IDENTIFICATION OF OPTIMUM COMBINATION OF PROPORTION OF VERMICOMPOST IN THE SOIL-BASED POTTING MIX AND POT VOLUME FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PAPER POT SEEDLINGS OF VEGETABLES

An investigation was conducted to identify the best combination of proportion of vermicompost in soil-based potting mix and pot volume for the production of paper pot seedlings suitable for mechanical transplanting. The best combination of the potting mix and pot volume is the one that produces seedlings with high growth of root and shoot biomasses at the end of seedling stage, low in cost and light in weight. Cubical shaped paper pots of 50 cm³ volume filled with potting mix of 25% vermicompost and 75% soil and sand in equal proportion by volume was found to be best for the large scale production of paper pot seedlings of tomato, eggplant, and chili peppers. The paper pots were found to be firm at the end of seedling stage and variations in their dimensions could be accommodated in fully automatic transplanters with horizontal chain conveyor type seedling feeding and metering devices.     

IMPACT OF VERMICOMPOST AND NITROGEN-PHOSPHORUS- POTASSIUM APPLICATION ON BIOMASS PARTITIONING,NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF ARECANUT

A long-term field experiment (1998 to 2010) investigated the effects of vermicompost (VC) and chemical fertilizers (CF) application alone or in combination on biomass partitioning, nutrient uptake and productivity of arecanut. Trunk biomass (kg palm^?1) was significantly higher with integrated treatments (40.8–43.0) than control (23.9). Biomass partitioning to kernel varied between 4.6% in control to 7.7% in CF 100 and 200% nitrogen (N)- phosphorus (P)- potassium (K). The leaf P and K content varied significantly among treatments. The N immobilized in trunk (g palm^?1) was significantly higher in integrated treatments (119-127) than in control (93). Phosphorus and K uptake by trunk followed same trend. The leaf K uptake and total K removed were found significant. The nutrition treatments registered significantly higher kernel yield (2508–3176 kg ha^?1) than control (1721 kg ha^?1). The increased yield of arecanut from chemical fertilizers (73–85%) was more pronounced when compared to VC (48–59%) and integrated treatments (46–63%) over control.     

The effects of vermicompost tea on the growth and yield of lettuce and tomato in a non-circulating hydroponics system

The use of vermicompost water extracts (teas) in horticulture to increase plant growth and yield and suppress pests and diseases, is well documented. However, its utilization and effects in hydroponics systems are unknown. Low concentrations of vermicompost teas, produced from food wastes, at rates of 1.6% and 3.2% for lettuce and 0.14%, 0.28% and 0.56% for tomatoes were investigated as additive and supplement in static hydroponic systems. Vermicompost teas significantly increased lettuce yields when concentrations of nutrient solutions were reduced to 25% and 50% of the recommended full rate for nutrient solutions compared to treatments without vermicompost teas. Even lower concentrations of vermicompost teas increased tomato yields significantly as a supplement in reduced nutrient solutions of 50%. The presence of a combination of trace amounts of plant hormones such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins and humic acids in vermicomposts teas are likely the responsible factor that increased yields of lettuce and tomato in static hydroponics systems with lower concentrations of nutrient solutions.     

Balanced and integrated nutrient management for enhancedand economic food production: case study from rainfed semi-arid tropics in India

Soil degradation in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) is mainly responsible for low crop and water productivity. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan states in India, the soil analyses of farmers’ fields revealed widespread deficiencies of S (9–96%), B (17–100%) and Zn (22–97%) along with that of P (25–92%). Soil organic C was deficient in 7–84% fields indicating specifically N deficiencies and poor soil health in general. During on-farm evaluations in rainy seasons 2010 and 2011, the soil test based addition of deficient nutrient fertilizers as balanced nutrition (BN) increased crop yields by 6–40% (benefit to cost ratios of 0.81–4.28) through enhanced rainwater use efficiency. The integrated nutrient management (INM), however, decreased the use of chemical fertilizers in BN by up to 50% through on-farm produced vermicompost and recorded yields at par or more than BN with far better benefit to cost ratios (2.26–10.2). Soybean grain S and Zn contents improved with INM. Applied S, B, Zn and vermicompost showed residual benefits as increased crop yields for succeeding three seasons. Hence, results showed INM/BN was economically beneficial for producing more food, while leading to resilience building of SAT production systems.     

Influence of indigenous inputs on the properties of old alluvial soil in a mustard cropping system

Field experiments were conducted at the Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm of Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal, India, to evaluate the influence of integrated nutrient management on soil physicochemical properties in a mustard (Brassica campestris cv. ‘B9’) cropping system. The experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 in old alluvial soil (pH 6–7). Seven different doses of biofertilizers (Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)), vermicomposts, organic (cow dung), and chemical fertilizers were applied on mustard in both the experimental seasons. The results indicated an improvement in soil quality by increasing soil porosity and water holding capacity significantly, as well as gradual build-up of the soil micronutrient status after harvesting of the crop. Dual applications of biofertilizers and vermicomposts have contributed significantly to higher soil organic matter, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents as well as micronutrient availability of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and subsequently increased the soil health.     

