Biological weathering of phlogopite during enriched vermicomposting

As the dominant macrofauna in many soils, earthworms play a significant role in mineral weathering and nutrient release from mineral structures into available forms for root uptake. Phlogopite is a trioctahedral micaceous mineral that can be weathered to other minerals through release of its interlayer potassium (K). In this study, we investigated the effect of earthworm activities and associated microbial communities on phlogopite weathering during the production of phlogopite-enriched vermicompost with different quantities of phlogopite added. An experiment was run under laboratory conditions using three levels of phlogopite (0, 20% and 40% by weight) in triplicates. Each Petri dish contained 20 g of a mixture of cow manure and phlogopite, and vermicomposting process was performed by inoculation of eight Eisenia foetida earthworms. Changes in clay mineralogy and C/N ratio in each dish were assessed at days 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 during vermicomposting. The results indicated that phlogopite was partially weathered to vermiculite and interstratified mica-vermiculite during the vermicomposting process. The rate of weathering was higher during the early stages of vermicomposting (the first 90 d). The weathering of phlogopite was influenced considerably by the activity of earthworms and associated microbial communities during the organic matter transformation process. At the early stages of the process, the weathering rate for different levels of phlogopite was not significantly different, but over time it accelerated steadily, and the difference increased.     

The Maturity and CH4, N2O,NH3 Emissions from Vermicomposting with Agricultural Waste

This study investigated the maturity and gaseous emissions from vermicomposing with agricultural waste. A vermicomposting treatment (inoculated Eisenia fetida) was conducted over a 50-day period, taking tomato stems as the processing object and using cow dung as the nutrient substrate. A thermophilic composting treatment without earthworm inoculation was operated as a control treatment. During the experiment, maturity indexes such as temperature, pH, C/N ratio, and germination index (GI) were determined and continuous measurements of earthworm biomass and CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ emissions were carried out. The results showed that the temperature during vermicomposting was suitable for earthworm survival, and the earthworm biomass increased from 10.0 to 63.1 kg m^?3. Vermicomposting took less time on average to reach the compost maturity standard (GI 80%), and reached a higher GI (132%) in the compost product compared with the thermophilic composting treatment. Moreover, the decrease of the C/N ratio in vermicompost indicated stabilization of the waste. The activities of earthworms played a positive role in reducing gaseous emissions in vermicompost, resulting in less emissions of NH₃ (12.3% NH₃-N of initial nitrogen) and total greenhouse gases (8.1 kg CO₂-eq/t DM) than those from thermophilic compost (24.9% NH₃-N of initial nitrogen, 22.8 kg CO₂-eq/t DM). Therefore, it can be concluded that vermicomposting can shorten the period required to reach compost maturity, can obtain better maturity compost, and at the same time reduce gaseous emissions. As an added advantage, the earthworms after processing could have commercial uses.     

Assessing the Potential of Pomegranate Meal and Potato Waste as New Organic Amendments for Vermicompost

Waste disposal has become one of the greatest global concerns, which has high operational costs and might cause environmental pollution. Due to the lack of the organic matter in most of the Iranian agro-ecosystem, recycling organic waste materials favors the environment by reducing chemical fertilizers as well as improving soil structure and fertility. A vermicomposting system using cow manure (CM), pomegranate meal (PM) + sawdust (S), CM + potato waste (PW), PM + PW, CM + PM, and CM + PM + PW was set up to find a viable alternative raw material for improving physico-chemical properties of vermicompost after 60 days. The amended vermicompost of PM + S and PM + PW markedly improved the electrical conductivity (EC), which were below the EC limit (by 1.01 and 2.27 dS m^?1, respectively), pH (by 7.04 and 6.60, respectively), and water holding capacity (respectively 1.9 and 1.2 times higher than CM). Vermicompost amendment led to significant reduction of organic carbon (OC), but nonetheless, PM + S and PM + PW showed higher OC content in the final product probably due to the higher initial carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio, raw material origin, and lower decomposition rate. In regard to nutrient value, the total phosphorus content in the end-product of PM + S and PM + PW was, respectively, 19.3 and 7.9 times higher compared with the final product of CM. Additionally, the amended vermicompost of PM + PW markedly improved total nitrogen content as compared with CM. The findings suggested that the additional amounts of nitrogen and potassium to PM + S and also potassium to PM + PW would improve the physico-chemical properties and fertilization of the final vermicompost considerably higher than CM vermicompost. This amendment has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of vermicompost of CM, for example, salinity and alkalinity; and chemical fertilizers, for example, soil pollution with heavy metals in phosphate fertilizers, as well as the potential for soil rehabilitation.     

