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Relative effect of substrate substitution with different concentrations of vermicompost on chlorophyll content (a), F V /F M (b), Performance Index (c), and F V /F 0 (d) in cotyledons or leaves of crop seedlings. Data are means from three independent measurements for every treatment
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Vermicompost preparations are increasingly used in agricultural practice. There is a possibility, that crop plants are sensitive
to negative effect of vermicompost at early stages of development. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of
vermicompost on seed germination and seedling growth of different vegetable crop species. Vermicom...
Citations
... Mientras que una lombricomposta madura aporta efectos positivos en las actividades agrícolas, el aporte o aplicación de lombricomposta inmadura puede provocar efectos indeseables como la acidificación de los suelos o el desarrollo de microbiota patógena (Ievinsh, 2011). Varios detalles no permitieron que este proyecto, en la comunidad de Chitejé, tuviera una continuidad y una completa apropiación de esta práctica por parte de los involucrados. ...
La región Otomí Querétaro Sur presenta degradación de suelos debido a los derivados químicos y salinización resultado de las actividades agropecuarias, erosión hídrica y eólica del suelo. Entre las prácticas agrícolas recomendadas para conservación de suelos y secuestro de C se encuentran la adición de materia orgánica estabilizada (compostas y lombricompostas) y acciones vegetativas. Después de un proceso de integración en la región, la elaboración del PIDR, planeación entre dependencias y con las comunidades mismas, ha sido posible documentar experiencias de éxito respecto a la conservación de suelos en las comunidades de la región Otomí Querétaro Sur. Por ejemplo, con acciones vegetativas con el uso de maíz criollo (bancos de semilla), con barreras vegetativas de nopal y restauración de suelo (36 ha) de sistemas agrícolas tradicionales a través de la aplicación de abonos orgánicos. La Secretaria de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (SADER) y el NIIAP Amealco colaboran con 36 agricultores en elaboración y uso de abonos orgánicos con 5 módulos para bocashi, 5 bancos de maíz criollo con 5 silos de almacenamiento. Las técnicas para conservar suelos en las comunidades indígenas tienen elementos únicos y que pueden ser integrados al realizar un trabajo colaborativo y de diálogo con las comunidades, por lo que investigación horizontal y multidisciplinaria es necesaria.
... On the other hand, the lowest germination percentage obtained in M4 medium was attributed to the higher EC value of this medium compared to the other media. As a matter of fact, in some studies, the lowest values in germination percentages were obtained in the environments where vermicompost was used (Atiyeh et al. 2001;Ievinsh 2011;Tan 2014). The highest yield in vegetable cultivation depends on the balance between vegetative growth and generative development (Uzun 2001). ...
In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationships between changes in water retention properties and some physicochemical properties of different growth media used in seedling cultivation and tomato (Solanum lycopersicon cv.) seedling quality parameters. Growing media were prepared from eight different mixtures of peat (P), diatomite (D), zeolite (Z) and vermicompost (V). KAYRA F1 tomato variety was used for the seedling. At the end of 45 days of incubation, the water retention characteristics of medias were determined at different matric potential (0, -2, -4, -5, -8, -10, -33 and -1500 kPa). The highest available water capacity was realized in M1 (100% peat) and the highest saturation value was realized in M5 (70% peat + 15% zeolite + 15% vermicompost). Nutrient content and chemical and physical properties of the media were important for tomato seedling yield and quality parameters. Especially the increase in the ratio of vermicompost with a high EC value in the mixture caused a decrease in the germination rate. In the mixtures with a vermicompost ratio not exceeding 15%, significant improvement was achieved in seedling quality parameters. The best medium for tomato seedling yield and the quality parameters were obtained in M8 (70% peat + 10% zeolite + 10% diatomite + 10% vermicompost), and it was also observed that favorable results may be obtained in terms of quality seedling cultivation in M6 (70% peat + 15% diatomite + 15% vermicompost), M5 (70% peat + 15% zeolite + 15% vermicompost) and M4 (80% peat + 20% vermicompost) mediums.
... This improves soil properties and also provides an optimal substrate for roots. Ievinsh [67] found that increased chlorophyll concentration promotes vegetative development. Treatments T9 and T10 showed the least chlorophyll content, which might be due to HM toxicity and low nutritional availability. ...
