Effects of the fish effluent on cabbage production under mulching conditions

Abstract

Egypt is suffering of limited water resources and facing some challenges result in shortage of water to cover agricultural requirements. The objectives of this study are using the fish effluent from fish farming; organic mulching for cabbage crop to reduce industrial nitrogen fertilizer addition; enhancing micro-environment; examine the water use index performance of irrigation systems from view point of providing water. Irrigation systems were drip and sprinkler systems. The mulching material was 4.5 cm thick. Nutrient analysis was performed twice weekly where total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate and nitrite. The results indicated that the organic mulching treatments were more retention heat than without mulching. Also, the results showed that the water index for drip irrigation with fish effluent were 0.0458 and 0.0507 m³/kg for mulching and without mulching, respectively. While, the water index for drip irrigation with mulching were 0.0458 and 0.1852 m³/kg for fish effluent and irrigation water, respectively.