Introduction
A trial was conducted to assess the performance of Asili fertiliser in enhancing crop yields compared to other fertilisers across two soil types: black cotton soil and red soil. The aim was to evaluate the growth performance, germination rates, and yield of different crops under controlled experimental conditions. This study explored Asili’s potential as an innovative organic fertiliser derived from composted chicken manure, avocado pulp, and biochar, in comparison to traditional fertilisers.
Experimental Setup
The trial examined several fertiliser treatments in both black and red soils, including:
Control (no fertiliser)
Asili
Asili + Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
DAP
Hygrow (one of Kenya's leading organic fertilisers)
Each treatment was applied to kale, beans, tomatoes, and maize. Key data such as germination rates, plant health, and yield were recorded. Pre-planting data collection was done on February 14, 2024, with precise measurements of soil conditions and plant growth stages.
Key Findings:
Germination and Early Growth:
Asili treatments showed healthier early growth and greener leaves compared to the control, particularly in black cotton soil.
Asili + DAP produced robust, healthy stems and dark green leaves, outperforming some of the traditional fertilisers.
Control groups in both soil types exhibited stunted growth and yellowing of leaves, indicating nutrient deficiencies.
Crop Yields:
Kale: The best yields were seen with DAP and Asili + DAP
Beans: Asili and Asili + DAP achieved the highest yields in black cotton soil, outperforming all other treatments. In red soil, biochar-based treatments produced the highest yields.
Tomatoes: In black cotton and red soil, Asili + DAP generated the best results
Maize: Asili + DAP produced the most significant maize yield, with Asili performing similarly to DAP on it's own
Biochar’s Role: Treatments with biochar, when not composted, underperformed compared to those where biochar was composted with organic matter like chicken manure. This indicates that biochar is more effective when integrated into compost.
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