Earthworm biomass and population structure are negatively associated with changes in organic residue nitrogen concentration during vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is an efficient and environmentally friendly technology to dispose of agricultural organic residues. The efficiency of organic residue decomposition during vermicomposting is directly affected by the biomass and population structure of earthworms. In this study, we investigated how the earthworm biomass and population structure responded to changes in the physicochemical properties of six types of organic residue (cattle dung, herbal waste, rice straw, soybean straw, garden waste, and tea residues) during vermicomposting. Each type of organic residues was placed in a pot with earthworms Eisenia fetida, and the physicochemical properties of the organic residues and earthworm growth dynamics were recorded at 0, 30, 60, and 90 d of vermicomposting. The biomass and population structure of earthworms were stable or increased in rice straw, garden waste, and cattle dung within 60 d of vermicomposting, whereas in tea residues and herb waste, very little earthworm activity (3 adults and 2 cocoons) was recorded on day 30. Among the physicochemical parameters, the substrate C/N ratio was negatively correlated with earthworm growth dynamics. Decomposing organic residues showed higher NH₄⁺-N and NH₃^--N concentrations but a lower total organic carbon content, which negatively affected earthworm growth and reproduction. We recommend that chemical properties of vermicomposting systems should be monitored regularly. At the threshold levels of decomposing organic residue NH₄⁺-N and NH₃^--N concentrations, earthworms should be removed and the vermicompost can be harvested. Small- and large-scale farmers thus need to monitor the physicochemical properties of vermicompost to sustain active earthworm populations.     

Low-Cost Vermi-Composting Technology and Its Application in Bio-Conversion of Obnoxious Weed Flora of North-Western Himalayas into Vermi-Compost

A low-cost ?v?e?rmicomposting? technology was developed for bio-conversion of obnoxious weed-flora of north-western (NW) Himalayas. Using this technology, an extensive on-station and on-farm experimentation was done during 2006–2012 in India utilizing four obnoxious weeds viz. Artemisia vulgaris, Ageratum conyzoides, Erigeron canadensis and Bidens pilosa and farm-yard-manure (control). The on-station study revealed that Artemisia vulgaris vermicompost contained significantly highest nitrogen (N; 1.26%) and phosphorus (P; 0.89%) content while Ageratum conyzoides was the second best alternative for vermicomposting (Nitrogen-1.23%, phosphorus-0.82%, and potassium (K)-0.76%). In the on-farm study, Artemisia vulgaris and Ageratum conyzoides vermicomposts again showed their superiority over farm-yard-manure, indicating their potentiality as vermicomposting materials in NW Himalayas. Higher technology adoption rate for different technology components (71–100%) of low-cost vermicomposting technology in study area again shows its acceptability among Himalayan farmers. In nutshell, this low-cost vermicomposting technology and its application in bio-conversion of obnoxious weed-flora as vermicompost holds great promises for hill agriculture in NW Himalayas.     

Vermicomposting leachate as liquid fertilizer for the cultivation of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.)

In vermicomposting, the main product is the worm casts, but a leachate is generated that contains large amounts of plant nutrients. This leachate is normally diluted to avoid plant damage. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of nitrogen (N) - phosphorus (P) - potassium (K) triple 17 fertilizer, and polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol as dispersant and polyethylene nonylphenol as adherent to increase efficiency of fertilizer uptake, affected sugarcane plant development. The vermicomposting leachate with pH 7.8 and electrolytic conductivity 2.6 dS m^?1, contained 834 mg potassium (K) l^?1, 247 mg nitrate (NO₃^?) l^?1 and 168 mg phosphate (PO₄^3?) l^?1, was free of pathogens and resulted in a 65% germination index. Vermicompost leachate did not inhibit sugarcane growth and mixed with 170 g l^?1 NPK triple 17 fertilizer resulted in the best plant development. No dispersant or adherent was required to improve plant height and stem development.     

