Organic Agriculture And Horticulture Crops: Importance Of Vermicompost And Effects On Plant Growth

Importance of Vermicompost

Discuss About The Organic Agriculture And Horiculture Crops.

Organic agriculture is another farming system which established early in the 20^th century  in response to quickly altering agricultural practices. Today organic agriculture continues to be developed by several organizations of organic farming. It depends on fertilizers like compost green manure, compost manure and bone meal of organic origin. Rotation of crop and companion of planting are the techniques using for it ( Paull & Hennig 2016). The techniques that are encouraged to apply are biological pest control, mixed cropping and insect predators foresting. Commonly, organic values are designed to allow the utilization of natural substances and strictly restricted the synthetic substances. For example, natural pesticides like pyrethrum and rotenone are allowed.

• Vermicompost

“Worms are the intestines of the soil”, said by Aristotle about 2400 years ago.  This statement has been verified as a truth in the twentieth century. He was leading by two and half millennia of our times. “No other living thing has contributed to built our earth as earthworm”, stated by Darwin. The science of reproduction and breeding earthworms is known as Vermiculture.  The production of fertilizers and reduction of waste are the main definition of vermiculture.  When the bio-degradable materials with the help of earthworms produce the organic fertilizers, this process is known as Vermicomposting. Composting with earthworms enjoy the benefits of good quality compost and avoid the unnecessary removal of vegetative wastes of food. The “ soil scientists”  nature’s pinnacle are earthworms (Federico, Miceli, Santiago-Borraz& Molina 2007) The qualities of earthworms are they are unconventional and cost effective farm relief. The earthworms are responsible for converting ordinary soil into good quality soil. The precious fertilizer type is left when earthworms break the organic matters and then eat. Vermicompost is the humus like material which is formed when the earthworms convert the organic material of the soil.

Many researchers from all over the world found that the profile of nutrient in the vermicompost is normally higher than usual compost. The fertility of soil can be increase physically, chemically and biologically by the process of vermicompost. The soil treated by vermicompost has good aeration, density, water retention and porosity which ultimately affects the growth of plants. The good crop yield is achieved by the chemical properties like conductivity of electricity, content of organic matter and pH. However, the better growth of plant could not be adequately explained by improvements of the contents of nutrient in the soil, which means that the influencing materials of the growth of plants are present in the vermicompost. The aim of this report is to find out the importance of vermicompost and the effects of vermicompost on the growth of plants. Even the growth of plants significantly improved by the application of vermicompost , on the other hand the high concentration of soluble salt present in vermicompost could obstruct the growth.

Vermicomposting process

The most important ecological actions are the vermiculture and vermicomposting that caters the protection problems of environment. As the feed of earthworms is everything that is biodegradable that is why the vermiculture is environmental friendly. Vermicomposting also help on the problems of garbage disposal (Gomiero , Paoletti , Pimentel 2008).Earthworms are available locally and the feeding materials are in rich quantity in local markets as wastes of market, grasses, wastes of farms and used papers. So the imported material is not required  (Zaller JG 2006). The worms and castings are saleable and highly profitable. There is no unfavorable effects of vermicompost on plants, environment and soil. The texture and aeration of soil is improved by the process of vermicompost and it also reduce the compaction of soil. The high content of organic matter improves the capacity of water retention. The macro nutrients status and micro nutrient status improved by the vermicompost. It also improves the growth of plants root and absorption of nutrient (Ali, Griffiths, Williams& Jones 2007).

Vermicomposting also known as vermicasting. Vermicasting is the process in which earthworms breaks the organic wastes. The process is odourless, natural and aerobic. It is very different from general composting. First earthworms swallow waste then send out dark and odourless nutrients. It make the soil rich, mild granules which ultimately make the high quality soil conditioner. Casts of earthworm are ready-to-use fertilizer which can be used at a advanced rate of application than compost. The rates of release of nutrients are higher which usually plants prefer.

