ASSESING GROWTH RESPONSES OF WATERMELON (CITRULLUS LANATUS) AGAINST BIOFERTILIZER ENRICHED WITH AZOLLA AS NITROGEN ENHANCER

Abstract

Compost means Relatively stable decomposed / processed product resulting from decomposition with similar characteristics as humus, made from biodegradable constituents, which contain considerable amounts of plant nutrients. Composting is a bio degradation process brought by micro - organism and/or other biological agents. (According to SLS Standard definition) The main problem with composting which made from the municipal solid waste is nitrogen depletion. although SLS quality certificate, any manure must contain at least 2% nitrogen to be composted. The amount of nitrogen in the compost produced in Kerawalapitiya waste management park is significantly lower and it contain only 1% N. actually, at that situation it's called soil amendments. As a solution of that, throughout this research proposed to add dry Azolla as nitrogen enhancement. By adding azolla increased the nitrogen content 5% or more and find out how it effects for the fruit's crops. (Used watermelon as fruits crops). Here actually added this N enriched new compost for fulfil N amount of water melon as an agriculture recommendation and find out whether any changes or not in morphological characteristics, yield response and fruit quality and quantity too. Rather than adding chemicals or urea as a N fixing azolla is actually azolla is an organic and ecofriendly, non-hazard, low-cost N fixing crops. According to the experimental result rather than adding organic or chemical fertilizer along best suit is adding these two as a combination. ln this research showed that 50% chemical fertilizer and 50% new prepared Azolla mixed fertilizer showed best morphological characteristics and yield and quality parameters in watermelon after 02-month planting. Here after dried Azolla showed that 5% N content and by adding theses 5% N increase the N content of municipal solid waste compost. As a morphological characteristic the treatment which used chemical fertilizer only (T4) showed best result and as a quality of the fruit T6 that means 50% chemical fertilizer and 50% newly N enriched formulated compost showed best result. And also, research finding it showed that the treatment which used only compost is showed slow growth rate comparing others. As finally conclude that rather than using chemical or compost only by used it as a combination it showed best results.