2023 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 45-51
Bio-slurry is an organic fertilizer produced from the decomposition of organic waste or residues in anaerobic digestion. It is applicable for improving vegetable production as it contains necessary nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for plant growth and organic matter that improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. About 29,000 biodigesters have been installed across Cambodia using animal waste to produce biogas, so huge quantities of bio-slurry are produced. Therefore, this study aimed (1) to assess the conditions of bio-slurry application in crop production in rural areas, (2) to determine NPK content in the bio-slurry, and (3) to estimate annual bio-slurry production and NPK production from biodigesters. The research was conducted between April and September 2022 by selecting 30 farming households that have biodigesters and use bio-slurry for crop cultivation in Prey Chhor District, Kampong Cham Province. It was found that 70% of the farmers used bio-slurry for rice cultivation and 16.7% for backyard vegetables, basically before planting. The nutrient content of slurry produced from cow manure consists of 0.20% N, 0.22% P, and 0.44% K. Most farmers preferred to use solid slurry for rice cultivation and liquid slurry for vegetables such as chili peppers, sweet peppers, eggplant, spinach, mustard greens, and cucumbers. However, bio-slurry was commonly mixed with chemical fertilizer in the crop growth stage. Farmers are willing to use both slurry and chemical fertilizers as this helps the plants to grow well and have higher yields.
