Effects of Food- and Sludge-Derived Compost on Rice Cultivation

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of compost application on the production of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Two types of compost were examined: sewage sludge compost (SSC) and food waste compost (FWC), both of which were prepared from cyclical food resources, wood chips, and grass clippings. Pot experiments were conducted over two years, during which the effects of both these composts on the growth and yield characteristics of rice were analysed. Additionally, the total nitrogen (N) level, which was the total amount of compost applied to the soil, in both these composts varied between 5.5-22.0 g N per 24 L pot and was compared with 6.1 g N per 24 L pot of chemical fertilizer (CF) as conventional cultivation. The tiller number at the early stage and number of productive panicles per hill were the smallest among plants treated with FWC, followed by SSC, and the largest among those treated with CF. On the other hand, average number of spikelets per panicle and percentage of ripened grains were the highest among plants treated with SSC and FWC than that treated with CF. As the quantity of SSC increased, the yield of SSC treatments was increased. On the other hand, FWC had a peak of yield by increasing FWC application. Considering the changes of tiller number, maturity stage, yielding ability and economically, SSC containing 11.0 g N pot ^-1 could be used as an alternative to CF (6.1g N pot ^-1) utilized in the range of application amount of this experiment.