Effect of turkey litter (Meleagris gallopavo L.) vermicompost on growth and yield characteristics of paddy, Oryza sativa (ADT-37)

Abstract

Pre-decomposed (15 days), turkey litter was mixed with cow dung (1:1, w/w) and vermicomposted with earthworm, Perionyx ceylanensis for 60 days. The vermicompost thus obtained was amended with regular farmers practice in the field soil for the cultivation of paddy (Oryza sativa, ADT-37) in six different treatments with and without vermicomposts (RBD). Before application of vermicompost and after the harvesting of paddy, composite soil samples from each plot were taken and subjected to the analyses of pH, organic carbon, available NPK contents and soil microflora. The E.C., total nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, copper, iron and zinc showed increase in vermicomposts than in the worm un-inoculated composts. The organic carbon, C/N and C/P ratio showed reduction in all the vermicomposts over composts. The results on the growth and yield of paddy with the amendment of vermicompost showed notable increase in 40 kg/plot vermicompost amendment with regular farmers practice. All the parameters considered on the growth and yield of paddy for the study were higher in vermicompost amendments in a dose-dependent manner followed by the regular farmer practice and universal control. The average pH range recorded in all the plots before application of vermicomposts and farmers practice showed slight reduction in vermicompost amended plots after harvesting of paddy. The organic carbon and available NPK contents also showed increase in vermicompost applied plots. The results on the status of microbial population in soils amended with various vermicompost treatments and farmers practice after harvesting of paddy (ADT-37) showed an increase over initial and control plots. The final microbial population in plots amended with different treatments was found to be dose-dependent.

Key words: Earthworms, poultry litter, organic carbon, soil nutrients, vermicompost.