Orateur
Description
Purpose: The use of composts in agriculture has many advantages on soil properties and the productivity of cultivated plants. This study aims to evaluate the response of the bean crop to organic fertilization consisting of composts from Lantana camara Linn, Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn, and cow manure in combination or not with chemical fertilizers.
Research method: The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design on a very acidic ferralsol of Matongo commune in northern part of Burundi. Each experimental plot corresponded to an application of a specific compost or cow manure combined or not with chemical fertilizers (dose N-P2O5-K2O: 18-46-30).
Findings: Adding chemical fertilizers to cow manure and Lantana compost significantly increased the numbers of leaves, flowers, pods, and seeds, the total biomass, and the weight of seeds. These two treatments recorded the highest grain yields (1067 kg.ha-1 and 999 kg.ha-1 respectively). They were followed by the application of cow manure alone (582.90 kg.ha-1). The lowest yields were observed when applying Calliandra alone (167 kg.ha-1) or combined with chemical fertilizers (371 kg.ha-1), Lantana alone (338.15 kg.ha-1), chemical fertilizers alone (100.79 kg.ha-1), and on unfertilized soil (0.67 kg.ha-1).
Originality/value: The Lantana camara compost can effectively replace farmyard manure for bean production on an acidic ferrallitic soil, and thus be useful to livestock-less farmers.
