Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
M Kiruba and B Sivakumar

Abstract:
A study was conducted to assess the efficacy of different vermicompost on the growth of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings in the nursery. In order to find out the efficient waste management technology, the selected waste materials were subjected to vermicomposting processes. The microbially enriched vermicompost was used as potting mixture for raising seedlings. The vermicompost was much darker and had been processed into homogenous manure. The advantage of composing with the conventional process took a long time compared to vermicomposting. As far as earthworm biomass production is considered, vermicompost derived from albizia and teak leaf waste favored the plant growth parameters with respect to shoot length, root length, diameter and total dry weight of seedlings. Besides, the inoculated VAM persisted in the rhizosphere and their count increased at the time of harvest. The maximum nodule number was observed up to 75 days after planting (DAP) in seedlings applied with simaruba vermicompost and mycorrhizal consortia. The maximum population of VAM was observed in the roots of casuarina seedlings applied with simaruba vermicompost and mycorrhizal consortia. Thus, studies on the biocomposting process revealed that nutrient-rich, stable and mature compost could be produced from various substrates by employing earthworms. From the nursery experiment, it is learned that quality casuarina seedlings could be produced utilizing coffee and teak vermicomposts and mycorrhizal consortia.