Effect of Vermicompost Types along with Rhizobium Inoculation Impact on Nodulation Potential, Growth and Yielding Attributes of Lentil

Abstract

Vermicompost is a humified, stabilized and finely alienated peat like mass by activity of earthworms in a form that is eagerly available for plants. Due to its porous nature , high water storage capacity, having hormones such as substance and plant growth regulators such as auxins, cytokinins, absicisic acid and also high levels of macro and micro nutrients, vermicompost fertilizer can play an important role in plant growth and development and also in reducing harmful effects of various harmful stresses on plants. In regard of this, special focus of this study was to prepare different types of vermicomposts using earthworm specie Eisenia fetida and to access the effect of these various types of vermicompost on lentil growth and yield. Field experiment was laid out in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) using 06 treatments having 03 replications conducted at University Research Farm Koont, Chakwal Road, Rawalpindi. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to detect difference among means of all treatments at 5% significance level by using Fisher’s protected Least Significant Differences (LSD) Test. Statistical results revealed that vermicompost application @ 5 tonns/ha significantly affected growth and yield of lentil and maximum growth was attained with cow dung derived vermicompost+rhizobium followed by wheat straw, vegetable waste and minimum with leaf litter derived vermicompost. Cow dung vermicompost was found to be efficient for all growth and yield parameters.