DOCSLIB.ORG

Effect of Vermicompost and Weed Management Practices on Weeds and Yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L.)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Effect of Vermicompost and Weed Management Practices on Weeds and Yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L.) Advances in Life Sciences 7(1), Print : ISSN 2278-3849, 53-56, 2018 Effect of Vermicompost and Weed Management Practices on Weeds and Yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) C. N. PATEL, S. N. SHAH, P. S PANCHAL AND J. C. SHROFF Department of Agronomy Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat email: [email protected] ABSTACT crop competition. Because of adsorbing effect of vermicompost to the herbicides, long lasting management To study the effect of vermicompost and weed management of weed can be obtained. Keeping this in view, the present practices on growth and seed yield of fenugreek a field investigation was conducted. experiment was conducted at Anand, Gujarat during rabi season of 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in factorial MATERIALS AND METHODS randomized block design along with three replications, The investigation was carried out during rabi season two vermicompost levels and eight weed management of the year 2012 at College Agronomy Farm, B. A. College treatments. Treatment combination of Vermicompost 2 t of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, ha-1 with hand weeding carried out at 20 and 40 DAS was Gujarat. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand found effective in reducing density as well as dry biomass in texture, lower in available nitrogen (230.60 kg ha-1), medium of weeds and also gave significantly highest seed yield of in available phosphorus (55.30 kg ha-1) and higher in fenugreek. potassium (296.12 kg ha-1) with slightly alkaline (pH 7.7) in reaction. The sixteen treatment combinations consisted of two vermicompost treatments viz., V : 0 t ha-1 and V : 2.0 t Key words Vermicompost, Weed management, Weeds, 0 1 ha-1 and eight weed management treatments viz., W : Weedy Yield, Fenugreek 1 check,W2: Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, W 3: Pendimethalin @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 as PE, W : Pendimethalin @ Fenugreek (Trigaonella foenum-graecum L.) locally 4 500 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS, W : Oxyflourfen @ 80 known as ‘methi’ belonging to the family- Leguminosae 5 g a.i. ha-1 as PE, W : Oxyflourfen @ 80 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb and Sub family-Papilionacea is widely used as spice and 6 HW at 30 DAS, W : Oxadiargyl @ 75 g a.i. ha-1 as PE and condiment to add flavor in various foods. Fenugreek leaves 7 W : Oxadiargyl @ 75 g a.i. ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS. The are eaten as vegetable in India, China and the Middle East 8 experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design for centuries. The practitioners of Ayurvedic and (FRBD) with three replications. Fenugreek variety Gujarat Traditional Chinese Medicine have used and documented Fenugreek-2 spaced 30 cm apart was sown in second week methi seeds for its many medicinal uses. The spice is of November with seed rate of 20 kg ha-1. Basal dose of 10 exported in its whole and powdered forms as well as in the kg ha-1 of N and 40 kg ha-1 P were given in form of urea and form of extracted oil which is extensively used as herbal DAP, respectively at the time of sowing. Remaining 10 kg supplements, therapeutic applications, culinary, tea, ha-1 N was given as top dressing after one month of sowing perfumery and dye. Fenugreek occupies an area of 94,760 in form of urea. Weed counts and dry weight of weeds at ha with the production of 127.85 lakh tones and average various stages were taken with the help of quadrate of 1 m productivity of 1349.19 kg ha-1 in India and it occupied an × 1 m size and per cent reduction in weed dry weight in area of 5244 ha with the production of 13.96 lakh tones and comparison to weedy check was expressed as weed average productivity of 2652 kg ha-1 in Gujarat state during management efficiency (WCE). Pre-emergence the year 2012-2013 (Anon., 2013). Vermicompost enhances herbicides were sprayed with Knapsack sprayer fitted with germination, plant growth, and crop yield, improves root flat fan nozzle using 500 liter of water ha-1. The other package growth and structure and enriches soil with micro-organisms of practices was adopted to raise the crop as per the (Anon., 2011). Weed is an important factor responsible for recommendations. During the experiment, effect of causing tremendous loss in fenugreek owing to initial slow vermicompost levels and weed management treatments on growth which leads to severe crop-weed-competition and weeds count at 20 and 40 DAS, dry weight of weeds at 20 reduce growth and yield by as high as 91.4% (Mali and and 40 DAS and at