Journal of Recent Advances In Agriculture

Evaluation of Vermicompost as a Component of Integrated

Nutrient Management in Wetland Rice under Saline
Environment
Seal A., Bera R., Sah K. D., Sarkar D. and Chatterjee A. K.

J Recent Adv Agr 2014, 2(10): 305-311

Online version is available on: www.grjournals.com

 ISSN: 2322-1534 SEAL ET AL.

Original Article

Evaluation of Vermicompost as a Component of

Integrated Nutrient Management in Wetland Rice
under Saline Environment
1
Seal A., 1Bera R., 1Sah K. D., 1Sarkar D. and 2Chatterjee A. K.
1
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Kolkata, India.
2
Dept of Soil Science, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India.

Abstract
Field experiments were conducted at Jeebantala village, Sagar Island, West Bengal, India to evaluate the
potential of vermicompost (VC) on wetland rice (variety: Pankaj) cultivation in monsoon season under saline
soil condition. Effect of integrated application of VC or Cow dung manure (CDM) with urea (U) towards the
yield of rice was compared against their respective single applications and that of only chemical fertilizers (F) at
recommended dose of NPK / ha. Dry matter accumulation and number of effective tillers/m 2 was highest with
VC + U, followed in a descending order by CDM + U and F. Panicle length was largest and thousand grain
weight was highest for F. The VC + U and CDM + U treatments increased grain yield by 34.6 percent and 28.6
percent than their respective single applications. Uptake of N by rice straw and grain was significantly higher
with VC as compared to CDM. Percent N recovery was higher when fertilizer in the form of urea was applied in
connection with either VC or CDM. There was also significant variation in electrical conductivity and available
P2O5 content of soil due to the application of the organic amendments. The most important outcome of the
experiment is that application of vermicompost as part of integrated nutrient management helps to curtail the
problem of soil salinity as well as reduce the nitrogen loss which are the major causes of concern especially in
the saline environment.

Keywords: Vermicompost, cow dung manure, fertilizer integration, rice yield, N recovery.


Corresponding author: National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Kolkata, India.
Received on: 7 Oct 2014
Revised on: 17 Oct 2014
Accepted on: 23 Oct 2014
Online Published on: 29 Oct 2014
305 J. Recent. Adv. Agr., 2014, 2(10): 305-311
 EVALUATION OF VERMICOMPOST AS A COMPONENT OF …

manure and urea in rice production, taking into

Introduction account the yield, uptake of N and its influence on
the physico-chemical properties of saline soil.
In the present day situation of indiscriminate
use of chemicals in agriculture, dwindling of natural Materials and Methods
resources that limits scope for organic supplements
and increase in cost of chemical fertilizer, use of Preparation of Vermicompost
Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System makes a Pits of size 2.5 m length, 1.5 m breadth and 0.4
strong case. This further necessitates the pooling of m depth are taken in thatched sheds with sides left
organic supplements, since cow dung manure, the open. At the bottom of the pit, a layer of paddy
most popular form is becoming scarce due to straw is spread with the concave side upward to
greater propensity of its usage for fuel in rural ensure drainage of excess water and for proper
homes. A wide variety of wastes that are known to aeration. The straw is moistened and above this,
contain appreciable amounts of organic matter and farm waste mixed with cow dung in the ratio of
plant nutrient elements and can be effectively used 10:3 is spread up to a height of 30 cm above the
as a source of organic manure (Srikanth et al., ground level and water is sprinkled daily. After the
2000). In this regard vermicompost may be treated partial decomposition of wastes for 7 to 10 days,
as a potential alternative. Metaphire anomala which has been identified as the
Productivity of rice in the diverse rainfed best species of earthworm for vermi-technology
ecosystems of South and South-East Asia has not under Sagar Island conditions are introduced with
shown much improvement due to various factors. 500 to 1000 numbers per pit (Bhatnagar and Palta,
Low recovery of N to the extent of 30-40 percent is 1996). Moisture is maintained at 40 to 50 per cent.
frequently encountered due to uncontrolled water After 60 days compost is ready and is removed
accumulation in rice puddles (Ghosh and Sharma, from the pit and heaped in shade with ample light.
1999). Especially in saline soils, under rice The worms move to bottom of the heap. After two
cultivation nitrogen losses through volatilization days the compost from the top of the heap is
and denitrification alone may account for about 55 removed and the un-decomposed residues and
to 60 percent (Sen et al., 2000 & Rai, 2004). In this worms are put back in the pit for further
context improving agronomic practices for realizing composting.
yield potential should be an important strategy. A
feasible approach, to ensure the sustained Experimental Setup
availability of N and to increase the efficiency of its Field experiments were conducted for three
use, lies in the practice of balanced fertilization consecutive years in the wet seasons (June –
through combined use of organic and inorganic September) on rice (Oryza sativa L.) at Jeebantala
sources. In addition under the condition of limited village (210 35′ 32″ N 880 6′ 56″ E), Sagar island,
water availability addition of organic amendments West Bengal, India. The site of the experiment
demonstrated enhanced leaching of salts by represented coastal alluvial soils, characteristics of
improving soil physical condition as reported by which are given in Table 1. In this part of India, rice
different workers (Subba Rao et al., 1994; Maji and based cropping systems are followed. Urea is the
Mandal, 1991). most widely used N fertilizer. Sometimes, cow
Such practice may take care of the nutritional dung manure is used as an organic supplement,
deficiencies, minimize the dependency on chemical subject to availability after its use in other domestic
fertilizers and sustain the crop productivity through purposes. In the field experiments, Vermicompost
restoration of soil health. The present paper prepared from farm waste, well rotten CDM and F
evaluates the potential of vermicompost prepared (urea, single superphosphate and muriate of potash
from farm waste in contrast to the conventional to supply N, P and K respectively) were used. The
practice of integrated application of cow dung characteristics of Vermicompost and CDM used are
given in Table 1.
306 J. Recent. Adv. Agr., 2014, 2(10): 305-311
 SEAL ET AL.

