ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

B. Sivasankari, W. Anitha Reji and Thilagavathy Daniel
Department of Biology, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram,Tamilnadu, India.
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2010;4(2):895-898
© The Author(s). 2010
Received: 09/01/2010 | Accepted: 23/02/2010| Published: 31/10/2010
Abstract

Leaf samples of Cassia auriculata and Leucaena leucocephala were collected from in and around Gandhigram Rural University, Gandhigram, Dindigul, and Tamilnadu, India. The collected leaf samples were predecomposed for 15 days by sprinkling water and regular turning. Two earthworm species such as Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg) and Eisenia fetida (Savigny) were used for the study. The vermicomposting trial was made with two leaf samples mixed with cowdung in 1:1:2 ratio using two earthworm species separately for Treatment I and Treatment II. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium were analyzed in different day intervals (0, 15,30,45,60 d). After 60 days the compost was used for 7 day growth studies of Vigna unguiculata L.walp. On 45th day Ec (2.00), organic carbon (35.21 percent)  and NPK (1.51, 1.03, 0.71 percent) values were high in the treatment with E.fetida than in treatment with E. eugeniae and in control. The results of plant growth studies on 7th day showed that the germination percentage (100), shoot length (12.71±1.62 cm), root length( 2.5±2.87 cm),  number of leaves (4.6±1.14),  fresh weight of the whole plant(0.86±0.23 g) and dry weight of the whole plant(0.06± 0.02 g) were also significantly enhanced by the compost prepared using  E. fetida.

Keywords

Leaf samples, Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, vermicompost, plant growth, Vigna unguiculata L.walp

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