Effect of Green Gram Vermicompost on the growth and yield of Okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus)

M. Deivanayaki, B. Vijitha

PG and Research Department of Zoology, Government College for Women (Autonomous), Kumbakonam – 612001, Tamil Nadu, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: drdeiva82@gmail.com

Abstract:

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partly decomposed (not exposed to earthworm) and vermicompost of green gram waste obtained from the earthworm Eisenia fetida used in different culture medium of greengram waste on growth and yield of Okra plant. The mean values of total leaves, leaves weight, total plant weight, total pods, pods weight and pods perimeter of okra plant cultivated in the pots using different percent substrate ratios (0,25,50,75, and100) were measured. The okra plants raised in soil alone showed poor growth over other doses of partly decomposed and vermicompost.

KEY WORDS: Vermicompost, Eisenia fetida, Green gram, Okraplant, Abelmoschus esculentus.

INTRODUCTION:

Vermiculture helps to increase income of a family:

With earth population recently reaching 7 billion and continuing to rice, a large problem is feeding all of these people with a limited amount of agricultural land. Because of this problem, Urban gardening is becoming ever more important. in kibera, Nairobi, Urban gardening has been shown to increase nutrition and also increase family income by money generated from selling excess produce. Families have been able to increase their income by 5-6 USD per week. Vermiculture is an easily made fertilizer that could be used in urban agriculture to boost nutrition and crop yields, potentially increasing family income. A study done showed that in India and other locations, vermiculture and vermicompost have the potential of completely replacing chemical fertilizer. This could have a large impact because much of today’s synthetic fertilizers are made using large amount of fossil fuel.

Importence of Vermicompost Obtained from Vermiculture:

Red worm castings contain a high percentage of humus. Humus helps soil particles from into clusters, which create channels for the passage of air and improve its capacity to hold water. Presence of worms regenerate compacted soils and improves water penetration in such soil by over 50% (Ghabbour, 1973 and Capowiez, et al., 2009). Us study indicate that 10,000 worms in a farm plot provides the same benefit as three farmers working 8 hours in shift all year round with 10 tons of manure applied in the plot (Li ,2005). Humus is believed to aid in the prevention of harmful plant pathogens, fungi, nematodes and bacteria (Nielson 1965).

A worm casting (also known as worm cast or vermicast) is a biologically active mound containing thousands of bacteria, enzymes, and remnants of plant materials that were not digested by the worms. In fact, the bacterial population of a cast in much greater than the bacterial population of either ingested soil, or the worm’s gut. Microbial activity of beneficial microorganisms in worm castings is ten to twenty times higher than that of in the soil and other organic matter (Edwards, 1995)

Castings can hold 2.3 times more water than their weight in soil. Worm casting do not burn root systems. The product can insulate plant roots from extreme temperatures, reduce erosion and control weeds. It is odourless and consists of 100% recycled materials. vermicompost also has very “high porosity”, “aeration”, “drainage” and “water holding capacity” than the conventional compost and this again due to humus contents (Suhane, 2007).

Plant Growth Regulating Activity: some studies speculated that the growth responses of plants from vermicompost appeared more like “hormone induced activity” associated with the high levels of nutrients humic acids and humates in vermicompost (Atiyeh, et al., 2000) (Edwards, et al., 1998). Researches show that use of vermicompost further stimulates plant growth even when plants are already receiving “optimal nutrition”. It consistently improved seed germination, enhanced seeding growth and development and increased plant productivity significantly much more than would be possible from the mere conversion of mineral nutrients into plant available forms.

Some studies have also reported that vermicompost contained growth promoting hormone “auxins”, “cytokinins” and flowering hormone “gibberellins” secreted by earthworms (Suhane, 2007), (Tomati, et al., 1987), (Tomati, 1995) and Thirumagal and Deivanayaki (2017)

Okra (Lady’s Finger):

Okra thrives in temperature climates, producing large hibiscus-like flowers that eventually give rise to green seed pods. It is a member of the mallow family, which includes a number of other popular plants, including hibiscus, cocoa, and cotton.

Scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, okra may have been grown as long ago as 2000 BCE in Egypt. Kew Royal Gardens report that in Eastern traditional medicine, okra leaves and fruit were used as pain relievers, moisturizers, and to treat urinary disorders. In congolese medicine, okra is used to encourage a safe delivery during childbirth.

Okra for Diabetes:

Okra lower blood sugar levels:

A 2005 study published in planta medica investigated the effects of okra on rats with diabetes. A substance called myricetin is present in okra and some other foods, including red wine and tea. Researchers isolated myricetin from okra, then administered it to the rat. The treatment increased absorption of sugar in the rat’s muscles, lowering their blood sugar. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences points to a link between eating okra and lower blood sugar. The researchers allowed the bllod sugar of rats with diabetes to stay level for 14 days.

They then gave the rats powdered okra peel extracts and seeds dosages of up to 2,000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. There were no poisonous effects linked with these relatively high doses of okra. There rats that ate okra had reduced blood sugar levels after up to 28 days of eating okra.

