Use of bio-slurry improves soil health, increases production

RAJSHAHI, May 9 (BSS) :  Large-scale expansion of biogas plant has become essential for more production and use of bio- slurry, main effluent of biogas plant. It can help improve soil fertility and increase crop production, agricultural extension officials and scientists said here.
They said an enhanced use of bio- slurry has enormous potential to reducing use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in the farming fields.
An optimum use of bio-fertilisers always improve soil texture, fertility, increase its water and nutrient storing capacities, upgrade sandy land to sandy-loamy and sandy loamy to loamy and then clay soil in course of time.
Aminul Islam, a seed contract-grower of Bidirpur area under Godagari upazila of the district, said he had made his seed production activities profitable using bio-slurry from his two biogas plants.
"In addition to cooking meals of our eight-member family, I have been running a cattle with 26 cattle heads and seed production project on 45 bighas of land commercially with my two biogas plants simultaneously for the last one and half years," he mentioned.
He said that he set up a 2.5 diameter plant with his own initiative in 2007 for meeting his domestic fuel demands.
After the success, he installed another 4.8 diameter plant in 2010 for fulfilling his domestic and commercial demands through using the natural resources especially eco- friendly biogas and slurry.
He said there is no doubt that bio-slurry acts as the best resource of organic fertiliser. Aminul Islam said around 80 families have set up biogas plants in Godagari upazila of the district particularly Premtali and its adjacent area.
Biogas is not only used as fuel for cooking foods but the slurry is being used as organic fertiliser in the farming fields for boosting its production.
"If the farmers increase production of green fertilisers at their homesteads and ensure usages the annual consumption of urea, TSP, MoP and other fertilisers and pesticides would be reduced remarkably," Dr Iias Hossain, senior scientific officer of Regional Wheat Research Centre, here told  the news agency.
He said expanded production and use of eco-friendly bio-slurry fertiliser helps appearance of beneficial insects, birds and fishes and maintain ecology, bio-diversity and environment.
"It was evident that the highest gross margin was obtained from bio-slurry applied field and the farmers are very much impressed to have a satisfactory grain yield and income," said Dr Isral Hossain. Nowadays, biogas plants are increasing gradually in the country, so it may be a popular and excellent source of organic fertiliser in the farmers' field.
He suggested more training, demonstration and said field days should be arranged on this technology for rapid dissemination of its uses.