Manure Vermicompost Research Articles

The Effects of Kind and Rate of Vermicompost in Pot Medium on the Growth of Ficus bengamina

In order to study the kind and rate effects of vermicompost in pot media on Ficus benjamin growth, an experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of Flower and Ornamental Plant Research Station of Lahijan for two years (2003- 2004). This experiment was implemented in factorial based on randomized complete block design with two kinds of vermicompost (vermicompost of cow manure and vermicompost of cow manure + saw dust) in five levels (0, 10 ,20, 30 and 40%) and three replications. These materials were substituted to peat in peat + perlit media (2 : 1 volume %) with respect to the kind and rate of vermicompost, and transferred to 4 liter pots. Results showed that, the effect of cow manure + saw dust vermicompost on shoot and dry leaf weight, dry leaf weight, dry shoot weight and Cu of media was more than cow manure vermicompost. The vermicompost at the rate of 20% significantly increased the shoot and fresh leaf weight, shoot and dry leaf weight and dry leaf weight compared to control. The effect of 10, 30 and 40% vermicompost on shoot and fresh leaf weight, shoot and dry leaf weight, and dry leaf weight were not significant. With respect to the high EC in media of 40% vermicompost and high cost of peat for potting media, application of 20% vermicompost could be economical.

Fruit Characteristics of Bell Pepper Cultivated in Sheep Manure Vermicompost Substituted Soil

ABSTRACT The effects of earthworm-processed sheep manure (vermicompost) on growth, productivity, and characteristics of bell pepper fruits (Capsicum annum) (cv ‘Ancho supremo’) were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Six treatments were applied combining vermicompost and soil in 0:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 (v/v) ratios. Plant characteristics were measured 21 and 90 days after transplanting. Addition of vermicompost increased plant size significantly with 8 cm in the 1:3 vermicompost: soil treatment compared to the unamended soil after 21 days, but no significant differences were found after 90 days. Seven more flowers were found in the 1:2 vermicompost: soil treatment and four in the 1:3 vermicompost: soil treatment compared to the unamended soil after 90 days. The number of marketable fruits per plant was significantly 1.5 and 1.9 times greater in the 1:2 and 1:3 vermicompost: soil treatments compared to plants cultivated in unamended soil after 90 days. The addition of vermicompost to soil increased soluble solids in pepper fruits > 2 Brix compared to fruits from plants cultivated in unamended soil while their pH was significantly lower. The nitrogen (N) content of the pepper fruits was significantly higher in the 1:4 vermicompost: soil mixture compared to the other treatments, whereas the fruits obtained from plants cultivated in the 1:3 and 1:4 vermicompost: soil treatments had higher titratable acidity values than in those from other treatments. It was found that amounts and characteristics of pepper fruits from plants cultivated in soil supplemented with vermicompost were generally better than those from plants grown in soil only.

Zn(II) adsorption from synthetic solution and kaolin wastewater onto vermicompost

The adsorption of Zn(II) from both synthetic solution and kaolin industry wastewater by cattle manure vermicompost was studied. The adsorption process was dependent on the various operating variables, viz., solution pH, particle size of the vermicompost, mass of vermicompost/volume of the Zn(II) solution ratio, contact time and temperature. The optimum conditions for Zn adsorption were pH 6.0, particle size of ≤250 μm, 1 g per 10 mL adsorbent dose, contact time of 4 h and temperature of 25 °C. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms fit well in the experimental data and their constants were evaluated, with R 2 values from 0.95 to 0.99. In synthetic solution, the maximum adsorption capacity of the vermicompost for Zn 2+ ions was 20.48 mg g −1 at 25 °C when the vermicompost dose was 1 g 10 mL −1 and the initial adjusted pH was 2. The batch adsorption studies of Zn(II) on vermicompost using kaolin wastewater have shown the maximum adsorption capacity was 2.49 mg g −1 at pH 2 (natural pH of the wastewater). The small values of the constant related to the energy of adsorption (from 0.07 to 0.163 L mg −1) indicated that Zn 2+ ions were binded strongly to vermicompost. The values of the separation factor, R L, which has been used to predict affinity between adsorbate and adsorbent were between 0 and 1, indicating that sorption was very favorable for Zn(II) in synthetic solution and kaolin wastewater. The thermodynamic parameter, the Gibbs free energy, was calculated for each system and the negative values obtained confirm that the adsorption processes are spontaneous. The Δ G° values were −19.656 kJ mol −1 and −16.849 kJ mol −1 for Zn(II) adsorption on vermicompost in synthetic solution at pH 6 and 2, respectively, and −13.275 kJ mol −1 in kaolin wastewater at pH 2.