Table 1: Physical and chemical characteristics of soil, vermicompost (VC) and cow dung manure (CDM).
Soil VC CDM
Parameter
2002 2002 2003 2004 2002 2003 2004
pH 6.8 6.9 7.0 7.0 6.2 6.2 6.1
EC (dSm-1) 4.6 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2
Sand (%) 9.0 - - - - - -
Silt (%) 58.9 - - - - - -
Clay (%) 32.1 - - - - - -
Org. C ((gkg-1)) 10.3 152 148 156 124 120 127
Bulk density (gcm-3) 1.43 - - - - - -
Water soluble C (µg/100g) - 745 732 758 678 684 711
CEC (cmol(p+)kg-1) 13.75 72.15 70.20 72.62 68.40 66.35 69.24
Total N ((gkg-1)) 1.4 15.2 15.4 15.5 11.6 11.4 11.8
Mineralizable N (mgkg-1) - 252 259 267 228 234 239
C/N ratio 7.4 10.0 9.6 10.1 10.7 10.5 10.8
Carbohydrate content (µg
- 1450 1424 1420 1342 1300 1320
glucose /100g)
Av. P2O5 (mgkg-1) 70 410 406 427 362 371 354
Av. K2O (gkg-1) 0.91 1.82 1.83 1.82 1.66 1.67 1.67
Zn (mgkg-1)– Total 28 168 175 182 163 172 167
- DTPA 0.98 4.4 4.8 5.2 4.2 6.1 6.4
-1
Cu (mgkg ) -Total 42 18 21 20 12 10 8
- DTPA 3.2 0.32 0.41 0.39 0.24 0.19 0.17
Fe (mgkg-1) -Total 50.1 3.4 3.4 3.7 3.0 3.1 3.1
- DTPA 0.15 0.52 0.51 0.52 0.42 0.45 0.48
Mn (mgkg-1)-Total 1.3 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.14 0.13 0.13
- DTPA 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

The experiments were conducted in a were recorded from 1m2 area of each plot and
randomized block design with 6 treatments, in fixed converted into t/ha.
plots for three consecutive years. Each treatment
was replicated 4 times in 5m x 4m plots. The Chemical Analysis of Soil and Plant
treatments consisted of a control with no input, 3.87 For physicochemical analysis, surface soil
to 3.95 t/ha vermicompost applied alone to supply samples (0-0.2m) were taken at random from each
60 kg N/ha, 5.08 to 5.26 t/ha CDM applied alone to plot, prior to setting up the experiment in 2002 and
supply 60 kg N/ha, VC + U, 30 kg N/ha supplied after rice harvest in 2004. Soil samples were air
through VC and 30 kg N/ha substitution by urea; F, dried, ground, sieved (2mm) and analyzed
at the area specific recommended dose of 60: 30: 25 according to the standard methods and are reported
kg/ha N, P and K respectively. in Table 1. Characteristics of the air-dried VC and
The plots supplemented with the organics alone CDM samples were carried out in triplicate for each
or with U did not receive any P and K fertilizers. parameter. Following each harvest, the plant parts
The organic supplements were applied seven days (straw and grain) were separately oven dried at
prior to, and fertilizers at, transplantation. Rice 80oC, until a constant weight was obtained. The
variety Pankaj was transplanted on 18th, 20th and dried plant samples were then ground in a
21st July and harvested on 24th, 27th, and 28th mechanical grinder and stored in a dessicator till
October of 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively. At analysis. Cation Exchance Capacity (CEC), Organic
harvest the yield components were recorded from carbon, total N and available K of soil, VC and
ten randomly selected plants, leaving two border CDM were estimated following the standard
rows from each plot. The grain and straw yields procedure of Tandon (1999). NH4F extraction was