Evaluation of growth indices and quantitative traits of safflower under organic farming and conventional agriculture

Application of organic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture systems improves yield sustainability of field crop production. The current research has been formed to investigate the effects of various levels of vermicompost (zero, 3, 6 and 9 t ha^?1) in combination with foliar spraying of potassium humate (0, 1, 2 and 3 mL L^?1) on spring safflower, in Iran during 2012–2013. In addition, inorganic fertilization has been considered as conventional agriculture (CA). In the current experiment, growth indices, seed yield, yield components and flower yield were evaluated. The results showed that the maximum leaf area index, total dry weight and crop growth rate have been determined at 9 t ha^?1 vermicompost and 3 mL L^?1 K-humate while the maximum netto assimilation rate has existed in CA at the emergence of flower buds. Likewise, the results indicated that vermicompost leads to a significant increase in seed yield, flower yield and yield components except 1000 seed weight. Flower yield, head number per plant and seed number per head were affected by K-humate concentrations and increased significantly from 1 to 3 mL L^?1. It should be mentioned that 9 t ha^?1 vermicompost and 3 mL L^?1 K-humate produced the highest seed and flower yield.     

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).     

蚯蚓粪与化肥配施对红小豆生长与品质的影响

为探究蚯蚓粪与化肥配施对陕西关中地区红小豆产量及品质的影响,以红小豆新品种保红947为研究对象,设置T1(纯化肥)、T2(20％蚯蚓粪+80％化肥)、T3(50％蚯蚓粪+50％化肥)、T4(80％蚯蚓粪+20％化肥)和CK(不施肥)5个处理,研究了不同处理下红小豆成熟期农艺性状、产量性状及品质性状的差异.结果表明:蚯蚓...     

Management ofMeloidogyne incognita inArtemisia pallens with bio-organics

The sedentary endoparasitic root-knot nematode [RKN],Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, is worldwide an economically important agri-pest, reducing the yield and quality of crops. The traditional method of RKN control is based mainly on chemical nematicides, which will not be frequently available from 2005 onwards; their use is highly objectionable due to their major contribution to ground water contamination, and dangers to the environment and to human and animal health. Consequently, new and environmentally safe tools for RKN management are urgently needed. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate different bio-organic wastes on RKN infestation and the growth / oil yield ofArtemisia pallens Wall. The tested wastes were: 1. Distillation waste ofMentha arvensis (menthol mint); 2.Murraya koengii (meethi neem / curry leaf); 3.Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass); 4.C. martinii (palmarosa); 5.C. winterianus (citronella); 6.Pelargonium graveolens (geranium); 7.Pogostemon patchouli (patchouli); 8.Tagetes minuta (marigold); 9. Vermicompost ofM. arvensis, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium (pyrethrum),Tagetes minuta andC. winterianus; 10.Trichoderma harzianum isolate U; 11. VA fungiGlomus aggregatum; G. fasciculatum. The results obtained with these different bio-organics were compared with three controls: untreated — uninoculated, untreated — inoculated and the chemical pesticide carbofuran. Results revealed a considerable enhancement of herbage biomass, flower bud and oil yields when plants were treated with the distillation waste ofC. martinii, C. winterianus, M. koengii, M. arvensis, vermicompost ofC. cinerariaefolium, T. minuta, M. arvensis and bio-agentT. harzianum. Least nematode infections were recorded with the distillation waste ofM. koengii, C. martinii, C. flexuosus, and vermicompost ofT. minuta, C. cinerariaefolium andM. arvensis. The results revealed that these environmentally sound bio-organics could be used for replacement of chemical nematicides. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 20, 2005. The work was conducted at CIMAP-CSIR, Lucknow, India.     

化肥有机替代对连作花生产量和根瘤固氮的影响

为了探究蚓粪和生物有机肥部分替代化肥对连作花生产量和氮素吸收固定的影响,通过花生两年连作定位试验,设置蚓粪替代化肥处理（VM）、生物有机肥替代化肥处理（BF）、单施化肥处理（CF）3个施肥处理,另设不施肥处理（CK）作为对照,研究化肥有机替代对花生产量和氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明,VM处理可以提高花生收获指数和植株干物质积累,VM、BF处理的花生产量较 CK 分别提高 63.18%、33.51%。CF 处理显著降低了根瘤数和根瘤鲜质量,降幅分别为 18.78%~50.82% 和 24.29%~34.74%,BF和VM处理较CF处理根瘤数、根瘤鲜质量分别提高53.20%和69.56%、63.90%和66.31%。BF和VM的根瘤固氮酶活性分别是CK的1.16倍和1.20倍,是CF的1.15倍和1.19倍。施肥处理的花生籽粒、叶、茎、根的氮素含量和氮素积累量均高于CK,其中,VM处理最高,BF处理次之。花生氮素分配比率表现为籽粒大于叶、茎、根。VM提高了根瘤固氮酶潜力和氮素向籽粒分配比率的同时降低了氮素向根的分配比率,而 CF结果相反。VM的氮肥农学效率分别是 BF和 CF处理的 1.85倍和 5.08倍。VM（5.02kg·kg^-1）和BF（4.11 kg·kg^-1）的氮肥偏生产力显著高于CF（3.43 kg·kg^-1）和CK（3.08 kg·kg^-1）,与CF和BF相比,VM表现出了更强的氮素吸收利用能力。综合来看,蚓粪替代化肥后增强了花生光合同化产物转化为经济产品的能力,表现出较强的产量优势。单施化肥表现出明显的“氮阻遏”效应,而有机肥（特别是蚓粪）替代化肥后具有缓解“氮阻遏”的作用,主要归因于蚓粪替代化肥可通过提高花生根瘤固氮酶活性来保持根瘤的固氮潜力,并改变花生植株氮素分配,最终使花生植株氮素吸收利用能力增强。