Sheep manure vermicompost supplemented with a native diazotrophic bacteria and mycorrhizas for maize cultivation

An orthogonal experimental design L9 (34) with 10 repetitions was used to investigate the effect of Glomus claroideum (0, 1 or 2g−1 plant), G. fasciculatum (0, 1 or 2g plant−1), native diazotrophic bacteria (0, 103 and 105 UFC ml−1) and sheep manure vermicompost (0%, 5% and 10% v/v) on maize plant growth, N and P in leaves and mycorrhization percent. Vermicompost explained most of the variation found for leaf number, wet weight, stem height, and diameter. Both mycorrhizas increased the plant wet weight but G. fasciculatum the most. Mycorrhization increased the P content, but not the N content. Mycorrhizal colonization increased when diazotrophic bacteria and vermicompost were added. It was found that weight of maize plants cultivated in peat moss amended with vermicompost increased when supplemented with G. fasciculatum and diazotrophic bacteria.

Influences of vermicomposts, produced by earthworms and microorganisms from cattle manure, food waste and paper waste, on the germination, growth and flowering of petunias in the greenhouse

Vermicomposts have been shown to promote the germination, growth, and yields of plants. This paper aims to demonstrate the effects of vermicomposts produced from three types of wastes on growth and flowering of petunias which are an important U.S. flowering crop. Vermicomposts, produced commercially from cattle manure, food wastes and paper wastes, were substituted at a range of different concentrations into with a soilless commercial bedding plant container medium, Metro-Mix 360 (MM360), to evaluate their effects on the growth and flowering of petunias ( Petunia sp.) in the greenhouse. Seeds of petunia (var. Dreams Neon Rose F1) were sown into 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20 or 10% MM360 substituted with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100% cattle manure, food waste or paper waste vermicompost. Each type of vermicompost constituted a separate sub-experiment. All plants were watered three times weekly with 200 ppm Peter's nutrient solution, containing all nutrients required, from sowing up to 79 days. Substitutions with all of the vermicomposts into MM360 increased germination significantly on almost all sampling dates. Shoot dry weights increased significantly after substituting MM360 with 10–60% cattle manure vermicompost, and 10–100% of both food waste and paper waste vermicomposts. Numbers of flowers increased significantly after MM360 substitutions with 20–40% of both cattle manure and food waste vermicomposts, and by only 40% of paper waste vermicompost. There were no positive correlations between the increases in numbers of flowers, and the amounts of mineral-N and microbial biomass-N in the potting mixtures, or the concentrations of N in the shoot tissues of petunias. Factors such as improvement of the physical structure of the potting medium, increases in populations of beneficial microorganisms, and most probably, the availability of plant growth-influencing-substances such as hormones and humates produced by microorganisms during vermicomposting, probably contributed to the increased petunia germination, growth and flowering.

Reduction of heavy metal contents in liquid effluents by vermicomposts and the use of the metal-enriched vermicomposts in lettuce cultivation

The removal of Cu, Ni and Zn from electroplating effluents by adsorption in cattle manure vermicompost has been discussed. A glass column 38 cm long and 7 cm i.d. was loaded with cattle manure vermicompost and effluents were passed through it. The metal concentrations were measured in the elutant. The experiments on adding effluent aliquots into the columns were continued until the metal concentrations in the elutant reached the maximum values established for effluent discharges in water courses by the Brazilian quality criteria, i.e., Cu = 1.0 mg L −1, Ni = 2.0 mg L −1, and Zn = 5.0 mg L −1. The amount of Cu retention by the vermicompost was determined at the natural effluent pH (2.0). The Zn and Ni retentions were evaluated at the natural effluent pH (6.9 and 7.4, respectively) as well pH 2.0. Vermicompost residues obtained from this process were used for lettuce cultivation. The vermicompost was found to be efficient in removing metals from the electroplating wastes, as well as in the increase of its pH values. Metal retention values were close to 100%. The Cu concentrations in lettuce leaves from the treatment with vermicompost enriched with this metal were below the range of critical toxicity level to plants, i.e., from 20 to 100 mg L −1. However, the estimated Cu concentrations in the roots from the treatment with vermicompost enriched with Cu were much larger than that of the treatment with the natural vermicompost, reaching 246.3 mg L −1. The Ni and Zn concentrations in lettuce leaves from the treatments, with vermicomposts enriched with the respective metals, were above the range of critical toxicity levels to plants, i.e., from 10 to 50 mg kg −1 and from 15 to 30 mg kg −1, respectively. However, no symptom of toxicity was found visually. Larger accumulations of Cu, Ni and Zn were found in the lettuce leaves than in the roots after the treatments with the uncontaminated vermicompost. A greater absorption of Cu and Ni by roots was found in treatments with vermicompost enriched with these elements, whereas Zn was found preferentially in the leaves. The statistical analysis was done by analyses of variance and regression.