307 J. Recent. Adv. Agr., 2014, 2(10): 305-311

 EVALUATION OF VERMICOMPOST AS A COMPONENT OF …

carried out for estimating available P in soil and grain yield of rice with their respective N
CDM (acidic), while NaHCO3 extraction was concentrations. Statistical analyses were performed
followed for VC (alkaline) (Tandon, 1999). CEC with the help of the IRRISTAT statistical package
VC and CDM was estimated following the (version 3/93) developed by IRRI, Philippines.
methodology of Harada and Inoko (1980).
Mineralizable N, water soluble C and carbohydrate Results and Discussion
content of VC and CDM were measured by the
methods of Rowell (1994), Burford and Bremner Yield Components
(1975) and Sadasivam and Manikam (1992) The yield components of rice varied
respectively. Total and DTPA extractable significantly due to treatments (Table 2). Dry matter
micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Zn) in soil, VC and accumulation was highest in VC + U treatment
CDM were measured by AAS (Perkin Elmer model followed by CDM + U and F. Integration of urea
2380) according to the method of Tandon (1999) with either VC or CDM resulted in significant
and Lindsay and Norvell (1978). The N content of increase in dry matter than their single applications.
plant (straw and grain) was determined by the Such integration of manure and fertilizers are
standard methodology of Tandon (1999) following particularly beneficial and plays a more potential
digestion of dried and ground samples. The N role than applying either manures or fertilizer alone
uptake was calculated by multiplying the straw and (Singh and Deka 1990).

Table 2: Yield components and yield of rice as influenced by Vermicompost (VC), cowdung manure (CDM), urea
(U) and fertilizers (F) (pooled data of 2002, 2003 and 2004).
Treatment Dry matter at No of effective Panicle 1000 – grain Straw yield Grain yield
harvest (g/hill) tillers (/m2) length (cm) weight (g) (tha-1) (tha-1)
Control 20.4 253 20.1 18.1 2.83 1.82
VC 32.4 358 24.3 19.1 3.57 2.89
CDM 30.8 349 23.9 18.9 3.36 2.67
VC + U 48.9 432 25.3 20.8 4.19 3.89
CDM + U 47.6 427 25.1 20.6 3.96 3.74
F 46.6 402 25.8 20.9 3.84 3.61
Mean 37.8 370 24.1 19.7 3.62 3.10
LSDa 0.174 19.58 0.190 0.196 0.210 0.212
a
least square difference at 5% probability level.

The additional benefits from integration of better utilization of applied N (Bhattacharya et al.,
manures and fertilizers occur due to the satisfaction 2003). Higher thousand-grain weight, obtained with
of immediate nutrient requirement from inorganic combined application of organic and urea, than their
sources during initial stages of crop growth and single applications might be the result of large
from slow releasing organic sources at subsequent amount of carbohydrates and mobile nutrients
stages (Roy et al., 2001). translocation to the panicle from other organs
Moreover, humic substances and their (Shiralipur et al., 1992). The process involving
decomposition products can favourably influence addition of inorganic sources of N to organic
growth and metabolism (Cooper, et al., 1998). No sources, when applied to soil, essentially leads to
of effective tillers /m2 and panicle length showed faster decomposition, releasing thereby higher
significantly highest value against VC + U followed amount of nutrients to be utilized by the crop. The
by CDM + U and F. Greater elaboration of yield statement is further substantiated by the higher
attributing characters of rice especially panicle mean Total-N uptake (102 to 105 kgha-1) in case of
length as a response to integrated nutrient CDM+U and VC+U treatments as compared to the
management may principally be accounted for others (represented in Table 3).

308 J. Recent. Adv. Agr., 2014, 2(10): 305-311

 SEAL ET AL.

Table 3: N uptake by straw and grain of rice and percent N recovery as affected by different treatments.
Treatment N uptake (kg/ha)
Mean total N Mean N
2002 2003 2004
uptake (kgha-1) recovery (%)
Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain
Control 10.7 29.9 12.6 36.9 12.4 35.4 46 -
VC 15.7 60.5 17.9 62.4 18.4 64.3 80 57
CDM 14.6 58.8 16.1 60.6 16.9 61.8 76 50
VC + U 20.6 79.5 23.6 80.9 24.5 85.2 105 98
CDM + U 19.8 77.8 22.7 78.8 23.7 82.6 102 93
F 20.8 80.2 21.1 80.4 21.6 79.8 101 92
Mean 17.03 64.45 19.00 66.67 19.58 68.18 85 -
LSDa 0.93 1.05 1.01 1.28 0.97 1.07 - -
a
least square difference at 5% probability level.