harvest, weed index, weed control Suwalka, 1987). Weeds offer maximum competition to efficiency, plant population at 15 DAS and at harvest, plant fenugreek for essentials of growth at its early stage of 25 height at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest, dry weight of root days. Weeds reduce the seed yield to the tune of 14.2 to nodule at 40 DAS, days of 50 % flowering, number of 69.0% depending upon their density and duration of branches plant-1 and number of pods plant-1 at harvest, competition (Kumar et al., 2005). Therefore, herbicides used number of seeds pod-1, test weight, seed and haulm yield alone or in combination with other techniques reduce weed 5 4 Advances in Life Sciences 7(1), 2018 Table 1. Effect of treatments on weed parameters and yield of fenugreek Weed count (no. m-2) at Weed count (no. m-2) at Total Seed Straw Harvest 20 DAS 40 DAS weed yield yield index WCE dry -1 -1 (%) (%) at WI (kg ha ) (kg ha ) Treatment weight arve- (%) Mon- Mono- (kg ha-1) Dicot Total Dicot Total st ocot cot at harvest Vermicompost (V) 4.62a 5.37 a 7.08 a 3.13 a a a 9.61a - - -1 3.53 4.62 b b b V0 : Vermicompost 0 t ha 1842.76 3638.89 33.42 (25.13) (36.04) (61.17) (10.33) (13.29) (23.63) (105.54) 4.45 a 5.18 a 6.83 a 3.15 a a a 9.06 a - - -1 3.25 4.44 a a a V1 : Vermicompost 2 t ha 2261.56 4138.32 35.00 (24.50) (32.04) (56.54) (10.21) (11.17) (21.38) (92.46) SEm± 0.11 0.18 0.13 0.09 0.11 0.98 0.21 - - 33.16 56.35 0.37 CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS - - Sign. Sign. Sign. Weed management (W) 9.31 a 10.52 a 14.06 a 4.48 a a a 15.84a 4.89 6.57 d e de W1: Weedy check - 58.81 1080.25 2248.61 32.66 (86.67) (111.50) (198.17) (19.83) (23.67) (43.50) (254.33) d c f c c d d W2: Hand weeding at 20 2.29 2.48 3.32 1.81 1.90 2.54 5.78 63.53 - 2623.10a 4419.44a 37.23a and 40 DAS (4.83) (6.33) (11.17) (3.17) (3.50) (6.67) (33.83) b b b b b b b W3: Pendimethalin @ 500 g 5.87 5.96 8.37 3.45 3.53 4.85 11.73 25.97 38.20 1620.99c 3529.16d 31.58e ha-1 as PE (34.17) (36.33) (70.50) (11.50) (12.17) (23.67) (137.83) W4: Pendimethalin @ 500 g c b c d b c 4.70 5.38 7.14 3.30 3.75 b 4.90 b 8.81 ha-1 as PE fb HW at 30 44.35 19.28 2117.28b 4064.58bc 34.10bcd (13.83) (24.33) DAS (21.83) (29.67) (51.50) (10.50) (78.83) - c b c b a a b W5: Oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha 4.43 6.01 7.53 3.82 4.75 6.02 10.91 31.16 26.17 1936.42b 3796.44cd 33.73bcd 1 as PE (19.50) (37.50) (57.00) (14.17) (22.33) (36.50) (119.33) - d c e c c c d W6: Oxyflourfen @ 80 g ha 2.80 3.30 4.30 2.32 2.55 3.32 6.52 58.82 5.04 2490.86a 4475.00a 35.84ab 1 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (7.50) (11.00) (18.50) (5.00) (6.17) (11.17) (43.00) - c b d b b b c W7: Oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha 4.15 5.29 6.74 3.67 3.38 4.90 9.29 41.37 23.95 1994.75b 3926.30c 33.29cde 1 as PE (17.00) (29.33) (46.33) (13.17) (11.00) (24.17) (86.67) - 2.73 d 3.25 c 4.19 e 2.27 c c c 6. 17d W8: Oxadiargyl @ 75 g ha 2.36 3.15 a a abc 1 61.05 4.55 2503.66 4599.30 35.25 as PE fb HW at 30 DAS (7.00) (10.67) (17.67) (4.83) (5.17) (10.00) (38.17) SEm± 0.22 0.35 0.27 0.18 0.22 0.19 0.43 - - 66.31 116.45 0.74 CD (P=0.05) Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. Sign. - - 197.38 336.35 2.13 V × W Interaction NS NS NS NS NS NS NS - - Sign.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Worm Guide: a Vermicomposting Guide for Teachers
    State of California Acknowledgements This guide was written by Tavia Pagan and Rachelle Steen of Arnold Schwarzenegger the Office of Education and the Environment at the California Governor Integrated Waste Management Board. Many other brave souls were involved in various aspects of creating this guide, so a big “thanks” goes out to the following people for all of their Terry Tamminen contributions: Oscar Arriaga, Terry Brennan, Yvette DiCarlo, Secretary, California Environmental Cynthia Havstad, Chris Kinsella, Pauline Lawrence, Deni Lopez, Protection Agency Kyle Price, Alana Sanchez, Valorie Shatynski, Tessa Troyan, Kelli Wessman, Becky Williams, and Betty Wong. California Integrated Waste Management Board Disclaimer The identification of individuals, companies, and products Linda Moulton-Patterson, Chair in these materials does not constitute endorsement by the Michael Paparian, Member California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and Rosario Marin, Member is provided for informational purposes only. The CIWMB is Rosalie Mulé, Member distributing this information in an effort to increase public Cheryl Peace, Member awareness and knowledge about this important topic. Carl Washington, Member In addtion, this guide showcases a few ways to start and maintain a worm bin, but there are more options in vermicomposting than are included in this document. Mark Leary, Executive Director The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce Revised June 2004 demand and cut your energy costs, Flex Your Power and visit www.consumerenergycenter.org/flex/index.html. For additional copies of this publication, contact the A Vermicomposting Guide for Teachers California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), Office of Education and the Environment, at (916) 341-6769.
