Effect of fermented fish silage manure on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench)

Abstract

Fish processing operations produce waste in the solid form like fish carcasses, viscera, skin and heads. Quantum of waste generated through fish processing varies from 10% to 80% of the weight of the fish according to the processing activities. The organic components of the waste have a high biological oxygen demand and if not managed properly, can pose serious environmental pollution, thereby contributing to global climate change. It could be converted to valuable by products like fish silage. Fish silage has immense potential to be used as manure because of its rich nutrient content. The present study investigates the effect of application of fish silage liquid manure on the growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench. Fish silage was prepared from the dressing waste (gut and gills) of fresh water carps using the fermentation process. The experiment was conducted in ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Lat 200 17’17.43”N and Longitude 85047’8.97E. Treatments consisted of 100% cowdung (10t/ha) (T1), 50% fermented silage (5000L/ha) and 50% cowdung (5t/ha) (T2) and 100% fermented silage (10t/ha) (T3). NPK at the rate of 20:100:100kg/ha was applied in all the treatment plots. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replicates with plot size 2.0 m × 2.0 m each. Data of growth and yield parameters; plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, number of pods, length of pods, fresh weight of pods and average yield were measured. The result revealed that T2 (50% FYM and 50% fish silage) gave higher pod weight (14.88±3.72g), pod length (12.8±2.39cm), pod number (7.61±4.63) and average yield of 116.72 ±94.58g) which is 12.98%, 0.2%, 10.93% and 31.85% higher than 100% FYM (T1). The result shows that fermented fish silage, a byproduct from fish dressing waste, could be used in combination with cowdung to increase the productivity of the soil and yield in okra production and thereby reduce the pollution caused by the fish wastes.