Influence of Compost and Compost Tea Quality (Components And Microbiome) in Boosting Onion Yield in the Field

Abstract

This research was undertaken to study the responses of onions to the field application of Cow Dung compost and compost tea during the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 cropping seasons. Hence, the fertilizing effects of compost and compost tea were assessed on onion production, in an effort to provide a plausible alternative to synthetic chemical inputs. Field experiments were carried out at Gapring-Lara in the Far North (Cameroon) in a randomized complete block design comprising five treatments, each of which was replicated thrice, including: Cow dung compost (Cp), Cow dung compost tea (CpT), Cow dung compost + Cow dung compost tea (Cp+CpT), Negative control (Ctrl) and NPK 20-10-10 (ChF). Analysis of collected data showed that the experimental soils were enriched in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and nitrogen after experimentation. Four bacterial species (Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Micrococcus sp.) were identified in compost and compost tea, with Pseudomonas sp. dominating in both compost (69.14%) and compost tea (56.32%). Plots amended with compost had the best average onion bulb weights, with 248 g and 234 g during the first and second cropping year, respectively. Agronomic production was considerably increased by CpT treatment with 65.48 t/ha in 2019 and by the Cp treatment with 28.14 t/ha in 2020 compared to 32.44 t/ha and 8.74 t/ha for the control, respectively. Based on the results of this study, organic fertilizers are recommended for onion cropping systems to promote sustainable soil fertility and sustainability.