Effect of vermicompost on soil fertility and crop productivity - beans (Phaseolus vulgaris).
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Date
2009-03
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Abstract
Field experiments were conducted at Sivapuri, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu to evaluate the efficacy of vermicompost, in
comparison to inorganic fertilizers–NPK, on the physio-chemical and biological characteristics of the soils – clay loam soil (CLS) and
sandy loam soil (SLS) and on the growth, yield and nutrient content of beans – Phaseolus vulgaris. Results showed that the application
of vermicompost @ 5 tonnes ha-1 had enhanced significantly the pore space (1.09 and 1.02 times), water holding capacity (1.1 and 1.3
times), cation exchange capacity (1.2 and 1.2 times). It reduced particles (1.2 and 1.2 times), and bulk density (1.2 and 1.2 times), pH
(1 and 1.02 times) and electrical conductivity (1.4 and 1.2 times) and increased organic carbon (37 and 47 times), micro (Ca 3.07 and
1.9 times, Mg 1.6 and 1.6 times, Na 2.4 and 3.8 times, Fe 7 and 7.6 times, Mn 8.2 and 10.6 times, Zn 50 and 52 times and Cu 14 and
22 times) and macro (N 1.6 and 1.7 times, P 1.5 and 1.7 times, K 1.5 and 1.4 times) nutrients and microbial activity (1.4 and 1.5 times)
in both soil types, particularly more in CLS. The growth, yield (1.6 times) and quality (protein (1.05 times) and sugar (1.01 times) content
in seed) of bean were enhanced in CLS than SLS. On the other hand, the application of inorganic fertilizers @ 20:80:40 kg ha-1 has
resulted in reduced porosity (1.03 and 1.01 times), organic carbon (1.04 and 9.5 times) and microbial activity (1.02 and 1.03 times) in
both soil types.
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Keywords
Clay loam soil, Sandy loam soil, Physico-chemical-biological properties, Nutrient contents, Vermicompost, Beans
Citation
Manivannan S, Balamurugan M, Parthasarathi K, Gunasekaran G, Ranganathan L S. Effect of vermicompost on soil fertility and crop productivity - beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Journal of Environmental Biology. 2009 Mar; 30(2): 275-281.