Bio-Economic Efficiency of Co-Composted Faecal Sludge Based Integrated Nutrient Management of Wheat under Different Irrigation Regimes

Faecal sludge disposal is becoming a huge challenge in the urban areas of Bangladesh. Nowadays the focus is shifting from faecal sludge disposal to reuse as fertilizer and soil conditioner after decomposition. Keeping that in mind present study was undertaken to judge the efficacy and economic feasibility of integrating co composted faecal sludge with chemical fertilizers in increasing wheat productivity under different irrigation regimes. A two-factor experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Factors included: a) four irrigation regimes: no irrigation, one irrigation at Crown Root Initiation (CRI) stage, one irrigation at flowering stage and two irrigations at CRI + flowering stage and b) five integrated nutrient management: recommended doses of chemical fertilizer (RCF), 100% RCF and co-compost @ 1 t ha-1, 100% RCF and co-compost @ 2 t ha-1, 75% RCF and co-compost @ 2 t ha-1 and 75% RCF and co-compost @ 4 t ha-1. Wheat variety BARI Gom-33 was used as the plant material. Irrigation twice at CRI + flowering stages resulted in the highest wheat yield of 3.23 t ha-1 which was 1.08 t more than control (no irrigation). Grain yield of wheat was increased due to integration of co-compost with chemical fertilizers. Application of 75% RCF + co-compost @ 4 t ha-1 produced the highest grain yield (3.05 t ha-1) which was statistically similar to that produced by 100% RCF + co-compost @ 2 t ha-1 (2.83 t ha-1). The highest wheat grain yield (3.47 t ha-1) was recorded from the interaction between two irrigations at CRI and flowering stages and 75% RCF + Co-compost @ 4 t ha-1 application statistically followed by the interaction between two irrigations at CRI and flowering stages and 100% RCF + Co-compost @ 2 t ha-1 application (3.40 t ha-1). Economic analysis showed that the highest gross margin was recorded when wheat crop received two irrigations at CRI + flowering stages and fertilized with RCF + co-compost @ 2 t ha-1 (45,570 Tk ha-1. From productivity and economic viewpoints two irrigations at CRI + flowering stages and applying 100% recommended chemical fertilizers along with co-compost @ 2 t ha-1 may be practiced for wheat variety BARI Gom-33.