1. Available online at http://www.urpjournals.com
International Journal of Environmental Biology
Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
ISSN 2277–386X
Original Article
EFFECT OF VERMICOMPOST ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF GROUNDNUT
(Arachis hypogaea L.)
MATHIVANAN, S., AL. A. CHIDAMBARAM* P. SUNDARAMOORTHY AND R. BAKIYARAJ
Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.
*Email: alachidambaram@gmail.com
Received 09 February 2012; accepted 23 February 2012
Abstract
Pot experiments were conducted in Botanical Garden, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil
Nadu, India to study the effect of vermicompost on, growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L,). The highest root
length, shoot length, total leaf area, number of root nodules, fresh weight, dry weight, chlorophyll, Carotenoids were recorded
in ground nut crop grown in the application of 200g of vermicompost at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS).
The highest number of pods (65 per plant), number of seeds (116 per pods), hundred seed weight (288.5 g) were recorded in
the crop grown with 200 grams of vermicompost application.
© 2011 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Key words: Vermicompost, Germination, Growth, Yield, Groundnut
1. INTRODUCTION decomposition of the organic matter and alters the physical
Groundnut is believed to be a native of Brazil (South and chemical properties of the materials [2, 3]. In order to
America). The oil content of the seed varies from 44 to50 increase the growth and yield of groundnut, the present
percent. They are rich in protein and vitamins, A, B and some research work has been carried out to know the effect of
members of the B2 group with a high calorific value of 349 different doses of vermicompost on growth and yield of
per 100 grammas. The residual oilcake contains 7 to 8 groundnut.
percent of N, 1.5 percent of P2O5 and 1.2 percent K2O and is
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
used as a fertilizer. Environmental degradation is a major
The present investigation was carried on to find out
threat confronting the world, and the rampant use of chemical
the impact of vermicompost on growth and yield of
fertilizers contribute largely to the deterioration of the
groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
environment through depletion of fossil fuels, by generation
of carbon dioxide (CO2) and contamination of water 2.1. Location of experimental site
resources. It leads to loss of soil fertility due to imbalanced Pot experiments were conducted in Botanical
use of fertilizers that has adversely impacted agricultural Garden, Department of Botany, Annamalai University,
productivity causing soil degradation. Now there is a growing Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
realization that the adoption of ecological and sustainable
farming practices can only reverse the declining trend in 2.2. Methods
Ten seeds of groundnut were sown in earthen pots
global productivity and environment protection [1]. All
synthetic fertilizers must be replaced by organic fertilizers filled with soil mixed with various doses of vermicompost.
such as vermicompost. Vermicompost has been recognized as The details of vermicompost application were as follows.
having considerable potential as soil amendments. 2.3. Application of vermicompost
Vermicompost are products of organic matter degradation Control : 10 kilogram soil + without vermicompost
through interactions between earthworms and 100 : 10 kilogram soil + 100 gram vermicompost
microorganisms. The process accelerates the rate of 150 : 10 kilogram soil + 150 gram vermicompost
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11
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2. 200 : 10 kilogram soil + 200 gram vermicompost 3. YIELD PARAMETERS
250 : 10 kilogram Soil + 250 gram vermicompost 3.1. Number of seeds per plant
The seeds were removed from the pod and the
Thoroughly mixed with the soil in pots.
number of seeds was counted and they were expressed in
2.4. Root length and Shoot length number of seeds per plant.
Five plants were randomly selected for recording the
3.2. Hundred Seed weight (g/seed)
root length and shoot length of crop plants. They were
100 matured seeds were collected from test crop and
measured by using centimeter scale and recorded.
their dry weight was recorded by using an electrical single
2.5. Nodulation pan balance.
Five plants from each pot with intact roots were
4. RESULTS
removed with the help of digging fork. The root with root
The present research work deals with the influence
nodules were carefully separated from the soil, washed
of vermicompost in different doses on growth, and yield
thoroughly and the number of nodules per plant were counted
parameters of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) var. VRI 2 an
and recorded.
important oil seed crop of India.
2.6. Fresh weight and dry weight 4.1. Root length (cm/plant)
Five plant samples were randomly selected at The result on the effect of different doses of vermicompost on
regular intervals (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS). They were root length of groundnut at various stages of its growth (25,
separated into root and shoot. Their Fresh weight was taken 50, 75 and 100 DAS) is shown in Table 2. The highest root
by using an electrical single pan balance. The fresh plant length (9.1, 14.5, 15.7 and 18.2 cm/plant) was recorded in
materials were kept in a hot air oven at 80C for 24 hrs and groundnut grown in 200 g of vermicompost treatment. The
then their dry weight were also determined. lowest root length (6.2, 10.4, 11.3 and 13.7 cm/plant) was
Table 1. Effect of application of various doses of vermicompost on shoot length (cm/plant) at different stages of growth groundnut
(Arachis hypogaea L.).
Age of the plant in days
Treatments
25 50 75 100
Control (T0) 5.8  0.29 16.8  0.84 26.1  1.15 30.7  1.53
Soil + vermicompost (100 g/pot) (T1) 6.7  0.33 19.3  0.96 28.5  1.42 33.5  1.67
Soil + vermicompost (150 g/pot) (T2) 7.6  0.38 24.1  1.20 32.4  1.62 36.2  1.81
Soil + vermicompost (200 g/pot) (T3) 8.7  0.43 29.4  1.47 36.2  1.81 39.4  1.97
Soil + vermicompost (250 g/pot) (T4) 7.1  0.35 22.3  1.11 30.1  1.50 34.5  1.72
Table 2. Effect of application of various doses of vermicompost on root length (cm/plant) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at
different growth stages.