Estímulo no crescimento e na hidrólise de ATP em raízes de alface tratadas com humatos de vermicomposto: I - efeito da concentração

O vermicomposto contém uma concentração elevada de substâncias húmicas e já é bem conhecido o efeito do seu uso sobre as propriedades do solo. No entanto, a ação direta das substâncias húmicas sobre o metabolismo das plantas é menos conhecida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de humatos extraídos de vermicomposto de esterco de curral com KOH 0,1 mol L-1 sobre o desenvolvimento e metabolismo de ATP em plântulas de alface. Após a germinação, plântulas de alface foram tratadas com os humatos em concentrações que variaram de 0 a 100 mg L-1 de C, durante quinze dias. Foram avaliados o crescimento da raiz e a atividade das bombas de H+ isoladas da fração microssomal do sistema radicular. Foi observado aumento na matéria fresca e seca do sistema radicular, bem como no número de sítios de mitose, raízes emergidas do eixo principal, na área e no comprimento radiculares, com o uso do humato na concentração de 25 mg L-1 de C. Também foi observado, nessa concentração, aumento significativo na hidrólise de ATP pelas bombas de H+, responsáveis pela geração de energia necessária à absorção de íons e pelo crescimento celular.

Effects of Cu, Ni and Zn on Lettuce Grown in Metal-Enriched Vermicompost Amended Soil

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness of cattle manure vermicompost enriched with Cu, Ni or Zn to increase plant yield. An oxisol amended with the metal-enriched vermicompost at the doses 0, 25, 50, 65, and 80 t ha−1 was used to grow lettuce (Lactuca sativa L). After 39 days of growth, the plants were weighed for fresh and dry matter weight determinations. The soil amended with the vermicompost was analyzed for determination of DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-extractable Cu, Ni and Zn. The distribution of the metals in the plants was determined and the metal concentrations compared with the levels commonly found in plants, as well as with the range of the critical levels of toxicity to plants. Within each dose of 50, 65 and 80 t ha−1 of the metal-enriched vermicomposts applied there was a decrease in lettuce yield as compared to the correspondent 50, 65 and 80 t ha−1 doses of the natural vermicompost applied. The Cu concentrations in the lettuce leaves from the pots with vermicompost enriched with this element were in the range commonly found in plants (from 5.9 to 13.9 mg kg−1), although in the roots they were relatively high (from 76.25 to 244.56 mg kg−1). The Ni concentrations in the leaves from the pots with the vermicompost contaminated with this element were within the range of critical levels of toxicity to plants, i.e., from 10 to 50 mg kg−1. In the case of Zn, its concentrations in the leaves from the pots with vermicompost enriched with this element were, in general, above the range of critical levels of toxicity to plants, i.e., from 200 to 500 mg kg−1. The plants grown in soil amended with vermicomposts enriched with Cu and Ni showed high Cu and Ni concentrations in the roots, while the plants grown in soil amended with vermicompost enriched with Zn showed high Zn concentrations in the leaves. The correlation coefficients between the DTPA-extractable Cu, Ni and Zn and their concentrations in the plants varied from 0.835 to 0.950.

Produção de repolho em função da aplicação de boro associada a adubo orgânico

Em condições de campo, em solo argiloso com teor médio de boro, foram avaliados os efeitos da adubação com boro, associada à adubação orgânica, na produção de repolho híbrido Kenzan. Cinco doses de B (0; 2,0; 4,0; 6,0 e 8,0 kg ha-1) foram associadas, em esquema fatorial, à ausência e presença (0 e 10 t ha-1) de vermicomposto de esterco bovino. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com três repetições e as adubações orgânica e química foram feitas no sulco, por ocasião do transplantio das mudas. O ponto de colheita foi atingido 75 a 90 dias após o transplantio. A adubação com vermicomposto de esterco de bovino elevou a produção em 3,8 t ha-1, o diâmetro das cabeças de repolho em 0,8 cm e o peso das cabeças em 170 g. A produção de repolho aumentou linearmente com a adubação com B e variou de 52,94 t ha-1 a 65,95 t ha-1. A relação entre B no solo e produção foi linear e positiva.

