Vermiwash- An Effective Organic Nutrient Amendment for Foliar Spray in Tea Cultivation

摘要

Technology for the preparation of vermiwash (lechate produced during vermicomposting) from different organic waste (mixed grass, mikania and guatemala grass) with cowdung as feedstock available in and around tea garden was developed. Eudrila Eugenia was used for vermicomposting. On the basis of physical and chemical properties, mikania produced better vermiwash when it was used as feedstock. Microbiological study of vermiwash revealed that it contains nitrogen fixing bacteria like Azotobacter sp., Azospirilum and phosphate solubilising bacteria. Application of vermiwash in pot and field experiments through foliar application led to remarkable improvement in the growth, nutrient contents of shoot and yield of young and mature tea compared to the untreated plants.