Studies on the effect of vermicompost and vermiwash on growth and development of tea (Camellia sinensis)

摘要

A simple and cost effective technique was developed for virmieomposting and collection of vermiwash and the technique was evaluated for its commercial use. The predigested raw materials were processed using a mixed population of common earthworms viz., Eisenia foetida, Eisenia andrei and EudriJus mgeniae. After one hundred days, 100 kg of the bedding materials was flushed with 50 litres of water and vermiwash was collected. The vermicompost and vermiwash samples were analysed for phyhsico-chemical and biological properties. The analysis revealed its good nutrient status in respect to nutrients like N, P, K, Na, Mg, Zn and Fe. It also contained beneficial microorganisms like Azospirillum, Phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB), Pseudomonas, yeast, moulds and actinomycetes in varying numbers. The analysis of vermicompost showed a slight decrease in the nutrient status after collecting the vermiwash. Addition of 250 g of vermicompost to the soil and foliar application of vermiwash diluted 1:10 at fortnightly interval after centering to the potted tea plants showed significant increase in plant height, stem thickness, root length, number of leaves and branches. Significant increase in fresh and dry weights of shoot and root were also observed in the treated plants. The study conclusively proved that the application of vermiwash and vermicompost hastened the growth of plants, thereby reducing the period of their retention in the nursery from 12 months to nine months.