Straw and Grain Yield related to the relatively better fertility status of VC
Organic sources (VC or CDM) alone or in (Total-N: 15.4 gkg-1, Av-P2O5: 414 mgkg-1 & Av-
combination with urea, and fertilizers alone K2O:1.82 gkg-1) with respect to CDM (Total-N:
produced predominantly higher straw and grain 11.6 gkg-1, Av-P2O5: 362 mgkg-1 & Av-K2O:1.67
yields than control (Table 2). Both VC and CDM gkg-1), which influenced their comparative
application increased the grain yield by 58.8 and effectiveness in increasing the nutritional efficiency
46.7 percent respectively over control. Grain yield of soil as also suggested by Sakamoto and Oba
increased by 34.6 and 28.6 percent when VC and (1991). At the same time the appropriate C: N ratio
CDM were applied in combination with urea, than render these organic supplements as a ready source
when applied alone. The VC + U treatment of nutrition for the soil microbes and when applied
recorded the highest straw and grain yield of rice in combination with U they ensure a sufficient as
followed by CDM + U and F. The increase in grain well as a constant supply of essential nutrients
yield with VC + U was about 4.0 and 7.8 percent throughout the crop season as evident from the
higher than CDM + U and F respectively. Such better crop yield parameters (grain yield under
beneficial effect of organic and fertilizer integration VC+U & CDM+U – 3.87 and 3.74 tha-1
occurred due to prolonged supply of N due to respectively) obtained as against F alone (3.61 tha-
mineralization of organic sources as compared to 1).
application of chemical fertilizers alone (Kumar et
al., 1999). Nitrogen Uptake and Recovery
The increase in response of organic sources There was significant variation in total N
might be due to their aliphatic and aromatic uptake by rice with respect to the different
hydroxy acids, hymates and lignin. These aliphatic treatments (Table 3). The VC + U treatment
and aromatic compounds present in the organic recorded the highest total N uptake closely followed
sources provide greater exchange sites (as indicated by CDM + U and F. When applied singly, crop
by their high CEC values - 66.35 to 72.62 cmol (p+) uptake of nitrogen was comparatively higher with
kg-1as compared to soil – 13.75 cmol (p+) kg-1) for VC than CDM. Integration of urea with VC or
the retention of these nutrients, which prevent or CDM significantly increased N uptake of crop in
reduce their chemical combination with iron and comparison to their single applications. Stable
aluminium (Ghosh et al., 2004) thereby ensuring supply of N over a longer period of time from the
their ready availability to crops. This is further organic sources (Kumar et al., 1999) and faster
supported by the higher mean – N recovery (93 to release from inorganic fertilizer (particularly the
98 percent) obtained under CDM+U and VC+U highly soluble urea) plus the stimulating effect of
treatments (represented in Table 3). Greater this chemical nitrogen on the soil microbes
response obtained with VC than CDM is probably (Sahrawat 1979) increased the N uptake in
combination treatments.
309 J. Recent. Adv. Agr., 2014, 2(10): 305-311
 EVALUATION OF VERMICOMPOST AS A COMPONENT OF …

Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil number of workers (Srikanth et al., 2000 and Subba
No significant variation in soil properties was Rao et al., 1994) who observed a significant
discernible except in case of electrical conductivity, improvement in the soil physical condition as well
which showed significantly low values in soils, as enhanced leaching of salts down the soil profile
treated with VC and CDM either singly or in following treatment with different organic
combination with U. This could be ascribed to the amendments (Table 4).
improvement in the soil physical conditions under
these treatments, which influenced the leaching of
salts. Similar findings have been reported by a

Table 4: Physico-chemical properties of soil after rice harvest in 2004 as influenced by amending soils with
different treatments.
pH EC Org. C CEC B.D. Total N Av. P2O5 Av. K2O
Treatment -1 -1 + -1 -1
(H2O) (dSm ) (gkg ) cmol(p )kg (%) (gkg ) (mgkg-1) (gkg-1)
Control 6.7 4.7 9.7 13.21 1.43 1.30 57 0.81
VC 6.9 4.0 10.9 15.70 1.41 1.62 89 0.96
CDM 6.5 3.8 10.6 15.45 1.40 1.58 82 0.96
VC + U 6.8 4.2 10.5 15.40 1.42 1.55 78 0.94
CDM + U 6.6 4.1 10.5 15.52 1.42 1.32 75 0.93
F 6.6 4.6 10.1 14.50 1.43 1.45 74 0.91
Mean 6.7 4.2 10.4 15.0 1.42 1.47 75.8 0.92
LSDa NSb 0.42 NS NS NS NS 18.42 NS
a
least square difference at 5% probability level; b not significant.

Conclusion
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