Effect of different tannery sludge compost amendment rates on growth, biomass accumulation and yield responses of Capsicum plants

Composting has been recognized as one of the most cost effective and environmentally sound alternatives for organic wastes recycling from long and composted wastes have a potential to substitute inorganic fertilizers. We investigated the potential of composted tannery sludge for ornamental purposes and to examine the effects of two different composts and concentrations on ornamental Capsicum growth. The two composts were produced with tannery sludge and the composition of each compost was: compost(1) of tannery sludge (C(1)TS) - tannery sludge + sugarcane straw and cattle manure mixed in the ratio 1:3:1 (v:v:v); compost(2) of tannery sludge (C(2)TS) - tannery sludge + "carnauba" straw and cattle manure in the ratio 1:3:1 (v:v:v). Each compost was amended with soil at rates (% v:v) of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (designation hereafter as T(1)-T(5), respectively). The number of leaves and fruits were counted, and the stem length was also measured. Chlorophyll content was recorded on three leaves of each harvested plant prior to harvest. Number of leaves and fruits, stem length, dry weight of shoot and roots did not vary significantly between the plants grown in two tannery composts. All the treatments with composted tannery sludge application (T(2)-T(5)) significantly increased the number of leaves and fruits, stem length and chlorophyll content compared with the control (T(1)). The chlorophyll content was higher in plants growing in the C(1)TS compared to C(2)TS. The results of the present study further suggest that Capsicum may be a good option to be grown on composted tannery amended soil. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.