ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
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Vol. 07, Special Issue 05, (IC-RTCASEMHPS-2022) September 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 172 VERMICOMPOST, ITS USES AND BENEFIT IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Pankaj Patel, Sunil Rajput
Shree Rewa Gurjar Bal Niketan College Sanawad M.P.
Abstract - Vermicompost is considered as a high nutrient biofertilizer with diverse microbial communities, it plays a major role in improving growth and yield of different field crops, vegetables, flower and fruit crops. Vermicomposting is the process of conversion of organic wastes into finely degraded peat like substances using earthworm. (kiran pilli, durgam Sridhar 2019) many changes are seen in the plants and soil due to the use of vermicompost; redused pest attack, redused termite attack, faster rate of seed germination and rapid seedling growth and development greater number of fruit per plant (in vegetable), greater number of seeds per plant (cereal crops) vermicompost can boost agricultural production without agro chemicals (Margeetolle 2019) Vermicompost is considered to be the best things for doing sustainable agriculture. Vermicompost contain a combination of macro and micro nutrients and the uptake of nutrients has a positive effect on plant nutrition, growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content of the leaves. (International Journal of recycling of organic waste in agriculture, 2018).
Keywords: Vermicomposting, sustainable agriculture, vermicompost, soil fertility, soil productivity, plant nutrients.
1 INTRODUCTION
Modern agriculture is being done in our country for almost 100 year. Before the green revolution the use of chemical s in agriculture was limited and after that as a result of the green revolution the fertility and productivity agricultural land is decreased due to the use of indiscriminate chemical fertilizer and pesticides .hence the need for vermicompost to maintain the fertility and productivity of soil and sustainable agriculture by using organic manures. (vermicompost) (Dr. Rakesh Singh Sangar, Prof. Ashok Kumar 2012) vermicompost is a process in which earthworms are used to convert organic material in compost like humus know as vermicompost.
Vermicompost in hance soil fetility; physically, chemically and biologically.
Vermicompost treated soil has better aeration, porocity, water retention. Vermicopost increase soil fertility. Soil fertility will creased when there is an increase in the amount of carbon and micro-organism in the soil. Which is most important elements for sustainable agriculture. Vermicomposting is environmentally beneficial process that have great potential as components of sustainable agriculture. (Abdul Raheem, m. and on fade, a.o.
(2021).
Vemicomposting has been arising as an innovative biotechnology for the conversion of agro industrial westes in to value added products which can be utilized for improving the soil structure and fertility of organic farming. (Garg Gupta 2009)
1.1 Nutrient Content of Vermicompost
The everage nitrogen content in vermicompost is similar to that of decomposed cow dunk or fym (farm yard manures). The amount of carbon calcium and phosphorus is more than cow dunk or fym (farm yard manures) in addition to nutrients many enzymes and amino acids are found in vermicompost.
Generally the nutrients level of vermicompost depends on the nature of the organic waste used as food source for earthworms.
1.2 Chemical Composition of Vermicompost
No. Nutrients Composition
1 Organic carbon 9.5-17.98%
2 Nitrogen 0.5-1.50%
3 Phosphorous 0.1-0.30%
4 Potassium 0.15-0.56
5 Sodium 0.06-0.30%
6 Calcium/ magnesium 22.67to 47.60 mg/100gram
7 Copper 2-9.50mg/kg.
8 Iron 2-9.30mg/kg.
ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
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Vol. 07, Special Issue 05, (IC-RTCASEMHPS-2022) September 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 173 (Source: kale 1995), (Garg, Gupta, 2009)
1.3 Benefits of Vermicomposting
Vermicompost is ideal organic manure for better growth and yield of many plants due to following reasons (Joshi et al., 2015): 1. Vermicompost has higher nutritional value than traditional composts. 2. This is due to increased rate of mineralization and degree of humification by the action of earthworms. 3. Vermicompost has high porosity, aeration, drainage, and water-holding capacity. 4. Presence of microbiota particularly fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes makes it suitable for plant growth. Nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates and exchangeable calcium and soluble potassium in plant-available forms are present in vermicompost. 5. Plant growth regulators and other plant growth influencing materials produced by microorganisms are also present in vermicompost 6. Production of cytokinins and auxins was found in organic wastes that were processed by earthworms. 7.
Earthworms release certain metabolites, such as vitamin B, vitamin D and similar substances into the soil. 8. In addition to increased N availability, P, K, Ca and Mg availability in the casts are found.(Margit Olle, 2019)
The beneficial impacts of vermicompost on soil (Sinha, 2014b):
1. Increase the 'Soil Organic Matter' (SOM), soil structure and prevent soil erosion.
2. Increase beneficial soil microbes, microbial activity and nutrients.
3. Improve cation exchange capacity.
4. Reduces bulk density of soil, prevents soil compaction and erosion.
5. Suppression of soil-born plant diseases.
6. Increase water-holding capacity of soil.
7. Remove soil salinity and acidity.
8. Maintain optimal pH value (Margit Olle, 2019) 2 VERMICOMPOST: QUANTITY& ITS USES
Vermicompost can be used for all crops: agricultural, horticultural, ornamental and vegetables at any stage of the crop and in any amount as it is completely safe’ for soils and crops in all amounts.
For general field crops: Around 2–3 ton per hectare vermicompost is used
For fruit tree the amount of vermicompost ranges from 5 to 10 kg per tree depending on the age of the plant.