稻秸蚯蚓堆制后的物理、化学及微生物特性变化

利用水稻秸秆与畜禽粪便（牛粪、猪粪和鸡粪）等干重混合物（RCD、RPM、RCE）接种蚯蚓（Eisenia foetida）进行堆制,研究堆肥产物的物理、化学及微生物特性变化。结果表明,蚯蚓堆制30 d后,稻秸牛粪、稻秸猪粪堆肥产物MBC含量显著下降; 3种稻秸粪便混合物经蚯蚓堆制后,堆肥产物微生物代谢熵、脱氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性增加,尤以RCD的变化明显。稻秸牛粪、稻秸猪粪及稻秸鸡粪混合物经蚯蚓堆制后,总固形物平均重量损失分别增加6.45%、4.22%和3.82%; pH值均降低,其中RCD显著降低。蚯蚓堆制有助于提高堆肥产物全氮、全磷和全钾含量,同时使碳氮比降低。水稻秸秆混入部分畜禽粪便经蚯蚓堆制可减少堆肥时间并提高堆肥质量,混入的粪便以牛粪最好,猪粪次之,鸡粪最差。     

Comparative effect of human urine and ammonium nitrate application on maize (Zea mays L.) grown under various salt (NaCl) concentrations

The present study investigates the effect of urine and ammonium nitrate on maize (Zea mays L.) vegetative growth, leaf nutrient concentration, soil electrical conductivity, and exchangeable‐cations contents under various concentrations of NaCl in a soil substrate. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design with eight replications under greenhouse conditions. The experimental soil substrate was made from a 1 : 1 : 1 volume‐ratio mixture of compost, quartz sand, and silty‐loam soil. Salinity was induced by adding 0, 15, and 30 mL of 1 M NaCl solution per kg of substrate to achieve an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.3 (S0), 4.6 (S1), and 7.6 (S2) dS m^–1. Nitrogen sources were urine and ammonium nitrate applied at 180 and 360 mg N (kg soil substrate)^–1. Basal P and K were added as mono potassium phosphate in amounts equivalent to 39 mg P and 47 mg K (kg substrate)^–1, respectively. In the S0 treatment, a 3‐fold increase in EC was measured after urine application compared to an insignificant change in ammonium nitrate–fertilized substrates 62 d after sowing. Under saline conditions, application of 360 mg N (kg soil)^–1 as urine significantly decreased soil pH and maize shoot dry weight. At the highest salt and N dose (S2, N360) 50% of urine‐fertilized plants died. Regardless of salinity there was no significant difference between the two fertilizers for investigated growth factors when N was supplied at 180 mg (kg soil)^–1. Leaf N and Ca contents were higher after urine application than in ammonium nitrate–fertilized plants. At an application rate of 180 mg N (kg soil)^–1, urine was a suitable fertilizer for maize under saline conditions. Higher urine‐N dosages and/or soil salinity exceeding 7.6 dS m^–1 may have a deleterious effect on maize growth.     

Microbial Activity Is Constrained by the Quality of Carbon and Nitrogen under Long-term Saline Water Irrigation

Most important, yet least understood, question, how microbial activity in soil under saline water irrigation responds to carbon (C) varying qualitatively (most labile form to extreme recalcitrant form) with or without maintaining C/N ratio was investigated in an incubation experiment. Soil samples from a long-term saline-water (electrical conductivity, EC ≈ 0, 6, and 12 dS m^?1)- irrigated field were incorporated with three different C substrates, viz., glucose, rice straw (RS), and biochar with or without nitrogen (N as ammonium sulfate, NH₄SO₄) and were incubated at 25 °C for 56 days. Cumulative respiration (CR), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and dehydrogenase activity (DEA) concentrations decreased with increasing EC (P < 0.05), but less so in soils amended with glucose followed by RS and biochar. The addition of N to soils amended with different C substrates significantly decreased CR, MBC, DEA, and available phosphorus (P) concentrations at a given EC level.     

蚯蚓原位堆肥提升番茄连作土壤质量研究

[目的]连作障碍引起的土壤质量劣变是制约种植业可持续发展的瓶颈问题之一.已有研究表明蚯蚓腐熟粪肥能有效提升连作障碍土壤质量.本研究比较了蚯蚓原位腐熟粪肥和使用异地腐熟粪肥对提高土壤理化和生物学性状的效果,以提出高效可行的蚯蚓堆肥施用模式.[方法]田间试验在宁夏连续种植5年番茄的温室内进行,供试番茄品种为'粉宴1号'.试...     