The process of vermicasting can also be done on small scale by owners of homes with organic wastes of household. The farmers do this process on large scale with organic wastes produced by the food industry like fruits and vegetables.

• It is clean, socially acceptable, with little to no odour.
• It needs less input of energy for aeration.
• It decreases the waste of mass by 35%.
• The important byproduct of vermicast  is produced.
• It even generates worms as fishing bait.

With the use of earthworms and microorganisms, the process of vermicompsoting transforms the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of organic materials of solids ( farming residue of plant and animal origin). The earthworms  helps in disintegrating the organic matter, thus it increases the available surface area for colonization of microbial. The activities of environment and agriculture is directly related to the utilization of vermicompost to increase the soil physical, chemical and biological soil condition. It improves the biological and agricultural plant yield. Vermicomposting is used to support plant regulation, to stimulate plant growth and to remediate contaminated soil. The application of VC to soil stimulates the bacterial community related to the degradation of organic chemical species that are contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The chemical, physical and biological properties of soil are directly affected by the humic materials ( Vijaya, Padmadevi, Vasandha, Meerabhai& Chellapandi 2008). The use of residue of vernicomposted plant reduced the loss of soil by 32.1 % and increase cover of plant by 67.8 %. Valuable results have been achieved when vermicompost inoculated with microorganism was applied to soil ( Hellas, Oliveres, Olorovola, & Facanda, 2002).The physical properties of soil like density and water -retention capacity  are improved by the consortium of microorganism and vermicompost. The chemical properties such as pH and of organic carbons, Nitrogen, Potassium, Calcium are also improved. Vermicompost is now ecological substitute as a regular agricultural practice. Though, there are still some questions that should be clarified before establishing  phytotecnological recommendations.

Effects Of Vermicompost Over Seedling

In general, the result is extremely different between different cultivars and crops. The treatment methods used for this process also effect the growth of plants. Seed germination or seedling growth is effected by the adverse effect of treatment with even moderate vermicompost or extract concentration of vermicompost (Adhikary 2012).

Growth of seedling and germination of vermicompost extract imbedded seeds was affected positively and negatively. It depends on the species of crops and cultivars (genotype) as well as on the concentration of vermicompost extract used. Mostly the constructive effects of VC on growth of plants have been reported. Recently one case has been reported about the negative effect of vermicompost on seedling growth. Overall the vermicomposting is positively impact the seedling process (Ievinsh, G2011).

Vermicompost Is natural fertilizer that helps the plant to grow in heathy ways, vermicompost are found inside the soils as they move around the soil to provide nutrients to all the plants and fruits as well.(Matlock,2017) As vermicompost has the most nutritious factors which when met the roots of the plants it makes it more stronger and helps in growing into a beneficial plant. This process of vermicomposting happens underneath the soil and continuously nourishes the root to make it a stronger plant. These nutrients which vermicompost has can’t be replaced by any other chemical fertilizer as it is a natural process which Is free from harm. Vercomposting is process which helps in the recycling of the many organic wastes(Serfoji P, Rajeshkumar S, Selvaraj T 2010)raw materials required for vermicomposting is easily available at every house. They include the paper products, kitchen wastage, yard wastes and leaves, and can also manure and the others waste material which is organic. The only waste which is not compost by the worms are the bones and oily or fatty solutions. (Atiyeh,2002)

The extensive usage of chemicals as fertilizers for your crops could be harmful as it reduces the organic matter in soils which results in less efficient soil biological activity as it harms the soil and deteriorates the physical properties of soil. Not only that it also harms the roots and shoots of a plant as the soil is spoiled by chemicals can’t return the quality of a plant.(Atiyeh,2002)

By the application of revitalizers of vermicompost, the negative effect reverses from the soil and biological activity starts, and reduces the negative effect of chemical fertilizers. The alteration of compost with the substance of chemical fertilizers recovers the soil respiration, nitrification rate, soil biomass and the enzymatic activities etc. vermicomposts could be used as biological controller of diseases into the crops of horticulture as it contains a rich factor of microorganisms, so by increasing a possible antagonistic community to the phytopathogens it helps in better growth of shoots and roots as well as it is connected from one another.(Pathma,2014)