Lowers Cancer Risk - The component of various minerals and vitamins keep heart healthy.

Improves Vision - Yes, it is surprising but the regular intake of this vegetable improves eye sight and keep eye related problem away.

Lowers Blood Pressure - Those suffering from high BP must include okra in their routine diet. As it maintains blood pressure and allows it stay normal.

Aim of the Current Study:

The pulse plant, greengram (Vigna radiata) is cultivated in cauvery delta region after paddy harvest as a short term crop. A bulk amount of greengram wastes was dumped along the road sides during it harvests. Some time the dumped wastes is burnt as a whole and some of them may be used as fuel materials. But nobody knows the utility value of this material as a rich source of organic content and as a raw material for vermiculture practices there by a huge production of vermicompost. Having a good knowledge about the bulk production of greengram wastes and its utility value in mind, the present study is under taken to utilize the same for the culture practices of earthworm and for the production of vermicompost to achieve the goal of replacing the chemical fertilizer by the application of vermicompost in the field of agriculture in order to promote pollution free crop production for human welfare and sustainable development. The proposed work plan comprises the following aspects.

The present work has been under take to evaluate comparative efficacies of vermicompost developed by indigenous method on okra plants. The objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of partly decomposed and vermicomposed of greengram waste on okra plant total leaves, leaves weight, total plants weight, total pods, pods weight, pods perimeter.

Effect of greengram vermicompost on the growth and yield okra of Plant. The present work has been under take to evaluate comparative efficacies of vermicompost developed by indigenous method on okra plants. The objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of partly decomposed and vermicompost of greengram waste on okra plant total leaves, leaves weight, total plants weight, total pods, pods weight, pods perimeter.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Procurement and Maintenance of Eisenia Fetida:

Species of adult Eisenia fetida were purchased from a Periyar maniyammai University at Vallam (Thanjavur). The worms were kept in large trays with substrate medium, containing 50% partly decomposed cowdung and 50% soil and maintained under the laboratory condition (temperature range, 31-36^oc) for 30 days. The worms with the size, 6-13 cm in length and 0.13-0.92 gm in weight were used for the present study.

Collection of Soil:

Dry soil was taken from the Manappadaiyur village (Kumbakonam TK, Thanjavur District), for the present study. It was manually powdered using stone mortar.

Collection of Greengram Waste:

The waste materials of greengram (Vigna radiata) were collected from Manappadaiyur village, Kumbakonam TK, Thanjavur District.

Partial Decomposition of Greengram Waste:

The earthern pot with size of 54 cm in diameter and 35 cm in height was taken and used for the decomposition of greengram which was free from earthworm invasion. The tank was filled with dry greengram waste and poured with sufficient water. The tank was closed with polythene sheets to avoid water evaporation and a possible release of foul smell during decomposition. Water was poured regularly in the tank after removing the polythene sheets and the tank was closed again with the same polythene sheets for proper decomposition. Once in three days, the decomposing materials were thoroughly mixed by using a wooden rod to ensure uniform decomposition. Ideal semi decomposed greengram waste in the form of wet powder can be obtained only after 50 days of decomposition. About 50 kg of dry semi decomposed greengram can be obtained during one process.

The greengram powder was sieved separately using a sieve with size 1mm² to obtain a medium with a particle size less than 1mm as suggested by Reinecke and Venter (1985). Reduced particle size of the culture medium was found to be favorable for raising growing worms and also provides more surface area per volume of culture medium which facilitates microbial activities as well as moisture availability (Reinecke and Venter,1985).

Effect of Greengram Vermicompost on the Growth of Okra Plant:

At the end of 30 days of cocoon production study each substrate medium used by earthworms was collected as vermicompost and stored in separate polythene bags. 4 kg of vermicompost collected from each PSR (100, 75, 50, 25, and 0%) was transferred separately into ten circular pots of 16 to 23 cm diameter and 24 cm height.

Another 4 kgs of same greengram decomposed using earthworms was mixed well in the pots in the different PSR media and was also transferred and separately into another 10 circular pots. Control experiments was also carried out in duplicate along with this experiment using soil alone as culture medium. Okra seeds were purchased from the Mercury Agency, Kumbakonam. Three seeds were placed in each pot at equal distance at 3 different places at 1 cm depth and sufficient water was poured in all the pots for proper germination of seeds. The experimental pots were kept at open terrace for direct sunlight. The pots were regularly poured with sufficient water to ensure proper growth until the plants get harvested (42 days). Care was taken to see that the plants growing in the pots must be protected from predation if any. After 5 days of cultivation, all the leaves in the plants were counted. Similar counting was also made at regular week intervals is all the plants up to 6 weeks. At the end of 6^th week, total number of leaves, leaves weight and pods of all the okra plants were measured.