    [Show full text]
  • Information to Users
    INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type o f computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zed) Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 CULTURAL METHODS OF MANIPULATING PLANT GROWTH DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Gary R.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Food (Compost & Earthworms)
    Contemplative Food Gardening: “Soil Food” (Compost & Earthworms) Robert Kluson Ag/NR Extension Agent III UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension OUTLINE Overview & Goals of Contemplative Food Gardening Presentation Series Short Review of Contemplative Food Gardens Compost History of compost Composting procedures Compost applications Contemplative Food Gardening Series Titles • Introduction • Feed Your Head (Edible Landscaping & Design) • Growing Food When People & Place Matter (FL Climate, Crops and Soils) • Ancient Traditions (Companion Planting and Biodynamic Agriculture) • Sacred Community (Attracting Beneficials) • Soil Food (Compost & Earthworms) • Back to the Future (Contemplative Design & Container Gardening) Goals for Talks on ContemplativeIntroduction Food Gardening – Food for your freshest nutrition – Food for thought – Food for community benefits – Food for your soul Approach of Talks on Contemplative Food Gardening • Integrate the concepts of contemplative gardens and edible landscaping, using organic food gardening practices • Provide background information on the science and principles from agroecology for successful organic food gardening • • Offer an opportunity to participate in the setup of a contemplative food garden at Warm Mineral Springs Spa • Provide additional educational resources Review: What is Edible Landscaping? The thoughtful arrangement of edible plants in the landscape into a unified, functional biological whole to maximize their aesthetic appeal and food production. Treating Edibles as Ornamentals Review:
    [Show full text]
  • Vermiculture-CFSA-Conf-2016.Pdf
    Vermiculture CFSA Conference 2016 Rhonda Sherman Horticultural Science Department Vermiculture • Raising earthworms for resale • Focus: ideal conditions for worm growth, reproduction, and health • Usually purchase and haul feedstock or pay for feedstock to be delivered • Make money from sales of earthworms • Sometimes sell vermicompost • Some sell related products: shipping boxes, worm bins, harvesters, soil mixes, books, videos Vermicomposting • Earthworms and microorganisms convert organic debris into vermicompost • Focus: processing waste (not increasing reproduction) • Earthworm size and reproductive rates often lower than in vermiculture systems • Large vermicomposting facility income – tipping fees for waste materials – vermicompost sales – sales of earthworms Vermicomposting Definition Vermicomposting is a process that relies on earthworms and microorganisms to help stabilize active organic materials and convert them to a valuable soil amendment and source of plant nutrients. Not! Vermicomposting is Not Composting Vermicompost is Not Compost Vermicompost Tea is Not liquid from worm bin Vermicomposting is Not Composting • 30 days • 6 – 9 months • Ambient temperature • Pile must heat up • Passive aeration • Must aerate or turn pile – No turning! Vermicompost is Not Compost • Has passed through worms • Microbes broke it down • Contains multitude of microbes • Microbe species and due to stable ambient temp. quantities changed by heat • Sells for $400-$1800 cubic yard • Sells for $0-$35 cubic yard Vermicompost Tea…NOT! • LEACHATE: dark
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Energy Budgeting and Its Indicator for Sustainable Nutrient and Weed Management in a Rice-Maize-Green Gram Cropping System
    agronomy Article Assessment of Energy Budgeting and Its Indicator for Sustainable Nutrient and Weed Management in a Rice-Maize-Green Gram Cropping System Dibakar Ghosh 1,2,*,†, Koushik Brahmachari 2, Anupam Das 3,† , Mohamed M. Hassan 4,* , Pijush Kanti Mukherjee 5, Sukamal Sarkar 6 , Nirmal Kumar Dinda 7, Biswajit Pramanick 8 , Debojyoti Moulick 9 , Sagar Maitra 10 and Akbar Hossain 11,* 1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India 2 Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia 741252, West Bengal, India; [email protected] 3 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur 813210, Bihar, India; [email protected] 4 Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia 5 ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India; [email protected] 6 Office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Bhagawangola-II