Dynamics of Physicochemical Variables and Cultivable Bacteria in Vermicompost During Steady Food Waste Addition and Upon Feed Interruption

Vermicomposting is a bio-oxidation process mediated by epigeic earthworms, which act synergistically with microbes to stabilize organic matter. Vermicompost bins are popular in homes and classrooms, but we know little about how physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics of vermicompost evolve with regular feed addition or upon feed interruption. Temperature, moisture, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and labile and total carbohydrates were measured in twenty-four small-scale bins amended with fruit, vegetable, and coffee wastes for 266 days. Monitoring was maintained for 240 days following the last waste input. A canonical correspondence analysis with forward selection of explanatory parameters revealed that pH (p = 0.0100), organic C (p = 0.0140), and labile carbohydrates (p = 0.0110) significantly affected the composition of cultured bacteria through time. Through culture on different media for isolation and amplification (polymerase chain reaction) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, several Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae were observed in both active and maturing vermicompost, but Actinobacteria, Xanthomonadaceae, and Aeromonadaceae were most abundant after feeding interruption. Three phases of vermicomposting were observed in this semi-batch experiment: initiation, active degradation, and, following final feed addition, a phase akin to maturation. Our culture-based approach yields a subset of all microbes present in vermicompost, but provides further knowledge on which media are most useful for isolating vermicompost bacteria. This data will be helpful for low budget tracking (e.g., domestic or university operations), and cultivated vermicompost bacteria can also be characterized for their ability to efficiently metabolize organic waste.     

Potential of Eisenia foetida for Sustainable and Efficient Vermicomposting of Fly Ash

Vermicomposting of fly ash has been attempted, using red earthworm, Eisenia foetida. Fly ash, which was obtained from thermal power station, was mixed with cowdung in different proportions (20, 40, 60 and 80%). These mixtures were used as feed for earthworms, and after 30 days, vermicast recovery, worm zoomass and numbers of juveniles produced were recorded. A total of six runs each of 30 days were conducted during the whole study. Concentrations of heavy metals in different mixtures of fly ash–cowdung, before and after vermicomposting and in the earthworms used in the study were also estimated. Results show maximum output of vermicasts and maximum number of juveniles produced was in reactors with 40% fly ash while maximum weight gain by earthworm was in 20% fly ash vermireactors. Performance of vermireactors up to 60% fly ash was more or less similar but at 80% fly ash, there is a marked reduction in overall performance of the reactors. Chemical analysis of different samples of fly ash–cowdung mixtures prior to vermicomposting revealed high concentrations of zinc, chromium, lead, nickel and copper. Chemical analysis of vermicomposted samples showed 30–50% reduction in heavy metals up to 60% fly ash and 10–30% reduction in 80% fly ash. Metal analysis of earthworms revealed considerable bioaccumulation of heavy metals in their body. The Present study indicates the feasibility of E. foetida for mitigating the toxicity of metals and up to 60% fly ash–cowdung mixtures can be used for sustainable and efficient vermicomposting.     

Changes in nutrient content,enzymatic activities and microbial properties of lateritic soil due to application of different vermicomposts: a comparative study of ergosterol and chitin to determine fungal biomass in soil

In this experiment, vermicomposts, prepared from five different waste materials, were applied to acid lateritic soil under field conditions and soil samples were collected after 90 days to study the effect of vermicomposts on different chemical and biochemical. Results suggest that vermicompost prepared from paddy straw is most effective to improve nutrient content, enzymatic activities and microbial properties of lateritic soil. Vermicompost application significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the concentration of organic C, mineralizable N, available P and exchangeable K in soil. Amylase, protease, urease and acid phosphatase activities were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in vermicompost treated soils compared with the control. Both basal and substrate‐induced microbial respiration, microbial biomass C and N and fungal population in lateritic soil were increased due to vermicompost application. Ergosterol and chitin content were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in vermicompost treated soils over the control. Application of vermicompost increased the proportion of fungal biomass in total soil microorganisms.     