Effects Of Vermicompost Over Roots

The vermicompost is enriched with the high amount of plant nutrients, which includes the potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. The vermicompost is also known as the plant-friendly fertilizer and can be easily found anywhere. The nutrients of vermicompost doesn’t harm the sensitive plants, as compare to the effect of heavy chemicals which affects the plants growth with its heavy coverage and it spoils the plants as well as its fruits. The vermicompost contains healthy microbes which is beneficial for the healthy soil.

Usually, these vermicompost contains twice the amount of nutrients as compare to other fertilizers, or to commercial potting soil. These includes regulators which helps in increases plant growth, hey also helps in growing the plants more vigorously, increases the quality of crops, and produces bigger blooms. vermicompost helps in better making of healthy fruits and flower because of its healthy nutrients it makes the flower to bloom even more brighter for several days as compare to the chemical fertilizers which only harms the plants.(Bhat,2018)

The application of vermicompost has always been connected with increase in germination, growth of seedling, ornamentals flowering, growth and yield of vegetables at low rates of substitution. The helpful effects of vermicomposts on growth of plant and yield were not only due to nutrients but also due to the accessibility of plant growth-influencing materials, like regulators for plant growth and humic acids, produced by the highly increased microbial populations resulting from activities of earthworm.Small amount of humic acid extracted from vermicompost improved the growth rate of plants in a same manner without the supply of nutrients (Chaoui , Zibilske & Ohno, 2003). Growth of plant is indirectly influenced by the increased population of microbial resulting from activity of earthworm in the vermicomposts. Soils that have only inorganic fertilizer have considerably less microbial biomass than the soils treated with vermicompost. It shows that materials produce by microorganisms affect the growth of plants (Azarmi R, Giglou MT, Hajieghrari B 2009).

Chlorophyll content in leaves vary with the plant types. Amaranthus plants have been treated with vermicompost treatment and positive effect on leaf chlorophyll content has been reported. Though, in lettuce plants decrease in content of chlorophyll have been seen but no negative impact on growth of plants have been reported. It is necessary to note that the changes in content of leaf chlorophyll are not always change with photochemical efficiency of photosynthesis. (Hussain, Rehman, Khan, Hussain & Al-harrasi 2011).  As changes in content of chlorophyll are regarded as a comparatively late and independent mechanism of photosynthetic adaptation , it is obvious that a number of biologically active constituents of vermicompost affected photosynthesis-related parameters in the present experiments.

Plants, are like the living things which usually requires  nourishment because it needs to develop and improve. All thePlants needs almost 16 types of basic components, which includes the oxygen , hydrogen, and carbon which they gets from the soils water and the environmental climate.(Gibson,2006)

The other basic 13 components includes the following (phosphorus, nitrogen potassium, magnesium, calcium ,sulphur, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, copper, boron, , and chlorine) plants gets these minerals form the  soil and natural minerals of soil oil or could be by the natural or inorganic components. (Sinha,2013)

The plants that are using these supplements productively in which there are , light, and heat, and the basic necessity which is water which must be  plentiful given for better growth. The Social working and the controlling of ants and other types of insects would be useful to produce crop. Every type of plant is unique and has an ideal supplement that runs a supportive connected level. Within this level, plants starts to show the deficiency of its nutrients manifestations. (Matlock,2017)Exorbitant nutrient absorption can likewise cause poor development because of poisonous quality. Along these lines, the best possible measure of utilization and the position of nutrients is essential. (Gibson,2006)

Different factors which could be affecting the component nutrients structure of the plants components nutrients which it is consuming by the plants itself, Includes:

1. The type of chemically affecting nutrients which is combining in the food and in the structure of food’s basic nature.
2. The combinations that occur between the organic compounds and nutrients which are in the food of plants.
3. The pre-treatment for the food which is being processed in between or could be done in the preparation.(Sharma,2017)