Block, Directorate of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, Murshidabad 742135, West Bengal, India; [email protected] 7 Office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Suri II Block, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, Purandapur, Birbhum 731129, West Bengal, India; [email protected] 8 Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur 848125, Bihar, India; [email protected] 9 Plant Stress Biology and Metabolomics Laboratory, Assam University, Silchar 788011, Assam, India; [email protected] 10 Department of Agronomy and Agroforestry, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Citation: Ghosh, D.; Brahmachari, K.; Paralakhemundi 761211, India; [email protected] Das, A.; Hassan, M.M.; Mukherjee, 11 Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh P.K.; Sarkar, S.; Dinda, N.K.; * Correspondence: [email protected] (D.G.); [email protected] (M.M.H.); Pramanick, B.; Moulick, D.; Maitra, S.; [email protected] (A.H.) et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Potential of Vermicompost for Sustainable Crop Production and Soil Health Improvement in Different Cropping Systems
    Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(10): 1042-1055 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 10 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Review Paper https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.710.116 Potential of Vermicompost for Sustainable Crop Production and Soil Health Improvement in Different Cropping Systems Anil Kumar*, C.H. Bhanu Prakash, Navjot Singh Brar and Balwinder Kumar Farm Science Centre, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Tarn Taran, Punjab, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Role of vermicompost in nourishing agricultural crops has attracted the attention of K e yw or ds researchers throughout the globe in past few decades. Vermicompost is the method of Earthworms, Plant using earthworms to transform organic waste into nutrient rich compost. The earthworms’ growth, Vermicompost, casting is nutritive organic manure rich in humus, NPK, micronutrients, beneficial Soil health, Soil structure microbes, antibiotics, enzymes, growth hormones, etc. There are many reports in literature Article Info showing beneficial effects of imbedding vermicompost in soil. Application of vermicompost as organic manure in soil built-up organic carbon, improve nutrient status, Accepted: enhance cation exchange capacity, microbial activities, microbial biomass carbon and 10 September 2018 enzymatic activities. The earthworms’ castings also have pest repellent attributes. Beside Available Online: that vermicompost also improves soil structure, soil aggregation and improve water 10 October 2018 retention capacity. Introduction inducing secondary and micronutrient deficiencies in soil, nutrient imbalance in soil The use of chemical fertilizers has increased and plants, environmental hazards and tremendously from green revolution leading to decrease in total factor productivity.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating the Effects of Solid Vermicompost Applications
    EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF SOLID VERMICOMPOST APPLICATIONS ON PLANT GROWTH AND PEST DENSITIES OF NAVEL ORANGE TREES A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science In Plant Science By Deborah L. Nardo 2020 SIGNATURE PAGE THESIS: EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF SOLID VERMICOMPOST APPLICATIONS ON PLANT GROWTH AND PEST DENSITIES OF NAVEL ORANGE TREES AUTHOR: Deborah L. Nardo DATE SUBMITTED: Fall 2020 Department of Plant Science Dr. Anna L. Soper _________________________________ Thesis Committee Chair Plant Sciences Dr. Jon C. Phillips _________________________________ Department Chair Agribusiness & Food Industry Management /Agricultural Science Dr. Srdjan Lemez _________________________________ Assistant Professor Kinesiology Ben Lehan, M.S. _________________________________ Lecturer Plant Sciences ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis is possible due to the guidance and support of my colleagues, professors, and mentors at Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Anna Soper has been an invaluable mentor and advisor since I began my undergraduate research at Cal Poly Pomona. I greatly appreciate her unwavering support. Dr. Jon Phillips afforded me the opportunity to teach in his department under his guidance and to assist him in ancillary projects. His support has been tremendous. Dr. Srdjan Lemez has propelled me to continually push myself in academic endeavors. I would not have set out to master SPSS and JASP if it hadn't been for his perspective on statistics. In addition, he inspires me to continually improve my writing skills. Professor Ben Lehan has been an enormous influence on my research. I am grateful for the support he has given me since my project began.
