Effect of Dairy Manure Derived Bokashi Prepared From Different Organic Materials on Lettuce Growth and Mineral Nutrition

Abstract Bokashi is the product of an anaerobic process using beneficial microorganisms, molasses and water, in which a wide range of organic materials can be used. It has advantages over compost and other organic inputs on soil fertility due to its special properties. However, studies on bokashi compost are limited and much less is known of how bokashi compost affect properties of dairy manure in terms of the growth and mineral nutrition of a plant. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different dairy manure bokashies on the growth and mineral nutrition of lettuce and to compare them with dairy manure. Eight-manure derived bokashi mixtures were compared with dairy manure. These materials were: Dairy manure bokashi (M 1), Dairy manure bokashi + sour cherry stone biochar (M 2 ), Dairy manure bokashi + dairy manure biochar (M 3 ), Dairy manure bokashi + tomato harvest residue biochar (M 4 ), Dairy manure bokashi + pomogranete peel biochar (M 5) , Dairy manure bokashi + straw (M 6 ), Dairy manure bokashi + sawdust (M 7 ), Dairy manure bokashi + tomato harvest residues (M 8 ) and Dairy manure alone (M 9 ). In the experiment, 9 different materials were weighed to the 2.5 kg soil containing pots at 0 (control), 7.5 and 15 t ha − 1 and pre-incubated for 60 days. The most effective treatments on head and root weights were 7.5 t ha − 1 of M 1 and at 15 t ha − 1 of M7, respectively. While M 1 was the most effective material on head weight, but there was no difference between the materials on root weight. Similarly, M 1 proved to be the most effective material on plant’s nutrient uptake. The results showed that 7.5 t ha − 1 of M 1 is the most favorable material for lettuce dry weights and mineral nutrition. It was concluded that there was no need to mix biochar or other organic materials into dairy manure bokashi if it is used for the soils having similar properties used in this research.