For vegetables; 1tone per hectare applied in nuesery bed but for transplants vermicompost at the rate of 400-500 gram per plant
For flowers; vermicompost is applied at 750-1000 kg per hectare.
For vegetable and flower crops vermicompost is applied around the base of the plant it is then covered with soil and water spray regularly.
(Dr. E. Sreenivasan Hand book of vermicomposting technology)
3 RECOMMENDED QUANTITY AND TIME OF APPLICATION OF VERMICOMPOST IN SOME CROPS
CROP QUANTITY TIME OF APPLICATION Rice 1 ton/acre After trance planting
Maize 1 ton/acre last plouging
Sugarcane 1.5 ton/acre last plouging Groundnut 0.5 ton/acer last plouging Sunflower 1.5 ton /acer last plouging
Chilli 1 ton/acer last plouging
Potato 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Tomato 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Brinjal 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Okra 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Cauliflower 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Cabbage 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Garlic 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging Onion 1-1.5 ton/acer last plouging
9 Zinc 5.70-11.50mg/kg
10 Sulphur 128-548 mg/kg
ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE
Vol. 07, Special Issue 05, (IC-RTCASEMHPS-2022) September 2022 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 174
Graps 1 ton/acer Summer time
Cotton 1ton /acer Last plouging
(Crida 2009, Hyderabad India)
3.1 Types of Earthworms Used in Vermicompost
Allopophora spp. as domonant local type in Egypt was the first type used in the vermiculture and vermicompost.
Two Kgm of Epigiec earthowrms Lumbriscus Rubellus (Red Worm), Eisenia Fetida (Tiger Worm), Perionyx Excavatus (Indian Blue) and Eudrilus Eugeniae (African Night Crawler) were used in the vermicomposting bins. Worm diameter: 0.5-5mm and worm length: 10mm to 120m as shown in Image (3). The weight of 100 mature earthworm and multiply biomass rate measured every 3 month. (Abul-Soud M., Hassanein M.K. and.
Ablmaaty S.M., Medany M, Abu-Hadid A.F.2007, 2008, 2009)
3.2 Effect of Vermicompost on Plant Growth and Yield Attributes of Crops;
Vermicompost is a rich source of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O), and contains nutrients suchas NO3-, HPO42-, Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, S3+ and other micronutrients which exhibit similar effects on plant growth and yield as that of inorganic fertilizers (Singh and Sharma et al. 2008). Vermicompost also contains a high proportion of humic substances i.e. humic acids, fulvic acids and humin which provide numerous sites for chemical reaction and microbial components which enhance plant growth and disease suppression through the activities of bacteria (Bacillus), yeast (Sporobolomyces and Cryptococcus) and fungi (Trichoderma), as well as chemical antagonists such as phenols and amino acids. The significant increase in soil enzymatic activities such as urease, phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase and arylsulphatase are also due to vermicompost application was reported by (Albiach and Canet et al. 2000). Vermicompost contains plant growth regulators and other plant growth influencing materials produced by microorganisms. Vermicompost a by-product of earthworm mediated organic waste recycling is rich in plant nutrients and growth promoting substances. (Kiran Pilli, Durgam Sridhar August 2019).
4 CONCLUSIONS
Vermicompost produced by the activity of earthworms is rich in macro and micronutrients, vitamins, growth hormones, enzymes such as proteases, amylases, lipase, cellulose and immobilized microflora. Vermicompost is optimal organic manure for better growth and yield of many plants. It can increase the production of crops and prevent them from harmful pests without polluting the environment. (Margeet olle, Dec. 2019) Application of vermicompost increased growth, improved plants nutrient content, and improved the quality of the fruits and seeds. Sustainable development depends on the conservation of natural resources and reliance on renewable resources for the future generation.
Vermicopost is a very essential material for sustainable agriculture.
REFERENCES
1. Kiran Pilli, Durgam Sridhar August 2019, in book research trends in agriculture science (pp.73, 75).
2. Margeet olle, Dec.2019 journal of agricultural science, 2.xxx.2019, 93.
3. International Journal of recycling of organic waste in agriculture (2018), 83-88).
4. Dr. Rakesh Sinh Sangar, Prof. Ashok Kumar, Adhunic Javik Kheti, p-43, ISBN 978-81-7622-250-1.
5. Abdul Raheem, m.i. and oni fade, A.o. (2021) August, Vermicompost Technology.
6. Hand book of Vermicomposting Technology Dr. E. Sreenivasan.
7. Margit Olle, Agraarteadus|Journal of Agricultural Science 2 ● XXX ● 2019 93–98.
8. Crida 2009, Hyderabad India.
9. Abul-Soud M., Hassanein M. K. and. Ablmaaty S.M., Medany M, Abu-Hadid A.F.2007, 2008, 2009.
10. kiran pilli,durgam Sridhar August 2019,in book research trends in agriculture science Vermicomposting and its uses in Sustainable Agriculture.(pp.73,75,83).
11. Margeet olle, Dec.2019 Journal of Agricultural Science, 2.xxx. 2019, 93-98.
12. Garg V.K. Gupta, R. 2009 Vermicomposting of agro industrial Processing.
13. Adhikary. S.2012 Vermicompost, the story of Organicgold; A review –agricultural science.