The steel industry drives world economic growth, yet it generates heavy metal-rich steel slag, which jeopardizes the environment. The utilization of vermi-technology is essential for the sustainable transformation of toxic steel waste slag (SW) into organic amendments, although fieldscale use of vermiprocessed SW remains unexplored. To bridge the gap, this study evaluated the efficacy of vermiprocessed SW as an organic supplement for rice field cultivation, focusing on heavy metal (HM) bioavailability, human health risk, and yield in comparison to raw slag and NPK fertilizer. The results indicated a considerable decrease in the bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in T4 (1:1 SW vermicompost 50% + 50% fertilizer). In treatments, T9 (100% SW) and T10 (50% SW + 50% fertilizer) (FIAM) free ion activity modeling confirmed grain absorption of HMs, and the FIAM HQ values indicated the health risk for the direct application of steel slag waste on the field. The risk factor evaluation of HMs’ presence in treatments T9 and T10 established the possible cancer risk for living beings. Similarly, machine learning models like SOBOL sensitivity analysis and artificial neural networks revealed potential threats associated with HMs on different treatments, respectively. The correlation coefficient revealed the negative effects of bioavailable HMs on various soil microbial and enzymatic properties. Moreover, the abundant yield of rice was attributed to the combination treatment (1:1 50% + NPK 50%), which paved the way for an alternative agronomic approach based on the utilization of vermicomposted steel waste slag.
... At the same time, consumers are increasingly aware of the adequate proportions of vitamins, dietary fibres, and various other nutrients in vegetables. Such quality vegetable production requires nutrient-rich soils (Ievinsh, 2011;De Corato, 2020). Some practices to increase the food's nutrient contents include the use of nutrient supplementation, biofortification, organic fertilizers, etc. Organic fer-tilizers including VC improve the uptake of various essential nutrients such as N, K, P, Ca, Mg, and S as compared to other fertilizers Verma et al., 2018). ...
The beneficial effects of Vermicompost (VC) as an organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of plants are well studied. However, studies related to its utilization and effect in combination with reduced chemical fertilizers on plant growth are still limited. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying levels of VC (0 and 2.5 tons/ha) and NPK (60:80:60 kg/ha or RDF, 75% RDF, 50% RDF, 25% RDF) fertilizers on the growth and yield of spinach, peas, and radish. In a Randomly Complete Block Design (RCBD), the soil for each plot was amended with different VC concentrations before sowing the seeds. The data collected was subjected to ANOVA at 5% level of significance. VC substitution (T1) in soil was helpful in enhancing the overall growth of all three vegetables as compared to control (T0). NPK alone (T2) was more helpful and further enhanced the vegetative growth as well as the yield of the studied vegetable plants. T3 as a combined VC and NPK treatment caused more enhancement in the growth of vegetable plants. With the increased VC and reduced NPK in T4, all three vegetable plants behaved significantly and depicted maximum yield as compared to T0. Whereas, T5 and T6 showed a gradual decline in the growth and yield of spinach, peas, and radish as compared to T4. The results of this experiment suggest that 1.5 tonns of VC per hectare of land is best suitable for vegetable production in clay loam soils of district Chakwal.
... At the same time, consumers are increasingly aware of the adequate proportions of vitamins, dietary fibres, and various other nutrients in vegetables. Such quality vegetable production requires nutrient-rich soils (Ievinsh, 2011;De Corato, 2020). Some practices to increase the food's nutrient contents include the use of nutrient supplementation, biofortification, organic fertilizers, etc. Organic fer-tilizers including VC improve the uptake of various essential nutrients such as N, K, P, Ca, Mg, and S as compared to other fertilizers Verma et al., 2018). ...
The beneficial effects of Vermicompost (VC) as an organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of plants are well studied. However, studies related to its utilization and effect in combination with reduced chemical fertilizers on plant growth are still limited. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying levels of VC (0 and 2.5 tons/ha) and NPK (60:80:60 kg/ha or RDF, 75% RDF, 50% RDF, 25% RDF) fertilizers on the growth and yield of spinach, peas, and radish. In a Randomly Complete Block Design (RCBD), the soil for each plot was amended with different VC concentrations before sowing the seeds. The data collected was subjected to ANOVA at 5% level of significance. VC substitution (T1) in soil was helpful in enhancing the overall growth of all three vegetables as compared to control (T0). NPK alone (T2) was more helpful and further enhanced the vegetative growth as well as the yield of the studied vegetable plants. T3 as a combined VC and NPK treatment caused more enhancement in the growth of vegetable plants. With the increased VC and reduced NPK in T4, all three vegetable plants behaved significantly and depicted maximum yield as compared to T0. Whereas, T5 and T6 showed a gradual decline in the growth and yield of spinach, peas, and radish as compared to T4. The results of this experiment suggest that 1.5 tonns of VC per hectare of land is best suitable for vegetable production in clay loam soils of district Chakwal.
