic, phone +420 545 133 345, +420 545 133 324, email: [email protected], [email protected] *

Corresponding author: [email protected]

multifunctional structure with definable operating limits and a characteristic spatial configuration. Within a continuum of possibilities, there are recognizable soil types that originate depending on variations in factors, such as parent material, climate and topography, which largely determine the dominant physical and chemical properties [2]. The term soil organic matter (SOM) is generally used to represent the organic constituents in soils including un-decayed plant and animal tissues, their partial decomposition products, and the soil biomass [3]. Retain and increasing the content of SOM in agricultural land (arable soil) is essential for achieving sustainable agriculture.

Soil organisms, including micro-organisms, use soil organic matter as source of energy. Factors affecting the activity of micro-organisms in soil and their quality and quantity include content of organic substances, nitrogen compounds, macro- and micro-elements, water, and oxygen, as well as soil pH and temperature [4-6]. Soil organisms mobilize many main and trace nutrients (particularly N) for the plant through their conversion processes alone, and are involved in particular in the nutrient cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur [6]. The waste products produced by micro-organisms are also soil organic matter. This waste material is less decomposable than the original plant and animal material but it can be used by a large number of organisms. By breaking down carbon structures and rebuilding new ones or storing the C into their own biomass, soil biota plays the most important role in nutrient cycling processes and, thus, in the ability of a soil to provide the crop with sufficient nutrients to harvest a healthy product [7]. There are many options to increase content of SOM in soil and thus reduce the risk of loss soil fertility. The most accessible method is the application of organic waste, which may be of different origin but it should be produced near the farmland where it will be applied. Application of organic waste must be carried out in accordance with relevant standards (Regulation of the European Parliament no. 1774/2002; Decree of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture no. 382/2001 Sb.; ČSN EN – Czech Technical Standard European Standard 46 5735), which specifies the procedure for the waste utilization in agriculture. This factor is very important for profitability of SOM application, especially in developing countries where farmers have limited financial resources [8-11]. Therefore, we focused on the utilization of organic waste compost (Cp) and Jatropha seed cake (JSC). Industrial countries in Central Europe use the composting process primarily for disposal of municipal organic waste and organic waste from agriculture. Conversely, developing countries in South Africa do not have such resources and must search for new possibilities in agriculture. Such an opportunity is cultivation of new species of crops that have important economics and environmental properties [12].

The resulting organic waste compost contains a quality organic matter with high potential. In Central Europe, the composting process is especially used for treatment of municipal organic waste and organic waste from agriculture.

Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) is a deciduous shrub that grows up to a height of 3-5 meters and has productive life of 50 years. It belongs to the family of Euporbiaceae. JCL is believed to have been spread by Portuguese seafarers from its center of origin in Central America and Mexico via Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau to other countries in Africa and Asia. It is now widespread throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. The possibility of growing JCL for the purpose of producing biofuel is really attractive and gets attention of investors and policy-makers worldwide. The seeds of JCL contain non-edible oil with properties that are well suited for the production of biodiesel. Although optimum ecological conditions for JCL production are in the warm subhumid tropics and subtropics, JCL’s ability to grow in dry areas on degraded soils, that are marginally suited for agriculture, makes it especially attractive. In addition, JCL can be used as a living fence to keep out livestock, control soil erosion and improve water infiltration. The waste products from JCL biodiesel production, JSC, can be used as fertilizer or livestock feed and for producing biogas [13].

This study evaluates the potential of using Cp and JSC as a source of organic nutrient to further nurture the growth of crops. More than a decade ago, it had been reported that there was a usage of JSC as fertilizer for growing potatoes [14]. There were shown that crops of pearl millet, cabbage, and rice had high percent of yield increases after an application of JSC as fertilizer comparing to none application [15].

The aims of the present study were therefore as follows: (1) to investigate the influence of Cp and JSC application on soil fertility (2) to investigate the different impact of JSC on soil fertility in comparison with Cp (3) the possibility of using of organically treated waste (Cp and JSC) to improve soil fertility and thus soil resiliency to negative phenomena.

Statement of the problem

There may have been previous researches in this subject. This work gives further explanations and analysis in jatropa curcas seed cake as an organic fertilizer on onion plant

Objectives of the study
To understand the impact of jatropa curcas seed cake as an organic fertilizer on onion plant
To understand the relationship between jatropa curcas seed cake as an organic fertilizer and growth of onion plant

Research questions
What is the impact of jatropa curcas seed cake as an organic fertilizer on onion plant
What is the relationship between jatropa curcas seed cake as an organic fertilizer and growth of onion plant