    [Show full text]
  • Vermicomposting, De La Fuente
    UCCE Santa Clara County May 2018 Master Composter Program Vermicompost: Promote Global Worming! Maria de la Fuente, PhD University of California Cooperative Extension Farm and Master Gardener Advisor Darwin Earthworms “The plow is one of the most ancient and most valuable of Man’s inventions; but long before he existed, the land … was regularly ploughed, and still continues to be ploughed, by earthworms. It may be (doubtful) whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world as these lowly, organized creatures.” - Charles Darwin, 1881 Maria de la Fuente, PhD 1 UCCE Santa Clara County May 2018 Master Composter Program Learning Objectives To understand the importance of earthworms; To understand the basic biology of earthworms; To become enthused about the prospects of home vermiculture and vermicomposting; Promote sustainability –in your own backyard! Why Earthworms? Earthworms are living organisms that help with the decomposition of dead plants and animals, breaking them down into soil. They supply an abundance of organic fertilizer (castings). The presence is virtually hidden, and they don’t bark, squeal, crow, nor talk back! Maria de la Fuente, PhD 2 UCCE Santa Clara County May 2018 Master Composter Program Quick Facts Earthworms live everywhere in the world where there is soil Earthworms eat as they burrow through the soil Earthworms do not have teeth Earthworms help make the soil healthy Earthworms are hermaphroditic & all lay eggs Earthworms are invertebrates (no backbones) Earthworms
    [Show full text]
  • Parthenium Hysterophorus) and Its Metamorphosis Into an Organic Fertilizer and Biopesticide Naseer Hussain1, Tasneem Abbasi1,2 and Shahid Abbas Abbasi1*
    Hussain et al. Bioresour. Bioprocess. (2017) 4:26 DOI 10.1186/s40643-017-0156-6 RESEARCH Open Access Detoxifcation of parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) and its metamorphosis into an organic fertilizer and biopesticide Naseer Hussain1, Tasneem Abbasi1,2 and Shahid Abbas Abbasi1* Abstract Background: Vermicompost of the toxic and allelopathic weed parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) was explored for its possible use as an organic fertilizer. Replicated plant growth trials were conducted using four levels of parthe- nium vermicompost (0, 2.5, 3.75, and 5 t/ha) to assess their efects on the germination, growth, and fruition of a typi- cal food plant ladies fnger (Abelmoschus esculentus). Additionally the role of vermicompost in reducing plant pests and disease was evaluated. Results: Vermicompost encouraged the germination and growth of ladies fnger at all levels of vermicompost appli- cation, with best results obtained in 5 t/ha treatments. The positive impact extended up to the fruit yield. Vermicom- post application also improved the quality of fruits in terms of mineral, protein, and carbohydrate contents, and reduced the disease incidence and pest attacks. Conclusions: The studies establish the fact that parthenium acquires all the qualities of a good organic fertilizer with concomitant loss of its toxic and allelopathic properties after it gets vermicomposted. The fndings raise the prospects of economical and eco-friendly utilization of billions of tons of parthenium biomass which is generated annually but goes to waste at present. Keywords: Invasive weed, Allelopathy, Organic fertilizer, Biopesticide, Vermicomposting Background et al. 2014). Tis proves disastrous in terms of monopoliz- Parthenium hysterophorus, commonly called as congress ing of space and nutrients by parthenium at the expense of grass, is among the world’s seven most noxious and devas- other vegetation, consequent loss of biodiversity, and associ- tating weeds (Patel 2011).
