Effects of Compost Made of Food Waste of Buckwheat Husk and Flour as Compost Materials on the Growth of Japanese Komatsuna (Brassica campestris) and Weed under Field Condition

RESEARCH REPORTS FROM INSTITUTE FOR AGRO-MICROBIOLOGY, Vol. 9, 2005 p.41-51
Copyright © Institute for Agro-Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

3.Effects of Compost Made of Food Waste of Buckwheat Husk and Flour as Compost Materials on the Growth of Japanese Komatsuna (Brassica campestris) and Weed under Field Condition

Kotaro Kato1, Nobuaki Miura1, Susumu Miyama2, Mitsunori Katsukura2(1 Institute for Agro-Microbiology 2 MOA Nature Farming and Culture Agency)

Three composts, which made from cattle manure-buckwheat husk and flour, buckwheat husk and flour-rice husk, and cattle manure-rice husk, were manufactured and used as organic fertilizers for the cultivation of Japanese Komatsuna (Brassica campestris). The chemical characteristics were almost same in the cattle manure-buckwheat husk and flour compost and the cattle manure-rice husk compost. The nitrogen and minerals contents and the pH in the buckwheat husk and flour-rice husk compost were lower than those in other composts. Promoting effect of compost on the growth of Komatsuna was observed, however, the effect of the cattle manure-buckwheat husk and flour compost and the buckwheat husk and flour-rice husk compost on the growth of Komatsuna was significantly smaller than that of the cattle manure-rice husk compost. In the Komatsuna field where the composts were applied, the weed occurred between 12 to 18 genera or species. In all treatments, the number of Digitaria ciliaris was largest among the weed community. It was observed that early growth of Digitaria ciliaris was suppressed by the cattle manure-buckwheat husk and flour compost and the buckwheat husk and flour-rice husk compost. Amaranthus lividus, Setaria virides, Euphorbia maculata, and Glyceria ischyroneura did not occur in the field applied with the cattle manure-rice husk compost. The analysis of two-way ANOVA with the number or dry weight of weed showed that there was statistical significant difference in the kind of weed, but not in the kind of compost applied. The cluster analysis with the number or dry weight of weed suggested that the kind and number of weed might change by the difference of compost.

Keywords: Compost, Buckwheat husk and flour, Cattle manure, Rice husk, Komatsuna, Weed