Performance of vermicompost in zinc and boron nutrition for quality production of cabbage

Abstract

Article InfoThe quality and efficacy of vermicompost are greatly influenced by the respective feeding materials as well as earthworm species used in vermicomposting. Consequently, the variable role of applied vermicompost is reflected in crop production. With a view to observe the efficacy of vermicompost produced from various sources in supplementing zinc and boron requirement for quality production of cabbage, a field study was conducted in Floodplain soil of Bangladesh. Six treatment combinations comprising of vermicompost from different sources, and different levels of zinc and boron from mineral fertilizers were tested in the study. The vermicompost used in different treatments were produced from different combinations of feeding materials (cowdung and poultry litter) and earthworm species (Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae). A control treatment having no supplement of Zn and B was tested in the study. Higher measurements were recorded for most of the parameters studied, i.e., head diameter, marketable yield and total yield in the vermicompost treated plots than the solely mineral fertilizer treated plot. Except for P, the highest uptake of each of the elements by cabbage was observed due to the application of T3 treatment (VC-ECD @2.0 t ha -1 + 1.5 kg Zn ha -1 + 1.0 kg B ha -1 ). The findings of this research work indicate the additional benefit of using vermicompost over the mineral fertilizer in supplying zinc and boron for better production of cabbage.

Changes in soil properties and quantitative and qualitative yield of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) in response to nitrogen fertilizers (organic and chemical) under Water-Deficit Conditions

“…Therefore, in this study, the highest amount of iron is observed in plots that do not have a water stress or in water-de cit treatments with high organic compounds (100% vermicompost or azocompost) because these organic compounds play an essential role in the maintenance of water in the soil (Baghbani-Arani et al, 2017). Increased micronutrients due to the application of vermicompost in the soil have been reported by various researchers (Theunissen et al, 2010;Sarker & Kashem, 2021). Azarmi et al (2008) also reported that the application of 15 tons of vermicompost per hectare increased the elements of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese.…”

“…Due to the increase in soil phosphorus, root growth and development also increases and increase the availability and absorption of potassium by plant roots (Courtney & Mullen, 2008). Various researchers have pointed out that organic matter, especially vermicompost, is directly involved in soil potassium concentration and uptake by plants (Mahmood et al, 2017;Sarker and Kashem, 2021). Yousefzadeh et al, (2015) reported that among different levels of fertilizer, with decreasing the amount of azocompost, the amount of total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon of the soil decreased linearly, and treatment of 100% azocompost caused the highest percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon in the whole soil., and the lowest amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and total organic carbon was obtained through chemical control treatment.…”