Utilisation of Crop Residue and Manure Fermentation (CRAM) for Carbon Dioxide Enrichments in Chilli Kulai Production

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) dosing has become an integral part of greenhouse horticulture. Additional CO₂ promotes crop growth and increases production and/or improves quality. CO₂ supplementation is the process of adding more CO₂ to the greenhouse, which increases photosynthesis in a plant. Most commercial farmers invented various techniques to increase CO₂ concentration in the greenhouse, but those techniques were expensive and had some limitations. Therefore, this project is designed to produce CO₂ gases using crop residue and animal manure composting. The production of CO₂ by composting the crop residue and animal manure with selected microorganisms (Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma). Then, CO₂ gases were released inside the greenhouse from 8.00 to 11.00 am after one month of fermentation and fully monitored by the sensor to prevent any circumstances that can affect plants. Although releasing CO₂ in the greenhouse raises the temperature inside the greenhouse, the plants are not affected by the heat. During the cultivation period, CRAM helps to increase CO₂ concentration, which significantly increases plant height, total leaf area and total shoot of chilli. The application of a concentrated CO₂ system in the greenhouse resulted in early flowering and fruit ripening compared to the control greenhouse. The yield was also recorded as 30% higher in the concentrated CO₂ greenhouse compared to conventional practices. This project helps to recycle them into useful energy. Implementation of this project has the potential to sustain the environment as well as maintain food security.