Vermiculture for sustainable horticulture agronomic impact studies of earthworms, cow dung compost and vermicompost vis-a-vis chemical fertilisers on growth and yield of lady's finger (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Abstract

Pot experiment was conducted to assess the performance of live earthworm and vermicompost on growth and yield of lady's finger (Abelmoschus esculentus). Among the various treatments, live earthworm + cattle dung (as feed) (P1), cow dung compost (P2), vermicompost (P3), chemical fertilizer (P4) and control (P5) were organized. The results indicated that all yield parameters were found numerically superior and significantly higher (bud initiation- 30 days, flower formation- 36 days, number of buds and flowers - 50 and 47, number of fruits- 225, maximum weight of fruit- 70g, maximum length of fruit- 9.4'') in the pots with live earthworm + cattle dung (as feed) in comparison to others. Vermicompost used alone responded better than chemical fertilizer in which maximum average fruit weight and length were observed 40 g and 13.72 cm. Growth attributes indicated that lady's finger plants with live earthworm treatment showed early onset of germination than others with 100 percent survival rate of seedlings. The overall performance of plant growth was witnessed significantly better at 5 percent level in plants grown with live earthworm and vermicompost in soil. Another significant observation was that very mild disease appeared in the plants where earthworms were resident in the soil. After repeated use of live earthworm in the same soil many of the plant growth parameters were found numerically superior and significantly improved at 5 percent level over the period of time which proved that earthworms are really the 'friend of farmers'. It can extensively improve the soil fertility if present consistently in farm soil.