Humic acid and indigenous microbe treatments for better yield of pak choy grown in dairy farm effluent compost

The consumption of Pak Choy in Malaysia is higher than the local production. This vegetable has to be imported to meet the demand. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of humic acid (HA) and indigenous microbe formulation (IMF) on the growth and yield of Curly Dwarf Pak Choy (CDP) grown in 100 % dairy farm effluent compost (DFEC). DFEC was sterilized and added or not added with HA, IMF or NPK 15: 15: 15. The vegetable was planted in 18 L pots. The treatments were applied following a completely randomized design of three replicates with three CDP per replicate. Data were collected for growth (plant height, leaf number, leaf area, and root length) and yield (fresh and dry matter weights). Addition of HA or IMF alone or in combination did not increase the growth and yield significantly. Yield was better only when HA + IMF was added with NPK where the CDP achieved 63.98 g fresh weight/plant (52.40 g/pot). HA+IMF appears to increase nutrient uptake. HA+IMF is recommended for farmers to use together with NPK to improve Pak Choy production

Dairy farm effluent compost as medium for production of chilli (capsicum annuum l. ‘kulai’) in fertigation system

Cattle industry contributes to a significant production of animal wastes in the world. In Sabah, organic wastes are generated abundantly from the dairy industry. Dairy farm effluent compost (DFE compost) is reported to be useful as a medium for Pak Choy production, but this is seldom studied for other crops. Hence, the present study was carried out to investigate the potential of DFE compost as a medium for chilli production by fertigation system. Four types of media (treatments) were prepared (DFE compost and Cocopeat vs. Sterilised and Nonsterilised), and the experiment was carried out following a Completely Randomized Design with nine replicates per treatment. Single fruit fresh weight (11.52 g) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in sterilised DFE compost than that in other media. Based on the medium-specific analysis, either DFE compost or cocopeat only, chilli yield was usually significantly higher in the sterilised rather than in the non-sterilised medium (T-test, P<0.0.5). The findings indicated that DFE compost can be used as an alternative medium for chilli production by fertigation system, but some amendments, such as, sterilization are required to enhance its effects