... The GI percentage exceeding 100% for both vermicompost sample extracts can be attributed to the significant activity of EW within the substrate mixture. This activity results in the complete decomposition and maturation of the products by the end of the 60-day experimental trial (Warman and AngLopez 2010;Ievinsh 2011). Earthworms play a crucial role in detoxifying initial biowaste, and the resulting vermicompost has a substantial positive impact on seed germination, plant growth, and development. ...
The present study investigates the synergistic impact of earthworms (Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae) and microbes during vermicomposting of invasive weed phytomass (Xanthium strumarium and Lantana camara). This study aims introducing an onsite solution for weed control while producing valuable organic manure. Vermitransformation and detailed characterization of mono- (VC1, VC2, VC4, VC5) and polyculture (VC3, VC6) of X. strumarium and L. camara has been reported for the first time employing E. fetida and E. eugeniae. The study achieved 45.16 ± 2.48–76.73 ± 1.37% vermiconvertion rate. The pH, conductivity, and concentration of heavy metals are effectively stabilized. Furthermore, it observed a significant reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) alongside the augmentation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and other trace elements (Zn, Ni, Fe). The ash content, humification index, and C/N ratio analysis established the maturity of the vermicompost. The macronutrient enhancement in the vermicompost samples was recorded 1.5- to 2.47-fold for total N, 1.19- to 1.48-fold in available P, 1.1- to 1.2-fold in total K, and 1.1- to 1.18-fold in total Ca. The germination index reveals a significant reduction in phytotoxicity, suggesting the production of mature and suitable vermicompost for agricultural use. Evaluating mono- and polyculture techniques, the research highlights the superiority of E. fetida over E. eugeniae. Further, the earthworm population and biomass have significantly increased by the end of 60-day experimental trial.
... Further, research by Bachman and Metzger (2008) indicates that substrates containing 10-20% vermicompost yield superior results. Conversely, several studies show that the addition of large amounts of vermicompost to the substrate, i.e. increasing the concentration of vermicompost in the substrate, resulted in slower seed germination and seedling growth (Pour et al., 2013 andIevinsh, 2011). Our findings corroborate these earlier studies, demonstrating optimal plant performance at a 10/90 vermicompost ratio, with diminished growth observed at 20/80 and 30/70 ratios. ...
Vermicomposting in comparison to conventional composting has several advantages, such as faster treatment of organic waste and production of manure compost with lower levels of salinity. Therefore, the determination of optimal mixtures of organic waste and manure for vermicomposting and deployment of local earthworms for this procedure have important implications in plant agriculture. In this work, the vermicompost was prepared from mixtures of manure (cattle, horse and sheep) and household organic waste (wood shavings, paper, leaves, fruit and vegetable waste) in various ratios. To convert the organic waste to the vermicompost we used the local earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826), while a hybrid species Eisenia anderii (Iogonen, 1995), served as control. Chemical analysis of the resulting vermicompost revealed significant increase in nutrient content compared to the initial substrate: the total nitrogen (N) was increased by 79%, phosphorus (P) by 89% and potassium (K) by 62%. The efficacy of the vermicompost, which was evaluated to have high NPK content, was further studied by observing its impact on the growth of local cucumber variety Miracle F1. As a control, the plants were cultured in medium without vermicompost (black sand). In this work, we examined the effect of different proportions of vermicompost on the development and yield of cucumber seedlings. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse of the Institute of Biochemistry, Samarkand State University. Cucumber seedlings were grown in a medium containing 10%, 20%, 30% vermicompost.
... efficacy in improving plant stand by suppressing both pre-and post-emergence damping off incited by R. solani up to 95%, outperforming their applications. These findings concur with previous results demonstrating synergistic effects between vermicompost/ compost teas and biocontrol agents like Trichoderma sp. and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, enhancing biocontrol efficacy against fungal pathogens by up to 80% in beans and other crops [13,37,38]. ...
