EFFECT OF KITCHEN WASTE COMPOST ON TOMATO YIELD AND CARBON ACCUMULATION IN SOIL

Abstract

Two years field study was conducted on the effect of kitchen waste compost on tomato yield and carbon accumulation in soil at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur, Bangladesh under Old Brahmaputra Floodplain (AEZ 9) during rabi season of 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. The objectives were to determine whether composted kitchen waste would increase soil organic carbon levels and tomato yield. The BARI tomato-21 was utilized as the test crop, and the experiment was set up using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. There were seven treatments comprising T1 = 100 % RDCF (control), T2=100 % RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T3 = 100 % RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 5 t ha-1, T4 = 85% RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T5 = 85% RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 5 t ha-1, T6 =70% RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 2.5 t ha-1 and T7 = 70% RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 5 t ha-1. Data revealed that, combined application of kitchen waste compost and chemical fertilizer increased tomato production as compared to sole application of chemical fertilizers. The highest average tomato fruit yield (68.46 t ha-1) was found in T3 treatment (100 % RDCF + Kitchen Waste Compost @ 5 t ha-1). T1 treatment (100 % RDCF) yielded 55.82 t ha-1 of tomatoes, indicating that plants could not receive enough nutrients from a single application of chemical fertilizer. On the other hand, as chemical fertilizers were reduced, tomato yield gradually declined. The T6 treatment (70 % RD + kitchen waste compost @ 2.5 t ha-1) had the lowest average tomato output, 52.73 t ha-1. The T3 treatment (100 % RDCF + kitchen waste compost @ 5 t ha-1) performed better after the second cycle was finished in terms of total nutrient content in post-harvest soil. In comparison to previous treatments, this treatment also increased soil carbon accumulation. As a result, it is practicable to apply the full dose of chemical fertilizer with 5 t ha-1 kitchen waste compost, which will boost tomato yields, bring about economic benefits and prevent soil and environmental contamination.