Effect of bokashi organic fertilizer on corn (Zea Mays) production in río negro, iquira, huila

Contextualization: Corn (Zea mays) is a fundamental crop in Colombia and worldwide, especially in the Rionegro district of Iquira, where indigenous communities primarily rely on traditional and chemical fertilization. However, these practices have led to soil degradation and environmental issues. As an alternative, the use of organic compost, bocashi, has been proposed, which could improve soil quality and reduce the environmental impact of conventional fertilizers. This study aims to compare corn yield using bocashi against traditional and chemical fertilization practices.

Knowledge Gap: Although chemical fertilizers are widely used in the region, the use of bocashi as an organic fertilizer has been little explored. This raises questions about whether bocashi can provide yields comparable to conventional fertilizers and how it might contribute to long-term agricultural sustainability.

Purpose: The main objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of bocashi in maize production compared to chemical and traditional fertilization in the Rionegro district of Iquira, Huila. The goal is to determine if this option is viable both economically and in terms of sustainability for local farmers.

Methodology: An experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block design with three treatments: bocashi, chemical fertilization, and traditional fertilization. Each treatment was replicated twice, and the yield was measured in kilograms, as well as the length and diameter of the ears of corn. The data were analyzed using the ANOVA test, complemented by Duncan's multiple range test to evaluate significant differences in weight.

Results and Conclusions: The chemical treatment resulted in the highest yield (3.27 kg/site), followed by bocashi (2.17 kg/site) and the traditional method (0.67 kg/site). Although the chemical fertilizer produced the highest yield, bocashi showed promise as an organic alternative. It is concluded that bocashi can be a viable fertilization method without significantly affecting yield. It is recommended to continue research under different conditions.