Application of wetland plant-based vermicomposts as an organic amendment with high nutritious value

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to highlight the operational advantages of vermicomposting technology by reusing wetland plants and manure. An experiment with a full factorial design was conducted to investigate the effects of different vermicompost of wetland plants, including Canna indica (CiV), Cyperus alternifollius (CaV), Acorus calamus (AcV) and Hydrocotyle vulgaris (HvV), on maize growth. The vermicompost effects were compared with the conventional synthetic fertilizers (NPK) and the control treatment without any fertilizer (CK). Among the four species, CiV-vermicompost as an organic fertilizer showed the highest total nitrogen (1.45 g kg-1), soil organic matter (28.6 g kg-1), soil electrical conductivity (84.4 µs=cm-1) and shoot biomass (265.1 g) compared with NPK and CK. This study revealed wetland plants can be used as organic amendments and offers a novel approach by reusing the ecological wastes to promote the transformation of nutrient-rich organic fertilizers and crop productivity while reducing the environmental pollution.