Vermicomposting is a process of non-thermophilic and bio-oxidative functions that includes the earthworms and related microorganisms. This natural waste decay the processes which are yielding the bio-fertilised which is the specificprocess of vermicomposting (Umeta,2005)

Vermicompost is a specifically separated, peat-shaped type ofmaterial which the higher percentage of porosity, great air circulation, seepage, water holding limit, microbial action, brilliant supplement status and buffering limit along these lines coming about the required physicochemical characters amicable for soil fruitfulness and plant development.(Matlock,2017)

Vermicompost improves soil biodiversity by advancing the useful organisms which thusly upgrades plant development specifically by creation of plant development managing hormones and catalysts and in a roundabout way by controlling plant pathogens, nematodes and different vermin, along these lines upgrading plant wellbeing and limiting the yield misfortune. (Sharma,2017)

Because of its natural organic, biochemical and physicochemical properties, vermicompost might be utilized to advance practical horticulture and for the sheltered administration of rural, mechanical, household and healing facility squanders which may somehow or another posture genuine danger to life and condition. (Sinha,2013)

Earthworms have nourished the world as ‘cultivate administrators’ since humankind landed on earth. Worm’s vermicompost is logically ended up being an ‘effective development promoters and defenders for crops’. They have sufficient amount in the NKP factor, micronutrients, useful soil microorganisms like the ‘nitrogen-particles and the ‘phosphate soluble microscopic organisms, ‘mycorrhizal and the development of hormones  the auxins, and the gibberellins and cytokinin’s. It has the highest factors of ‘porosity’, and the air circulation , the seepage process and ‘water holding part limit’. (Sinha,2013)

The additionally ensuring the plants which are against the different types of irritations and which types of infections which are caused either by the smothering or the repulsing of them or by inciting natural protection in plants. ‘Vermi-wash’which is the fluid from the assembling of the worms) and the ‘vermicompost tea’ which is likewise fill in the ‘effective bio-pesticides’ taking out the utilization process of dangerous particles of pesticides. The part of existing they live earthworms in soils has been found which impact the improvement of nature of organic products into the vegetable and organic related products of crops. (Gibson,2006)

The earthworms and the vermicompost could support the green creation without the agrochemicals procedure. That will give the few social, financial processes and ecological effects of advantages to the public by the procedure for making a ‘compound free’ sheltering and the, ‘nutritive and wellbeing defensive’ which is rich in the minerals and the process of cell reinforcements) and the nourishments of (even against a few types of growth of plants) for the general population; rescuing human parts and the supplanting the unsafe ‘agrochemicals’ from the substance of earth. (Matlock,2017)

Utilisation of the vermicompost in the fields likewise the part of ‘sequester’ various measures of barometrical carbon (acclimatized by the greens plants amids the process of photosynthesis) by the covering them once again going into for dirt enhancing dirt richness, forestalling disintegration or compaction and decreasing ozone depleting substance and alleviating a worldwide temperature alteration.(Matlock,2017)

The extensive usage of chemicals as fertilizers for your crops could be harmful as it reduces the organic matter in soils mood which results in less efficient soil biological activity as it harms the soil and deteriorates the physical properties of soil. (Gibson,2006)

By the application of revitalizers of compost, the negative effect reverses from the soil biological activity, and reduces the negative effect of chemical fertilizers. The alteration of compost with the substance of chemical fertilizers recovers the soil respiration, nitrification rate, soil biomass and the enzymatic activities etc. Compost could be used as biological controller of diseases into the crops of horticulture as it contains a rich factor of microorganisms, so by increasing a possible antagonistic community to the phytopathogens. (Umeta,2005)

The efficient usage of microorganism’s composts can improve the soil growth and would result in healthier soil supplement, because its enrich with the microbes that increases soil fertility by releasing the organic bound nutrients slowly. The derived compost behaviour of efficient microorganism can favour the growth of plants, into various crop fields like vegetables, tomato, rice and vigna mungo etc. (Sharma,2017)