Organic matter fractions and soil fertility under the influence of liming, vermicompost and cattle manure

This work evaluates effects of cattle manure vermicompost in association with liming on soil fertility indexes. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions, in pots containing samples of a Typic Hapludox, medium-textured soil. Five levels of vermicompost (equivalent to 0, 28, 42, 56, and 70 t ha-1, dry weight) and five liming levels (to raise base saturation to 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60%) were combined in a factorial scheme and samples were incubated for 180 days. Samples of the same soil received the equivalent to 70 t ha-1 of the cattle manure used to produce the vermicompost, and the same lime rates. Cattle manure was better than vermicompost to supply K and Mg. Small differences in P supply were observed between the manures. The vermicompost increased the levels of Ca, pH, organic matter (OM) and CEC more than the manure. C-humic acids decreased and C-humin increased with vermicompost application. With liming, C-humic acids decreased, but the total content of OM was not affected.

The influence of humic acids derived from earthworm-processed organic wastes on plant growth

Some effects of humic acids, formed during the breakdown of organic wastes by earthworms (vermicomposting), on plant growth were evaluated. In the first experiment, humic acids were extracted from pig manure vermicompost using the classic alkali/acid fractionation procedure and mixed with a soilless container medium (Metro-Mix 360), to provide a range of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg of humate per kg of dry weight of container medium, and tomato seedlings were grown in the mixtures. In the second experiment, humates extracted from pig manure and food wastes vermicomposts were mixed with vermiculite to provide a range of 0, 50, 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 4000 mg of humate per kg of dry weight of the container medium, and cucumber seedlings were grown in the mixtures. Both tomato and cucumber seedlings were watered daily with a solution containing all nutrients required to ensure that any differences in growth responses were not nutrient-mediated. The incorporation of both types of vermicompost-derived humic acids, into either type of soilless plant growth media, increased the growth of tomato and cucumber plants significantly, in terms of plant heights, leaf areas, shoot and root dry weights. Plant growth increased with increasing concentrations of humic acids incorporated into the medium up to a certain proportion, but this differed according to the plant species, the source of the vermicompost, and the nature of the container medium. Plant growth tended to be increased by treatments of the plants with 50–500 mg/kg humic acids, but often decreased significantly when the concentrations of humic acids derived in the container medium exceeded 500–1000 mg/kg. These growth responses were most probably due to hormone-like activity of humic acids from the vermicomposts or could have been due to plant growth hormones adsorbed onto the humates.

The influence of earthworm-processed pig manure on the growth and productivity of marigolds

The effects of additions of earthworm-processed pig manure (vermicompost) on the growth and productivity of French marigold ( Tagetes patula) plants were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. Marigolds were germinated and grown in a standard commercial greenhouse container medium (Metro-Mix 360), substituted with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% (by volume) pig manure vermicompost. The control consisted of Metro-Mix 360 alone without vermicompost. Plants were supplied regularly with a complete mineral nutrient solution for 121 days. The greatest vegetative growth resulted from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 30% and 40% pig manure vermicompost, and the lowest growth was in the potting mixtures containing 90% and 100% vermicompost. Most flower buds occurred in the potting mixtures containing 40% pig manure vermicompost (19.4 buds), and fewest in the potting mixtures containing 100% vermicompost. Marigolds grown in Metro-Mix 360 substituted with 90% and 100% pig manure vermicompost had the fewest and smallest flowers. After substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% vermicompost, the marigold roots were larger than those of plants grown in the Metro-Mix 360 controls. Substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with any concentration of pig manure vermicompost, with all needed nutrients provided, increased the overall nitrate–nitrogen concentrations of the marigold leaf tissues at flowering stage. Some of the marigold growth and productivity enhancement, resulting from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with pig manure vermicompost, may be explained by nutritional factors; However, other, factors, such as plant-growth regulators and humates, might have also been involved since all plants were supplied regularly with all required nutrients.

Pig manure vermicompost as a component of a horticultural bedding plant medium: effects on physicochemical properties and plant growth

