Degradation of spent tea waste by vermicomposting and its effect on growth of Abelmoschus esculentus

  • Ajit Mechery Department of Biotechnology Karunya University, Coimbatore- 641114
  • Lakshmi Prabha M. Department of Biotechnology, Karunya University, Coimbatore-641 114
Keywords: Eisenia fetida, vermicompost, macronutrient, enzymes

Abstract

Vermicompost is the stable, organic matter that remains after the earthworms feed on the waste materials that occurs due to its decomposition in the gut of the earthworm under controlled conditions. Compost is a rich source of vitamins, hormones, enzymes, macro and micro nutrients which when applied to plants help in efficient growth. Vermicompost was sought to be made by putting spent tea waste as the worm feed. The present study has been carried out to analyze enzymes, physicochemical characteristics, and micro and macro nutrients present in the compost at regular interval of time and also a comparative study was done on the effect of compost on growth parameters namely germination percentage, root length, shoot length and number of leaf count in Abelmoschus esculentus after 30th day of planting. The results of the study revealed that the enzyme activities (amylase, cellulase, protease and invertase) and total macronutrients (N, P, K) and micronutrients (Mn and Cu) showed elevated levels in compost than control. The compost applied plant (Abelmoschus esculentus) showed increased germination percentage, root length, shoot length and number of leaves than the compost untreated plant.

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Published
2016-03-20
Issue
Vol 1 No 3 (2015): JABBR
Section
Original Articles

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