Authors : L. Uicab Brito , I. Armendariz Yanez , A. Camal Maldonado , L. Sarmiento Franco , J.C. Segura Correa and R. Santos Ricalde
Abstract: The effect of pig litter composted on growth of Maize (M) and Havanan Pepper (HP) plants was evaluated. The compost were made of rice husk litter from pens where 3 stoking densities of pigs were fattening (3.5 (C1), 2.3 (C2) and 1.7 m-2pig 1 (C3)). There was a Control (C) treatment (without fertilizer) and a fertilized one with Vermicompost (V). The average height (48.8 cm), stalk thickness (8.8 mm) and dry matter weight of leaves (8.3 g) were greater in the M plants in the compost treatments at 51 days after planting (p<0.05) than in the control one (33.3 cm, 5.2 mm and 5.8 g, respectively). The Foliage Cover (FC) in the HP plants was greater in the compost treatments (363.7 cm) than in the C treatment (287.2 cm) (p<0.05). Height, dry matter weight of root and leaves in the M plants and the height and FC in the HP plants increased linearly (p<0.05) from C1-3. The M plants in treatment V had greater height (63.5 cm), stalk thickness (11.3 mm), dry matter weight of leaves (10.5 g) and total nitrogen in leaves (1.9 g) than the average in the composts treatments (48.8 cm, 8.8 mm and 8.3 g, respectively). The plants of HP in V treatment had greater FC (443.3 cm) than the average in composts treatments (363.7 cm) (p<0.05). Nevertheless, there were not differences between C3 and V treatment (p>0.05) for all the response variables. The results suggested that it is possible to obtain a good quality compost from pig litter of rice husk. The compost quality was positively associated with the stoking pig density in the pens.
L. Uicab Brito , I. Armendariz Yanez , A. Camal Maldonado , L. Sarmiento Franco , J.C. Segura Correa and R. Santos Ricalde , 2009. Effect of Pig Litter Composted on Growth of Maize (Zea maiz) and Havanan Pepper (Capsicum chinense) Plants. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 514-518.