The compost that results in efficient microorganism, when mixed with the chemical fertilizers, improves the quality of soil, enhances the nutrient status, maintains the cost benefit ratios of the crops that are cultivated and stimulates the economic yield.(Matlock,2017)

Vercomposting is process which helps in the recycling of the many organic wastes. The raw materials required for vermicomposting is easily available at every house. They include the paper products, kitchen wastage, yard wastes and leaves, and can also manure and the others waste material which is organic. The only waste which is not compost by the worms are the bones and oily or fatty solutions.(Bhat,2018)

4.2-Takes lower costs:

After the initial amount of the proper equipment, which is used in producing the vermicompost is seen relatively inexpensive, by comparing it to the soil amendment values. The production processes can be easily scalable which has a variety of simple vermicomposting for the commercial sale. Furthermore, the worm species which is required for the vermicomposting which are willingly available, and can upkeep its minimal and would care too. (Arancon,2004)

4.3-Helping the environment:

The vermicompost is an environmental friendly resource which helps the plant to grow and increases its healthy nature. (Pathma,2014) Vermicompost is known to be the most natural product, and can also reduce the factor of chemical fertilizers, which Is a less seen practice from the stand point of ecological system. Vermicomposting helps in reducing the volume of organic waste which is disposed in landfills. According to a survey of foot hill worm ranch, a family with small 2 feet to 4 foot worm bin could prevent the effect of 1400ibs and more, of the organic waste which is carried household by preventing the entrance of landfills each year. (Pathma,2014)

4.4-Is enriched with more nutrients:

As the university of Purdue states that, the vermicompost is enriched with the high amount of plant nutrients, which includes the potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Usually, these vermicompost contains twice the amount of nutrients as compare to other fertilizers, or to commercial potting soil. These includes regulators which helps in increases plant growth, hey also helps in growing the plants more vigorously, increases the quality of crops, and produces bigger blooms.(Uchida,2000)

4.5-Provides additional Benefits:

Vermicompost is a peat like fine humus which is easy to add to soils by spreading it directly to the top soil or by placing it to the surface as much as possible as it takes care of the soil and makes it more healthier and fresh, the screened vermicompost adds into the soil like a good ingredient by potting the soil mixtures.(Bhat,2018)The vermicompost is also known as the plant-friendly fertilizer and can be easily found anywhere. The nutrients of vermicompost doesn’t harm the sensitive plants, as compare to the effect of heavy chemicals which affects the plants growth with its heavy coverage and it spoils the plants. The vermicompost contains healthy microbes which is beneficial for the healthy soil(Uchida,2000).

The key finding used in this report was the uses of the Vermicompost in the processes of Organic Agriculture and Horticulture Crops moreover it discusses the factors which are affected by the processes of vermicomposting which are as follows:

1) Organic agriculture

2) Vermicompost process in soils

The vermicompost importance helps the processes in the betterment of the soil and its food and it a potentially useful amendment for plant growth

Which has a effect on seedling, on shoot, on root, on flowers, chlorophyll, fruits and yields. Further it explains the levels of bio-available nutrients for plants and also states that it is free of pathogens and is also free of toxic chemicals and Increases the beneficial soil microbes, microbial activity and essentials.

Conclusion

The vermicompost is an environmental friendly resource which helps the plant to grow and increases its healthy nature. (Pathma,2014) not only that the Vermicompost is known to be the most natural product, and can also reduce the factor of chemical fertilisers, which Is a less seen practice from the stand point of ecological system. It enhances the processes of soil and also helps in reducing the volume of organic waste which is disposed in landfills. According to a survey of foot hill worm ranch, a family with small 2 feet to 4 foot worm bin could prevent the effect of 1400ibs and more, of the organic waste which is carried household by preventing the entrance of landfills each year. (Pathma,2014) it is also enriched with the most nutrients that helps the soil to be more healthier and better.

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