Physicochemical requirements in the environment of the earthworm Eisenia foetida

Survival and/or growth were used to assess optimum and potentially deleterious physico-chemical conditions in the environment of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Maximum weight was gained between 20 and 29°C with horse manure or activated sludge as food. Maximum weight gain as a function of moisture in activated sludge occurred between 70 and 85%. All worms died within a week at pH values <5 or >9; optimum pH for gain in weight centered around 7.0 Soluble salts in excess of 0.5% were lethal, though ammonium acetate caused 100% mortality at a concentration of 0.1%; concentrations in manures contaminated by urine or cattle slurry may be lethal, while those present in noncontaminated manure, with an electrolytic conductivity of 1.5–3mmhos, support weight gain. Inorganic chemicals that are commonly used to coagulate sludges, often as a preliminary to land application, were innocuous at concentrations higher than those normally used at wastewater treatment plants. Anaerobically digested sludges are toxic to earthworms, and are characterized by low oxidation-reduction potentials; when placed upon a soil substrate the redox potential increases slowly, and though the sludge tested in this study was nontoxic at Eh values in excess of 250 mV, it provided insufficient nutriment to E. foetida to allow weight gain. With activated sludge as food, growth of E. foetida occurred more rapidly when soil was present, independently of whether it was placed as a substrate beneath the sludge or mixed into the sludge. Growth occurred more rapidly when activated sludge was placed on substrates which allowed drainage, though loam or ashed loam appeared superior to others, such as glass beads or sand; the growth promoting factor is related to the inorganic fraction of the soil.     

Influence of Rooting Media on Chrysopogon Zizanioides (L.) Roberty

The present study was carried out to find the influence of some organic materials on the optimum biomass production of Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (Vetiver) using soil (S), vermicompost (VC), cow dung (CD) and coir pith (CP) at different ratios. The final day results showed that the ideal combination for the growth of the Vetiver is 1:1:1:1 v/v ratio of VC/CD/CP/S. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N)- phosphorus (P)- potassium (K), organic carbon (OC), and carbon (C)/N ratio showed in 1:1:1:1 v/v ratio of (VC/CD/CP/S), on 120th day were 7.3, 0.38 dS m^?1, 1.36%, 0.11%, 8.7%, 20.5% and C/N ratio is 15:1. The root and shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight, number of culms, and total chlorophyll content of Chrysopogon zizanioides were 65cm, 197 cm, 312 g, 104.4 g, 36 culms/plant and 40.57 mg/g at 1:1:1:1 v/v ratio of (VC/CD/CP/S) treatment and compared to control sets, the increasing ratio were 6:1, 3:1, 12:1, 12:1, 3:1, 2:1 respectively.     

Composts as Media Constituents for Vegetable Transplant Production

The use of compost with high salt concentration was evaluated, under commercial conditions, as a potential growing media constituent for vegetable transplant production. Two composts were prepared from sweet sorghum bagasse, pine bark, and either urea (compost A) or brewery sludge (compost B) as N source. Three vegetable species — broccoli (Brassica oleracea), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), and onion (Allium cepa) with different tolerance to salinity were used. Eleven substrates were formulated and tested: a control consisting of a moss peat-based commercial substrate; compost A; compost B; and, eight mixtures containing 33 or 67% by volume of each compost with either raw peat moss or commercial substrate as diluent. All the substrates prepared had suitable physical, physicochemical and chemical properties for use as growing media, except for the electrical conductivity (ranging from 3.20 to 13.21 dS m^?1) which was above the reference levels for soilless cultivation. Broccoli was the least affected by substrate salinity whilst tomato was the most. Onion transplants had an intermediate response to saline conditions. Tomato seed germination was markedly reduced when compost A, with a higher salt concentration, was used at a rate higher than 67%. Media prepared with either of the composts, and mixed with either a commercial substrate or peat in a rate up to 67%, did not cause any detrimental effect on the growth and nutritional status of broccoli, tomato and onion transplants, despite the high initial salinity of the substrates. These composts appear to be acceptable substitutes for Sphagnum peat in seed sowing mixtures.     

