VERMICOMPOST: CUSTOMER-FEEDBACKS
& FIELD EVALUATION
Organic farming using vermicompost in India
Vermicompost is the basic ingredient for successful organic farming. More than 85 per cent of organic crop cultivation in India depends on it. It has several advantages as an organic seedling growth medium: it is relatively high in nitrate, which can enhance seedling germination and stimulate seedling growth; it has high microbial activity that may protect against some pests; and it has little or no phytotoxicity. There have been several reports that vermicompost can induce excellent plant growth and enhance crop production. Recently, Dhanalakshmi.V., et al (2014) studied the impact of addition of vermicompost on growth of okra, brinjal and chilli and recorded the improvement in the yield of fruits.
In a recent review article, Sinha, K., et al (2010) reported that studies on the production of important vegetable crops like tomato (Lycopersicum esculentus), egg plant (Solanum melangena) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) have yielded very good results. In this review, they have also reported that farmers in India mainly in the States of Karanatka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Harayana, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar are using vermicompost with very good profit. According to this report, farmers in a number of villages in Bihar (designated as ‘Bio-Village’) have completely switched over to organic farming by vermicompost and have given up the use of chemical fertilizers since 2005. The farmers were able to harvest three different crops in a year (reaping 2-3 times more harvest) due to their rapid growth and maturity, and reduced harvest cycle.
The important revelations by farmers about use of vermicompost recorded by the above research team are given below:
1) Reduced use of water for irrigation;
2) Reduced pest attack (by at least 75%) especially after spray of vermiwash (liquid drained during vermicomposting);
3) Reduced termite attack in farm soil especially where worms were in good population;
4) Reduced weed growth;
5) Faster rate of seed germination and rapid seedlings growth and development;
6) Greater numbers of fruits per plant (in vegetable crops) and greater numbers of seeds per ear (in cereal crops), heavier in weight-better in both, quantity and quality as compared to those grown on chemicals;
7) Fruits and vegetables had better taste and texture and could be safely stored up to 6-7 days, while those grown on chemicals could be kept at the most for 2-3 days;
8) Fodder growth was increased by nearly 50% @ 30 to 40 quintal/hectare; 9) Flower production (commercial floriculture) was increased by 30%-50% @ 15-20 quintal/hectare. Flower blooms were more colourful and bigger in size.
Field cultivation of vegetables using vermicompost in WIP
The major observations recorded by the author, during the project on Field cultivation of vegetables using vermicompost produced from wood wastes under the “Vegetable Development in Institutions Programme” in WIP supported by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala in 2013-2014(Fig.17-19) are given below:
1) Reduced pest attack in the field;
2) Reduced weed growth;
3) Rapid growth and development of seedlings in the case of lady’s finger, green chilli and brinjal;
4) Better quality and number of fruits per plant especially in tomato and brinjal;
5) Better taste and texture of all vegetables;
6) Fast,luxurious growth of leafy vegetables like Red amaranth.
Fig.17: Field cultivation of vegetables using Vermicompost
Fig.18: Inauguration of vegetable-harvest by Late Mr.P.K.Mohamed, Former Managing Director, WIP
Fig.19: Best Institution Award in the District for the Vegetable Development Project received by WIP from Mr.K.P.Mohanan, Minister of Agriculture, Govt.of Kerala