Growth Performance and Yield of Brassica rapa Var. Chinensis with Takakura and Conventional Compost

Abstract

Composted organic waste from food and plants is great for enhancing crop productivity and agricultural sustainability. However, the different composting methods produced by compost with home-based waste applied to growing media for crop growth remain a topic to discuss. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the growth performance and yield of Brassica rapa var. chinensis (B. rapa) using different composting methods produced composts in growing media. This study is focused on the different composting methods produced compost on the growth performance and yield of B. rapa with or without additional chemical fertilizer for cultivation. Six different treatments were applied, namely topsoil (C), Takakura (T), conventional (M), and another 3 treatments (CF, TF, and MF) added with fertilizer. After six weeks of cultivation, the plant height averaged 20 cm with 18 leaves produced across compost amendment treatments, while the treatments with fertilizer with plant height averaged 25 cm with 21 leaves produced. The growth parameters, namely fresh-to-dry ratio, root-to-shoot ratio, and light interception percentage, showed no significant differences at p≤0.05 among all the compost amendment treatments (T, M, TF, and MF) while different with C and CF treatment. The leaf area and total yield of B. rapa show significant differences among compost amendment treatments, while the treatment with chemical fertilizer achieved the highest yield of 1173.4 cm2 in leaf area and 44.3 t/ha of total yield. Using different composting methods produced compost, positively affects the growth performance of B. rapa plants. Meanwhile, combining fertilizer and compost amendment promotes B. rapa leaf area and yield.