Impact of sewage sludge and Dal weed compost on yield and quality attributes of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala L.) in Kashmir

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out for two consecutive years during Rabi 2016 and 2017 at Experimental Farm SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar campus to study the “Impact of sewage sludge and Dal weed compost on yield and quality attributes of kale (Brassica oleracea Var. acephala L. in Kashmir Himalaya. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The experiment comprised of nine treatment combinations of sewage sludge, Dal weed compost and inorganic fertilizers viz., T1 (20% sewage sludge + 80% RFD), T2 (40% sewage sludge + 60% RFD), T3 (20% Dal Weed Compost +80% RFD), T4 (40% Dal Weed Compost +60% RFD), T5 (20% sewage sludge +20% Dal Weed Compost+ 60% RFD), T6 (100% Dal Weed Compost), T7 (100% sewage sludge), T8 (100% RFD) and T9 (no fertilizers). Observations were recorded on various aspects like yield, fresh and dry root biomass and quality attributes. The results show that plant yield (361.87 q/ha), root fresh biomass (35.12 g/plot), root dry biomass (11.46 g/plot)) and quality parameters viz., carbohydrates (4.10%), total chlorophyll (180.30 mg/100g) were significantly higher in the plots treated with T1 (20% sewage sludge + 80% RFD) which was at par with treatment T2 (40% sewage sludge + 60% RFD) and T8 (100% RFD) as compared to control. The study concludes with the findings that application of T1 (20% sewage sludge + 80% RFD) followed by T2 (40% sewage sludge + 60% RFD) exhibited higher quality yield in kale and an environment-friendly solution for disposal problems.