Abstract

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of agricultural by-products such as rice bran and barley bran on growth promotion of Chinese chive and taro and changes of soil chemical characteristics in organic cultivations. Shoot fresh weight of Chinese chive was significantly increased in rice bran and compost treatments in a three year experiment but not in other materials. The shoot fresh weight of Chinese chive was increased 22–116% by rice bran and compost treatments compared with untreated control. In the second year, tuber fresh weight of taro was increased 46% by a barley bran treatment compared with untreated control. However, in the third year, shoot fresh weight of taro was increased 30% by a barley bran treatment compared with untreated control. pH in Chinese chive fields was significantly increased by treatments of agricultural by-products compared with untreated control. However, pH in taro fields was significantly reduced by treatments of agricultural by-products compared with untreated control. Generally, the amount of available P2O5, K, Ca and Mg in Chinese chive fields was significantly higher in agricultural by-products and compost treatments than in untreated control. In addition, the amount of organic matter and available P2O5 in taro fields was higher in barley bran, burned barley bran and compost treatments than in other agricultural by-products and untreated control. Thus, some agricultural by-products can be used for yield increase in Chinese chive and taro organic cultivation.