Statistical Analysis:

Standard deviation method used to identify the homogenous type of the data sets among different plant parameters.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Effect of Vermicompost on the Growth and Yield of Okra Plant:

Mean values of total leaves, leaves weight, total plant weight, total pods, pods weight and pods perimeter of okra plant cultivated in the pots using different percent substrate ratios (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100) of partly decomposed (not exposed to earthworm) and vermicompost of greengram waste obtained from the earthworm used culture medium of greengram waste were separately given in Table 1.

The okra plants raised in soil alone showed poor growth over other doses of partly decomposed and vermicompost. The results presented in Table 1 revealed that plants raised on 0,25,50,75, and 100 PSR media showed relatively lesser values of total leaves, leaves weight, total plant weight, total pods, pods weight and pods perimeter than the plants raised in vermicompost. Of the weight measurements of leaves and pods studied, the values of pods weight obtained were relatively very high when compared to leaves weight. But the leaves weight in 0 PSR was relatively higher than the pods weight of plants cultivated in partly decomposed and vermicompost of greengram waste.

Table-1: Values showing total leaves, leaves weight, total plants weight, total pods, pods weight pods perimeter of okra plant cultivated in pots using different percent substrate ratios of partly decomposed and vermicompost of greengram waste after 42 days.

PSR	Total leaves	Leaves weight (gm)	Total plant weight (gm)	Total Pods	Pods weight (gm)	Pods perimeter (cm)
*0	7.0 +0.5	27±1.5	52+2.0	3.0+0.5	15+2.5	1.5+0.74
*0	8.0+1.0	33±1.5	54+2.0	3.0+0.5	17+2.5	2.0+0.5
25	9.0+0.5	33±1.5	64+3.0	4.0+0.0	22+4.0	3.0+0.7
25	11+0.5	37±6.5	69±9.5	4.0+0.0	26+5.0	3.2+0.7
50	13+1.0	50 ±7.0	78+4.0	5.0+0.5	29 +5.5	3.8+0.46
50	13+0.5	51±10.5	88+5.0	5.0+0.5	33+6.5	4.5+0.63
75	12+1.0	59+9.5	94+5.0	5.0+0.5	37+6.5	4.9+0.35
75	13+0.5	63±9.5	103+5.5	6.0+0.5	43+6.5	5.2+0.2
100	14+1.0	65±7.5	114+6.0	7.0+0.5	46+8.0	5.5+0.14
100	16+1.0	71±5.5	122+7.0	6.0+0.5	50+10.2	6.0+0.2

Values are mean ± S.D of one plant; Upper and lower row values in 0,25,50,75, and 100 PSR indicate the plants cultivated in partly decomposed and vermicompost of greengram waste respectively.

*Upper and lower values indicate earthworm unexposed soil and earthworm exposed soil respectively.

One important observation noted in the growth study of okra plant using vermicompost obtained from greengram waste was more for the plants raised in higher PSR (100) produced relatively higher weight of pods over other PSR. The results given in Table 1 undoubtedly proved that the application of vermicompost has a positive role on the total leaves, leaves weight, total plant weight, total pods, pods weight and pods perimeter of okra plants. This observation falls in line with many reports already made on these lines in others plants with vermicomposts obtained from different sources. There have been numerous experiments in which plants have been grown in pots with earthworms or their casts or vermicompost, where an increase in plant growth has occurred. Kale and Bano (1986) found that the vegetative growth of plants was influenced by Eudrilus eugeniae worm cast in a better than chemical fertilizers. Line (1994) reported that vermicomposted mixture of wood and sea star waste showed an excellent growth tomatoes and lettuces. Arulmurugan (1996) has studied the effect of vermicompost on the growth, yield, protein and oil content of soyabeans and recorded an increase in plant height, root length, root volumes, number of seeds per plant, protein and oil content of seeds together with increased uptake of NPK by plants. Vadiraj et al., (1996) noticed pronounced influence of vermicompost on the growth and yield of turmeric plant. Uthayakumar (2006) has also noticed an excellent improvement in the production of black gram cultivated in vermicompost obtained from vegetable market waste over the plants cultivated in ordinary soil. Vermicompost plays a major role in improving growth and yield of different field crops, vegetables, flowers and fruit crops. The application of vermicompost gave higher germination (93%) of mung bean (Vigna radiata) compared to the control (84%). Further, the growth and yield of mung bean was also significantly higher with vermicompost application. Likewise, in another pot experiment, the fresh and dry matter yields of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) were higher when soil was amended with vermicompost than with biodigested slurry (Karmegam et al., 1999, Karmegam and Daniel 2000).

Very recently, Bakthavathsalam and Deivanayaki (2006) have also noticeda significant influence of vermicompost with or without Rhizobium on the growth and yield of black gram cultivated through pot culture studies. The present improved results are not in conformation with the reported results of Bakthavathsalam and Geetha (2004b) and Subramaniyan (2008) using the same plant but cultivated with different organic wastes such as paddy chaff, weed plant material and paddy straw wastes.

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Received on 25.03.2019 Modified on 17.05.2019

Research J. Science and Tech. 2019; 11(3):169-173.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2019.00025.1