Effect of bat guano on the growth of five economically important plant species
Keywords:
Organic manuring, Plant growthAbstract
Fertiliser applications are critical to crop production and food security in Cambodia. While inorganic forms are mostly used, livestock manure, compost and bat guano are also widely applied. As the efficacy of bat guano as a plant fertiliser is unknown in the country, this was tested in eight-week growth trials for five economically important species: horseradish tree Moringa oleiferaLam., jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., longan Dimocarpus longan Lour., eggplant Solanum melongena L. and papaya Carica papaya L. Three treatments were employed in the trial: a control, a chemical fertiliser treatment, and a bat guano treatment. Results indicate that bat guano applications enhance plant growth. Compared to controls, all plant species in the guano treatment exhibited greater growth rates, most of which were statistically significant. Compared with chemical fertiliser treatments, three species in the guano treatment also exhibited greater growth, though only two were significantly different. In the remaining two species, growth was less or similar although again not significantly different. Additional trials are recommended to elucidate any longer term and cumulative benefits that might accrue from the use of bat guano as a plant fertiliser.align='justify'>Downloads
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