Kyu-Hwan Hyun

Effect of Rice Bran and Barley Bran Application on Growth and Yield of Chinese Chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) and Taro (Colocasia esculenta) and Weed Control

This study was carried out to examine the effect of rice bran, barley bran, burned rice bran, and burned barley bran on the growth and yield of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler), taro (Colocasia esculenta), and weed control. When the above 4 brans were examined 13, 27, 41 and 57 days respectively after application, the plant height of Chinese chive applied with burned barley bran was significantly higher than non-treated control, whereas the other brans did not have any distinct effect on the plant height or population number of Chinese chive. However, when examined 57 days after the application of the above 4 brans, all the plants applied with brans showed more than twice the improvement in shoot fresh weight compared with non-treated control. A chemical analysis of soil 57 days after the application of the above 4 brans showed that the soils were richer in available phosphate and organic matter. Shoot fresh weight of Chinese chive at 2 weeks after cutting was significantly higher in barely bran treated plot than in non-treated plot. In the case of taro, only taro plots transplanted when 10 cm tall and applied with barley bran showed an improvement in growth increment of both the underground and above parts. However, when sowed seeds after the application of the 4 brans, the yield of taro was reduced by the brans. Thus this research indicates that the effect of brans is differ based on the amount of bran application as well as crops. The effect of weed control on Echinochloa crus-galli, Digitaria clliaris, Chenopodium album, and Solanum nigrum as affected by brans was very low in pot conditions. Weed efficacy of the brans was also very low in field conditions. Growth of Chinese cabbage and garland chrysanthemum was inhibited 63% and 37% by rice bran at , respectively, but other crops such as maize, squash, cucumber, and Chinese chive were inhibited by 0-20%. These results were similar to that of barley bran except for Chinese cabbage.