Enhancing Fermentation of Farmyard Manure Using <i>Bacillus</i> sp. in the Mid-hills of Nepal

• SARVESH MASKEY

  Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture

• MIHARA MACHITO

  Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture

Abstract

Farmers in the mid-hills of Nepal have been using farmyard manure for maintaining soil fertility for their lands. However, there has been a decrease in production of farmyard manure. Less application of farmyard manure has led to declined soil fertility and reduced nutrient balance. Soil degradation through nutrient depletion is a serious issue. Soils in mid hills have very low nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus concentration. Sustainability of hill agriculture depends on how farmers use the available resources. Application of incompletely fermented and decomposed farmyard manure could have low nutrient contents, cause health risks as plants can uptake pathogenic bacteria through soil. Also, imbalances in nutrient content of manure mainly nitrogen and phosphorus can pollute water sources through leaching and runoff. An experiment was conducted to determine the action of Bacillus sp. as an inoculant for composting. Three different concentrations of Bacillus sp. liquid were extracted from locally available rice husk, which were 6.0×10¹⁰, 6.0×10¹², 6.0×10¹⁴ cfu mL^-1. An experiment was conducted for 60 days comparing samples with and without Bacillus sp. liquid. Results showed that Bacillus sp. helped in enhancing the fermentation process and better decomposition of organic matter, mineralization and the heat generated during the process helped in the elimination of pathogenic bacteria. Further, a growth experiment was conducted where Brasicca rapa was grown on the compost prepared. The results of growth experiment showed application of Bacillus sp. is good for development of plants.

Journal

• International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development

  International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development 9 (1), 51-56, 2018

  Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation, Research Center

Keywords

• mid-hills
• farmyard manure
• <i>Bacillus</i> sp.
• soil fertility
• Nepal

Details

• CRID: 1390283659868116352
• NII Article ID: 130007826983
• DOI: 10.32115/ijerd.9.1_51
• ISSN: 24333700
• ISSN: 2185159X
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed