Comparative evaluation of changes in soil bio-chemical properties after application of traditional and enriched vermicompost

Abstract

For nutrient-deficient soils, vermicompost is an excellent soil additive. We find biochemical fluctuations in soil by comparing enriched vermicomposts to regular vermicomposts in a carefully controlled pot experiment. Various rock minerals, including mica, dolomite, and rock phosphate (RP), were used to create the enriched vermicompost before it was applied to acid lateritic soil, and so we investigated how vermicompost’s biochemical impact on the soil evolves (15-day intervals). Our results suggested that traditional vermicompost (VC) prepared from water hyacinth effectively improves nutrient content, enzymatic activities, and soil microbial properties. However, enriched VC application significantly (p<0.05) augments the concentration of available P (60% higher than conventional VC) and exchangeable K (increased by 10% from conventional VC) in soil. Furthermore, we observed that enrichment of VC using a combination of rock minerals showed significantly higher urease (around 35%), acid phosphatase activity (by 93%), and enhanced microbial biomass carbon (about 25%) and nutrient content of soil compared to only rock mineral additions. Nevertheless, our study revealed that conventional VC shows better soil organic carbon build-up than rock-based enriched VC. Although, enrichment conferred differential benefits to the soil in terms of increased P in RP-based and raised K in MC-based VC. • Organic wastes recycled to enriched vermicompost may better cater to plant needs. • Additives like rock minerals and microbes enhance macro-nutrients in final product. • Enhanced enzymatic activities can be observed with enriched vermicompost. • Enrichment of vermicompost may better serve to goals of sustainable agriculture.