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an essential food staple and source of income for small-holder farmers across Africa. However, yields are greatly threatened by fungal diseases like root rot induced by Rhizoctonia solani. This study aimed to evaluate an integrated approach utilizing vermicompost tea (VCT) and antagonistic microbes for effective and sustainable management of R. solani root rot in common beans. Fourteen fungal strains were first isolated from infected common bean plants collected across three Egyptian governorates, with R. solani being the most virulent isolate with 50% dominance. Subsequently, the antagonistic potential of vermicompost tea (VCT), Serratia sp., and Trichoderma sp. was assessed against this destructive pathogen. Combinations of 10% VCT and the biocontrol agent isolates displayed potent inhibition of R. solani growth in vitro, prompting in planta testing. Under greenhouse conditions, integrated applications of 5 or 10% VCT with Serratia marcescens, Trichoderma harzianum, or effective microorganisms (EM1) afforded up to 95% protection against pre- and post-emergence damping-off induced by R. solani in common bean cv. Giza 6. Similarly, under field conditions, combining VCT with EM1 (VCT + EM1) or Trichoderma harzianum (VCT + Trichoderma harzianum) substantially suppressed disease severity by 65.6% and 64.34%, respectively, relative to untreated plants. These treatments also elicited defense enzyme activity and distinctly improved growth parameters including 136.68% and 132.49% increases in pod weight per plant over control plants. GC–MS profiling of Trichoderma harzianum, Serratia marcescens, and vermicompost tea (VCT) extracts revealed unique compounds dominated by cyclic pregnane, fatty acid methyl esters, linoleic acid derivatives, and free fatty acids like oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids with confirmed biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activities. The results verify VCT-mediated delivery of synergistic microbial consortia as a sustainable platform for integrated management of debilitating soil-borne diseases, enhancing productivity and incomes for smallholder bean farmers through regeneration of soil health. Further large-scale validation can pave the adoption of this climate-resilient approach for securing food and nutrition security.
... Further, research by Bachman and Metzger (2008) indicates that substrates containing 10-20% vermicompost yield superior results. Conversely, several studies show that the addition of large amounts of vermicompost to the substrate, i.e. increasing the concentration of vermicompost in the substrate, resulted in slower seed germination and seedling growth (Pour et al., 2013 andIevinsh, 2011). Our findings corroborate these earlier studies, demonstrating optimal plant performance at a 10/90 vermicompost ratio, with diminished growth observed at 20/80 and 30/70 ratios. ...
... The high germination percentage observed in all four different original and reduced moisture vermicomposts compared to the control can be supported by research on okra in Cote d'Ivoire, in which vermicompost application resulted in a higher germination percentage than inorganic fertilizers and the control. This effect is possibly due to VC's water retention capability and the improved physical and mechanical properties of the soil, thereby increasing nutrient bioavailability [5,53]. ...
Organic based fertilizers is crucial for maintaining soil fertility, increasing crop production, and mitigating climate change. Among various organic fertilizers, vermicompost (VC) has been found to be one of the promising options for enhancing soil fertility and productivity. However, there are limited studies on the agronomic effects of vermicomposts in Nepal. In this study, a pot culture experiment was conducted inside a greenhouse to assess the agronomic and economic effects of four different commercially available vermicomposts, available in both reduced and original moisture forms, on okra. Nine treatments with three replications were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD). These treatments included Divya vermicompost with both reduced (DvRM: 28.82 %) and original moisture (DvOM: 62.17 %); Praramva vermicompost with reduced (PvRM: 29.63 %) and original moisture (PvOM: 54.65 %), Bio-Comp vermicompost with reduced (BvRM: 26.75 %) and original moisture (BvOM: 49.77 %), Sathi vermicompost with reduced (SvRM: 28.52 %) and original moisture (SvOM: 65.18 %), and a control (CK: non-fertilized treatment). All VC treatments, whether in reduced or original moisture forms, showed better performance on plant growth parameters and fruit yield compared to the control. There was no significant difference between the four types of VCs, in either moisture form. The average number of fruits per pot in VC treatments (ranging from 5.5 to 8.0 fruits per pot) increased by 94 % compared to CK (3.5 fruits). Similarly, total fruit yield increased by 126 % in VC treatments (ranging from 16213 kg ha−1 to 23193 kg ha−1) compared to the CK (8260 kg ha−1). The benefit to cost ratio (B:C) of all the VCs was above 1 (B:C > 1), ranging from 1.00 to 1.59, illustrating the economic benefit of using vermicompost in okra cultivation. The findings suggest that farmers should consider the widespread use of vermicomposts to increase both crop productivity and farm profitability, thereby sustaining their livelihoods.
