Development of fishwaste compost and its effect on quality of soil and crop

Abstract

The main objective of this research was production of compost from fish waste generated from the seafood processing industries at Tuticorin district, Tamilnadu and examine the effect of fishwaste compost on crop and soil quality. The fish waste was acidic in pH (6.1) with EC of 3.8 dS/m. The total NPK content of fish waste is 10.17%, 0.20%, 0.74% respectively. It has an appreciable amount of organic carbon 46.22% and secondary nutrients calcium (1.86%) and magnesium (0.15%) respectively. Fish waste was composted with saw dust under the windrow method of composting and analysed. After composting, fish waste compost (FWC) was neutral in pH (7.1) with low soluble salts (EC = 0.38 dS/m). It had a considerable amount of N (1.6%), P (0.16%) and K (0.21%). A pot study conducted on blackgram comprising of different doses of fishwaste compost (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 t/ha) along with recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). Among the different treatments, application of FWC @ 4t/ha enhanced the growth and yield of black gram and improve the soil quality. From the study, it is evident that fishwaste compost can play a significant role in enhancing the soil properties and performance of blackgram invariant of dose applied.