This experiment was designed to characterize the physical, chemical and microbial properties of a standard commercial horticultural, greenhouse container, bedding plant medium (Metro-Mix 360), that had been substituted with a range of increasing concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% and 100% by volume) of pig manure vermicompost and to relate these properties to plant growth responses. The growth trials used tomatoes ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), grown in the substituted media for 31 days under glasshouse conditions, with seedling growth recorded in 20 pots for each treatment. Half of the tomato seedlings (10 pots per treatment) were watered daily with liquid inorganic fertilizer while the other half received water only. The percentage total porosity, percentage air space, pH and ammonium concentrations of the container medium all decreased significantly, after substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with equivalent amounts of pig manure vermicompost; whereas bulk density, container capacity, electrical conductivity, overall microbial activity and nitrate concentrations, all increased with increasing substitutions of vermicompost. The growth of tomato seedlings in the potting mixtures containing 100% pig manure vermicompost was reduced, possibly as a result of high soluble salt concentrations in the vermicompost and poorer porosity and aeration. The growth of tomato seedlings was greatest after substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with between 25% and 50% pig manure vermicompost, with more growth occurring in combinations of pig manure vermicompost treated regularly with a liquid fertilizer solution than in those with no fertilizer applied. Some of the growth enhancement in these mixtures seemed to be related to the combined effects of improved porosity, aeration and water retention in the medium and the high nitrate content of the substrate, which produced an increased uptake of nitrogen by the plant tissues, resulting in increased plant growth. When the tomato seedlings were watered daily with liquid inorganic fertilizer, substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with a very small amount (5%) of pig manure vermicompost resulted in a significant increase in the growth of tomato seedlings. Such effects could not be attributed solely to the nutritional or physical properties of the pig manure vermicompost. Therefore, it seems likely that the pig manure vermicompost provided other biological inputs, such as plant growth regulators into the container medium, that still need to be identified fully.

Influence of earthworm-processed pig manure on the growth and yield of greenhouse tomatoes

The effects of earthworm-processed pig manure (vermicompost) on germination, growth, and yields of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. Tomatoes were germinated and grown in a standard commercial greenhouse container medium (Metro-Mix 360), substituted with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% (by volume) pig manure vermicompost. The control consisted of Metro-Mix 360 alone without vermicompost. Plants were grown for 158 days and were frequently supplied with a complete mineral nutrient solution. The germination rates of tomato seeds increased significantly upon substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 20%, 30%, and 40% vermicompost. Seedlings grown in 100% pig manure vermicompost were significantly shorter, had fewer leaves, and weighed less than those in Metro-Mix 360 controls. Incorporation of 10% or 50% vermicompost into Metro-Mix 360 increased the dry weights of tomato seedlings significantly compared to those grown in the Metro-Mix 360 controls. The largest marketable yield was in the substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 20% vermicompost (5.1 kg/plant). The average weight of a tomato fruit in substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 20% vermicompost was 12.4% greater than that in the Metro-Mix 360 control. Substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 10%, 20%, and 40% vermicompost reduced the proportions of fruits that were non-marketable, and produced more large size (diameter > 6.4 cm) than small size (diameter < 5.8 cm) tomato fruits. There was no significant difference in overall tomato yields between Metro-Mix 360 and 100% pig manure vermicompost. Some of the growth and yield enhancement resulting from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with pig manure vermicompost could be attributed to the high mineral N concentration of the pig manure vermicompost. However, other factors might have also been involved since all plants were frequently supplied with all required nutrients. These factors need to be investigated in future studies.

Earthworm-Processed Organic Wastes as Components Of Horticultural Potting Media for Growing Marigold and Vegetable Seedlings

We germinated and grew tomato, pepper, lettuce, and marigold seedlings in a standard commercial soilless plant growth medium (Metro-Mix 360), and in coir/perlite and peat/perlite-based container media substituted with 10% or 20%, by volume, of vermicompost derived from pig manure or food wastes. Half of the treatments were watered with liquid inorganic fertilizer while the other half received only water. Germination rates of tomato, pepper, lettuce, and marigold seeds in the coir/perlite mixture did not differ significantly from that in Metro-Mix 360. However, the germination rate of tomato, pepper and lettuce seedlings was very low in the peat/perlite mixture. Substituting some of the peat/perlite mixtures with equal amounts of vermicomposts, particularly pig manure vermicompost, enhanced germination rates greatly, making it comparable to that in the commercial medium (Metro-Mix 360). Pepper, lettuce, and marigold seedlings grown in Metro-Mix 360, which already contains a starter nutrient fertilizer in its formulation, had greater root and shoot dry weights than those grown in the control media (coir/perlite mix and peat/perlite mix). Substituting coir/perlite and peat/perlite mixtures with 10% or 20% of either vermicompost enhanced the growth of seedlings significantly, resulting in an overall plant growth as good as and sometimes better than that in Metro-Mix 360. When the plants were provided daily with a complete fertilizer solution, marigold seedlings in peat-based substrate with 20% pig waste vermicompost, and lettuce seedlings in both coir and peat-based substrates, mixed with 20% food wastes vermicompost, produced greater shoot dry weights than those grown in the commercial potting medium. The growth enhancements tended to be greater in peat/perlite-based mixes than in coir/perlite-based mixes, more so with the addition of pig manure vermicompost than with food waste vermicompost. Earthworm-processed pig manure and food wastes would be suitable materials for inclusion into the formulation of soilless potting media, since substitution of these media with relatively low concentrations of vermicomposts can promote plant growth.