Effect of earthworms on decomposition processes in raw humus forest soil: A microcosm study

Summary The earthworms Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister) and Dendrobaena octaedra (Savigny) were studied in the laboratory to determine their effects on decomposition and nutrient cycling in coniferous forest soil. CO₂ evolution was monitored, and pH, PO ₄ ^3– –P, NH ₄ ⁺ –N, NO ₃ ^– –N, total N, and total C in the leaching waters were measured. After three destructive samplings, numbers of animals, mass loss, pH, and KCl-extractable nutrients were analysed.The earthworms clearly enhanced the mass loss of the substrate, especially that of litter. L. rubellus stimulated microbial respiration by 15–18%, whereas D. octaedra stimulated it only slightly. The worms significantly raised the pH of the leaching waters and the humus; L. rubellus raised the value by 0.2–0.6 pH units and D. octaedra by 0.1–0.4 units. Both worms increased N mineralization. Although the biomass of both worms decreased during the experiment, the N released from decomposing tissues did not explain the increase in N leached in the presence of earthworms. The worms influenced the level of PO ₄ ^3– –P only slightly.     

Vermicomposting as an Added-Value Post-treatment for Livestock Waste Composts

The aim of this work was to study the effects of vermicomposting on selected properties of composts derived from animal and plant wastes. For this, two different worm beds were established and fed with two composts: C1, made from goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) manure and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) pruning wastes, and C2, made from rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) manure and grass clippings, to study the quality of the final vermicomposts. Physical and chemical properties were determined in the end products. Vermicomposting improved several properties of the composts, increasing their total water-holding capacity (in C1, from 333 to 451 mL/L, and in C2, from 371to 419 mL/L), reducing salinity (in C1, from 6.8 to 2.4 dS/m, and in C2, from 10.3 to 4.6 dS/m), and balancing pH in the final composts obtained, especially in C1 (from 8.57 to 8.02). The type of raw material used in the worm beds significantly influenced the final characteristics of the end products obtained and the development of the process, with more favorable results being obtained with the compost derived from rabbit manure and grass clippings (C2).     

Influence of earthworm culture on fertilization potential and biological activities of vermicomposts prepared from different plant wastes

The present investigation was aimed to analyze influence of earthworm culture on nutritive status, microbial population, and enzymatic activities of composts prepared by utilizing different plant wastes. Vermicomposts were prepared from different types of leaves litter of horticulture and forest plant species by modified vermicomposting process at a farm unit. Initial thermophilic decomposition of waste load using cow‐dung slurry was done in the separate beds. The culture of Eisenia fetida was used for vermicomposting in specially designed vermibeds at the farm unit. The physico‐chemical characteristics, enzyme activities (oxido‐reductases and hydrolases), and microbial population (bacteria, fungi, free‐living nitrogen‐fixing bacteria, actinomycetes, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, phosphate‐solubilizing bacteria and fungi) of vermicomposts were found significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of control (without earthworm inoculum). The study quantified significant contributions of earthworm culture to physico‐chemical, enzymatic, and microbiological properties of vermicompost and confirmed superior fertilization potential of vermicompost for organic farming. The agronomic utility of vermicompost was assessed on yellow mustard plant in a pot experiment. Pot soil was amended with different ratios (5%, 10%, 20%) of vermicompost and normal compost (without earthworm inoculum). Effects of these amendments on the growth of Brassica comprestis L. were studied. The significant differences (p < 0.05) in the growth of plant were observed among vermicompost‐, compost‐amended soil, and control. Vermicompost increased the root and shoot lengths, numbers of branches and leaves per plant, fresh and dry weights per plant, numbers of pods and flowers, and biochemical properties of plant leaf significantly, especially in 20% amendment. These results proved better fertilization potential of vermicompost over non‐earthworm‐inoculated compost.     

OPTIMIZATION OF VERMICOMPOST AND WORM-BED LEACHATE FOR THE ORGANIC CULTIVATION OF RADISH

Vermicompost and worm-bed leachate (WBL) are two products obtained from vermicomposting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different combinations of vermicompost and WBL on cultivating radish (Raphanus sativus L.). A multilevel factorial design with 25 treatments was used to investigate the effect of vermicompost at 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40% and WBL at 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40% on germination and growth parameters. A maximum seed germination of 54%, number of leaves (2.8), and plant height (8.6 cm) were obtained with 10% vermicompost and 10% WBL. A maximum shoot (7.0 g) and root (7.3 g) dry weight was obtained with 10% vermicompost and 15% WBL. Vermicompost and worm-bed leachate have an inhibitory effect at higher concentrations on seed germination and plant growth. These inhibitory effects might be due to increased salt concentrations, pH or auxin-like effects of humic and fulvic acids.