Efficacy of Bat Guano as a Plant Fertiliser on Growth of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) in Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Synthetic/chemical fertilizers has been rapidly increased due to extensive agricultural activities to meet the demand for food to sustain an ever-expanding global population which has become a pressing concern. There is a need for development of sustainable agricultural practices which promote the use of natural fertilizers to improve soil health and support high value crops for cultivation. Bat guano, an organic fertilizer composed of bat excrement, has gained attention as a promising substitute for synthetic fertilizers, offering numerous benefits to plants and soil health as it’s highly rich in nutrient contents. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), a versatile annual herb, with multifarious uses can be used for exploring natural fertilizers for enhancing quality and crop productivity. Hence present study was under taken to examine the impact of bat guano application on the growth and productivity of fenugreek. Amongst all the treatments, the highest germination was recorded in 50% guano with soil amendments treatment resulting in 99% germination rate followed by 100% guano (96.3%). Least germination rate was observed in control with only 85.3%. Also, 50% was best treatment with maximum plant height of about 16.3 cm within 4 weeks period compared to vermicompost (15.9cm) and control (11.3cm). Similarly, leaves number per plant was also maximum in 50% guano (10.33 leaves/plant) followed by vermicompost (10 leaves/plant). NPK content of plant and soil were also analysed using standard techniques which provides valuable insights into the existing soil composition, enabling informed decisions on how to use bat guano effectively to correct nutrient deficiencies and support optimal crop growth. Further studies are recommended to assess the benefits from the use of Bat Guano as a plant fertilizer in sustainable agriculture.