International Journal of Research in Agronomy 2021; 4(1): 11-13

E-ISSN: 2618-0618
P-ISSN: 2618-060X
© Agronomy The impact of vermicompost application on yield of
www.agronomyjournals.com
2021; 4(1): 11-13
maize (Zea mays)
Received: 29-10-2020
Accepted: 09-12-2020
Nitika Thakur, Gagandeep Kaur, Manjeet and Dr. Parveen Kumar Jain
Nitika Thakur
Students Perusing MSc-Agronomy,
University Institute of Agricultural Abstract
Sciences, Chandigarh University, Pollution of agriculture in ecosystem is due to excessive use of mineral fertilizers and discharge of
(NAAC A+), NH-95 Chandigarh- livestock manure. Therefore, there is a need for disposing manure safely for instance by transforming
Ludhiana Highway, Gharuan, manure into compost. The traditional composting is, however time consuming with considerable nutrient
Mohali, Punjab, India loss. Vermicomposting is a new and good method, but do far, there are few quantitative evaluations of
vermicomposting. There we compared vermicomposting ans traditional composting if cattle manure with
Gagandeep Kaur maize. The result show that the amount of nutrients from vermicomposting is lower than that from
Agronomy Professor, University traditional compositor mannuring vermicomposting yield 2172.0kg of earthworms per hectare. Moreover
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, vermicomposting increased aboveground biomass by 7.7% and maize grain yield by 18.35%. The global
Chandigarh University, (NAAC output of vermicomposting was thus higher 304% due to higher grain yield.
A+), NH-95 Chandigarh-Ludhiana
Highway, Gharuan, Mohali,
Keywords: Earthworms, microorganisams, organic fertilizers, organic waste
Punjab, India

Manjeet Introduction
University Institute of Agricultural The current agriculture is now trying to create the balance between soil and crop with good yield
Sciences, Chandigarh University, and product. The vrmi composting, sustainable and organic farming helps in maintaining a
(NAAC A+), NH-95 Chandigarh-
Ludhiana Highway, Gharuan,
balance between the intake and output of nutrients in the soil. The use of synthetic fertilizers
Mohali, Punjab, India provides a sufficient content of nutrients into soil and influence on yield, on the other hand, it is
only has one time effect. With the current development of industrial fertilizers and the decline in
Dr. Parveen Kumar Jain production of organic fertilizer due to the reduction in production of livestock numbers, it is
University Institute of Agricultural necessary to pay attention to other alternatives to improve this negative situation. Reuse of waste
Sciences, Chandigarh University,
(NAAC A+), NH-95 Chandigarh-
i.e. composting has an important position in context. A large scale of reusable materials that are
Ludhiana Highway, Gharuan, suitable for composting increase the value of some technology, having due regard to the
Mohali, Punjab, India protection of the environment. Composting waste materials, can be regarded as suitable
alternative to organic fertilizers. The production of vermicompost is processed by reusing of
waste products through new technologies of earthworms Eisenia foetida, which mix with the
digested organic matter with minerals in digestive tract i.e. with the soil creating relatively water
resistant aggregates i.e. casts, which have a positive impact on physical, chemical and biological
parameter of soil.

Vermicompost preparation
The vermicompost was made in vermicomposting bin having size of 80*120*30 cm. Material
used dor making the vermicompost were the mushroom waste, coconut husk sugarcane trash,
cow dung, dry leaf litter and vegetable waste. The vegetable wastes are collected from the
traditional market, kitchen waste and were cut into the size of vegetable wastes into pieces of 5
cm. the dry leaf litter and sugarcane trash was grinded. The mushroom waste, sugarcane trash,
coconut husk were served as bedding material materials. While the mixture of cow dung, leaf
Corresponding Author: litter and vegetable waste were used food for worms. The amount of material used to fill the bin
Nitika Thakur was 40kg of bedding materials and 20kg of worm food. The amount was adapted to the capacity
Students Perusing MSc-Agronomy, of the worms to decompose organic matter. Vermicomposting process lasted for 28 days by
University Institute of Agricultural using the earthworm species Eisenia foetida. The composting was done for 14 days. The
Sciences, Chandigarh University,
vermicompost is also added with fish meal and eggshell with composition of 5% as additive
(NAAC A+), NH-95 Chandigarh-
Ludhiana Highway, Gharuan, materials. During the vermicompostiong bin is covered with black cloth to avoid the exposure to
Mohali, Punjab, India sun. The vermicompost bins were made in shade to protect it from excess rainfall and from birds.

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Advantages of Vermicompost element to crops and with the growth and development of corn
 Increase soil aeration and nutrient holding capacity. and assimilate the vegetative reproduction organs and improved
 Improves soil physical, chemical, biological property. yield. The result of project can be concluded that the advantages
 Vermicompost contains high amount of humic acids which of bio-fertilizer (vermicomposting) to reduce nitrogen and can
helps to balance soil pH and increases its microbial activity. stabilize production and increase production, increase farmers
 Vermicompost provides higher amount of macro and micro income and reduce the cost of cultivation and use of nitrogen
nutrients to the soil as compared to other compost. fertilizer in further crops.
 Increases plant growth and reduces the incidence of disease.
 Better method of waste management as compared to Economic Benefits
landfills The grain yield is not the single factor considered by farmers;
 Economic and low cost method. actually, the economic benefits are greater importance. We
found that the net output was higher in vermicomposting system,
Vermicullture and Vermicomposting which is increased by 304.1% compared to traditional system.
Rogayan et al. suggested that vermiculture is defined as rearing The inputs for vermicomposting were more than those of
of earthworms for the purpose of organic waste management. traditional composting. Large amount of earthworms were
Vermicomposting is defined as the coverting of organic waste obtained from the former treatment and the application of cattle
with the help of earthworms as the converting of organic waste manure vermicom post harvested greater grain yield which lead
into the compost with the help of earthworms. From three month to higher output. At the end, the ratio of output/input (1:9:1) was
experimentation it is revealed that vermiculture and higher in vermicomposting system than (1:5:1) in the traditional
vermicomposting is worthwhile venture. This study reveals that system. At the end the above mentioned results powerfully
uneconomic biodegradable waste from the various venture can proved that cattle manure treated by vermicomposting
be put into economic product. This venture helps in maintaining application generated more economic benefits. By which now
the ecological balance on earth by reducing the waste and people do more and more livestock process and take full benefits
producing organic fertilizers which helps in maintaining the soil of each and everything i. e. milk, cattle dung, urine etc.
fertility of the soil. The product obtained from the
vermicomposting that produced by using plant debris, cattle Conclusion
dung and many other waste is high in nutrient content. Various The digestion of cattle manure by earthworms converts useful
types of earthworms are used in vermicomposting i.e. Eisines cattle manure into the more useful and valuable organic fertilizer
foetida, Eudrilus enginiae etc. which helps in degradation of that is friendly to the environment. Some of the nutrients are
waste and coverting them into economic product. used by earthworms, and large amount of earthworms is
obtained. The activities of earthworm made the remainder
compost product contain some plant growth regulators which
leads to the plant to fully consume the agronomic nutrients to
generate greater aboveground biomass and higher grain yield.
Thanks to the harvest of earthworms and increase grain yield.
Both the net output and input ratio is higher in vermicompost
system, even its input was simultaneously elevated. These
findings may help to sustainably increase food supply by
improving soil conditions, protecting environments, and
maintaining the crop yields through the application of
vermicpmpost.by the adding of 100 earthworms we can make
1000 of their species and also used it as a vermicompost palnt.

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