Effect of enriched humanure on soil properties and yield of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L) in Tropical India

Abstract

Utilizing human excrement in agriculture shows great potential for meeting crop nutrient requirements, improving soil health and providing a sustainable solution for managing faecal waste. While a few studies have explored humanure as compost and human urine as a biofertilizer, no research has been conducted on enriched humanure, that is, humanure combined with biochar and urine. Enriched humanure is expected to enhance soil and crop benefits. To evaluate its efficacy, field trials were conducted during the winter and summer seasons in Vridhachalam on marigolds (Hybrid-Bens Tall) using a randomized block design with 11 treatments replicated three times. The treatments included: bioinputs alone, humanure + biochar + human urine at ratios of 1.0:1.0:1.0 and 1.0:1.0:1.5, enriched humanure (1.0:1.0:1.0 and 1.0:1.0:1.5, enriched for 30 days), 50 % enriched humanure + 50 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), RDF + farmyard manure (FYM) and FYM alone. The results revealed that enriched humanure (1.0:1.0:1.0) significantly improved the soils’ chemical and biological properties. Its application increased the soils’ available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by 4.2 %, 18.59 % and 8.86 %, respectively. Moreover, the marigold yield reached 27650 kg ha-1, a 42 % improvement compared to the control (FYM application alone).