    [Show full text]
  • Manual on Vermiculture and Vermicomposting
    Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture By Glenn Munroe Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada Acknowledgements EcoAction Program of Environment Canada and New Ground Vermicomposting, Halifax, Nova Scotia Jennifer Scott, Centre Burlington, Nova Scotia Kipawo Holsteins, Grand Pre, Nova Scotia Holdanca Farms Ltd., Wallace, Nova Scotia Table of Contents 1 Introduction: Vermiculture and Vermicomposting..................................................1 1.1 The Difference between Vermiculture and Vermicomposting ..........................1 1.2 The Compost Worm ....................................................................................1 1.3 Why Bother? An Overview of Potential Benefits and Constraints.....................2 1.4 What this Manual Can Do for You.................................................................3 2 Working with Worms: The Basics .........................................................................5 2.1 What Worms Need ......................................................................................5 2.1.1 The Five Essentials ..................................................................................5 2.1.2 Bedding ..................................................................................................5 2.1.3 Worm Food .............................................................................................7 2.1.4 Moisture ...............................................................................................10 2.1.5 Aeration................................................................................................10
    [Show full text]
  • Vermicompost - Production and Practices
    Vermicompost - Production and Practices Vermicomposting is a method of preparing enriched compost with the use of earthworms. It is one of the easiest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and to produce quality compost. Earthworms consume biomass and excrete it in digested form called worm casts. Worm casts are popularly called as Black gold. The casts are rich in nutrients, growth promoting substances, beneficial soil micro flora and having properties of inhibiting pathogenic microbes. Vermicompost is stable, fine granular organic manure, which enriches soil quality by improving its physicochemical and biological properties. It is highly useful in raising seedlings and for crop production. Vermicompost is becoming popular as a major component of organic farming system. Vermicomposting materials Decomposable organic wastes such as animal excreta, kitchen waste, farm residues and forest litter are commonly used as composting materials. In general, animal dung mostly cow dung and dried chopped crop residues are the key raw materials. Mixture of leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues enriches the quality of vermicompost. There are different species of earthworms viz. Eisenia foetida (Red earthworm), Eudrilus eugeniae (night crawler), Perionyx excavatus etc. Red earthworm is preferred because of its high multiplication rate and thereby converts the organic matter into vermicompost within 45-50 days. Since it is a surface feeder it converts organic materials into vermicompost from top. Important characteristics of red earthworm (Eisenia foetida) Characters Eisenia foetida Body length 3-10cm Body weight 0.4-0.6g Maturity 50-55days Conversion rate 2.0 q/1500worms/2 months Cocoon production 1 in every 3 days Incubation of cocoon 20-23days Types of vermicomposting The types of vermicomposting depend upon the amount of producton and composting structures.
    [Show full text]
  • Vermicomposting 1
    Vermicomposting 1 • Vermicompost has more nitrogen, phosphorus, Vermicomposting potassium, copper, zinc, and iron than farmyard manure. • Produce useable compost year round, faster than alternative methods. • Increase moisture and nutrient retention in your soil. • Lessen crusting and other physical damages common to soils in arid climates. Improve Your Local Environment Vermicomposting encompasses all three R’s: reducing, Worms can reusing, and recycling. consume their own weight in food EVERY DAY! • Worms will reduce your waste production by reusing food scraps and recycling nutrients. The U.S. Revive Your Soil & Reduce Your generates more than 34 million tons of food waste Environmental Impact each year (EPA 2011). Prevent this unnecessary waste from ending up in landfills. Vermicomposting, or worm composting as it is more • Save energy typically required for waste removal and commonly known, is the process of using worms to break transportation. down discarded food and other organic wastes and convert them into compost and liquid fertilizers. Not only A Word About Worms will this process save you money, but it will also downscale your environmental footprint. Vermicompost systems can All worms are not created equal! Choosing the right be purchased online or assembled cheaply by up-cycling worms for vermicompost can make or break your compost materials found around the house or at a local thrift store. system. It is important to understand the difference between earth worms and composting worms. Quick Tip Earth Workers vs. Composters Avoid fruit flies by covering food scraps with a few inches of bedding and/or freeze food scraps before adding them The worms you see most often, crawling on pavement to your vermicompost bin.
    [Show full text]