Age of the plant in days
Treatments
25 50 75 100
Control (T0) 6.2  0.31 10.4  0.52 11.3  0.56 13.7  0.68
Soil + vermicompost (100 g/pot) (T1) 7.4  0.37 11.6  0.58 12.4  0.62 14.9  0.74
Soil + vermicompost (150 g/pot) (T2) 8.3  0.41 12.9  0.645 14.2  0.71 16.5  0.82
Soil + vermicompost (200 g/pot) (T3) 9.1  0.45 14.5  0.72 15.7  0.78 18.2  0.91
Soil + vermicompost (250 g/pot) (T4) 8.2  0.41 12.1  0.60 13.4  0.67 15.4  0.77
Table 3. Effect of application of various doses of vermicompost on number of root nodules/plant of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).
Age of the plant in days
Treatments
25 50 75 100
Control (T0) 10.0  0.5 22.0  1.1 34.0  1.7 48.0  2.4
Soil + vermicompost (100 g/pot) (T1) 17.0  0.85 34.0  1.7 42.0  2.1 63.0  3.15
Soil + vermicompost (150 g/pot) (T2) 26.0  1.3 43.0  2.15 64.0  3.2 80.0  4.0
Soil + vermicompost (200 g/pot) (T3) 36.0  1.8 58.0  2.9 78.0  3.9 94.0  4.7
Soil + vermicompost (250 g/pot) (T4) 23.0  1.15 39.0  1.95 59.0  2.95 79.0 3.95
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11
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3. Table 4. Effect of application of various doses of vermicompost on fresh weight (g/plant) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
at various stages of its growth.
Age of the plant in days
Treatments
25 50 75 100
Control (T0) 9.71  0.48 19.53  0.97 51.53  2.57 110.2  5.51
Soil + vermicompost (100 g/pot) (T1) 11.79  0.57 22.39  1.11 72.39  3.61 120.54  6.02
Soil + vermicompost (150 g/pot) (T2) 18.72  0.93 36.49  1.82 93.49  4.69 172.42  8.62
Soil + vermicompost (200 g/pot) (T3) 22.48  1.124 48.89  2.44 128.89  6.44 218.19  10.9
Soil + vermicompost (250 g/pot) (T4) 15.62  0.78 32.62  1.63 89.41  4.47 155.78 7.789
Table 5. Effect of application of various doses of vermicompost on dry weight (g/plant) of groundnut (Arachis
hypogaea L.).
Age of the plant in days
Treatments
25 50 75 100
Control (T0) 3.23  0.16 6.51  0.32 17.17  0.85 36.73  1.83
Soil + vermicompost (100 g/pot) (T1) 3.93  0.19 7.46  0.37 24.13  1.20 40.18  2.00
Soil + vermicompost (150 g/pot) (T2) 6.24  0.31 12.16  0.60 31.16  1.55 57.47  2.87
Soil + vermicompost (200 g/pot) (T3) 7.49  0.37 16.29  0.81 42.96  2.14 72.73  3.63
Soil + vermicompost (250 g/pot) (T4) 5.20  0.26 10.87  0.54 29.80  1.49 51.92  2.59
Table 6. Effect of application of various doses of vermicompost on yield parameters on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).
Number of
Treatments Number of pods/plant 100 seed weight/plant
seeds/plant
Control (T0) 29.0  1.45 49.0  2.45 202.5  10.12
Soil + vermicompost (100 g/pot) (T1) 37.0  1.85 67.0  3.35 220.5  11.02
Soil + vermicompost (150 g/pot) (T2) 52.0  2.6 92.0  4.6 267.5  13.37
Soil + vermicompost (200 g/pot) (T3) 63.0  3.15 116.0  5.8 288.5  14.42
Soil + vermicompost (250 g/pot) (T4) 45.0  2.25 85.0  4.25 257.5  12.87
recorded at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 The lowest number of root nodules (10, 22, 34 and 48 per
DAS) in the crops grown without vermicompost treatment. plant) was recorded at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75
and 100 DAS) in crop grown without vermicompost
4.2. Shoot length (cm/plant)
treatment.
The results on the effect of various doses of
vermicompost fertilizers on the shoot length (cm/plant) of 4.4. Fresh weight of plant (g/plant)
groundnut crop at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and The effect of various doses of vermicompost on
100 DAS) are shown in Table 1. The highest shoot lengths fresh weight (g/plant) of groundnut crop at various stages of
(8.7, 29.4, 36.2 and 39.4 cm/plant) were recorded in its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS) is shown in Table 4.
groundnut crop grown in 200 g of vermicompost treatment. The highest fresh weights (22.48, 48.89, 128.89 and 218.19
The lowest shoot length (5.8, 16.8, 26.1 and 30.7 cm/plant) g/plant) were recorded in groundnut crop grown with 200 g
was recorded at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and of vermicompost treatment. The lowest fresh weight of plant
100 DAS) in the crop grown without vermicompost (9.71, 19.53, 51.53 and 110.2 g/plant) at various 25, 50, 75
treatment. and 100 DAS, were recorded in the crops grown without
vermicompost treatment.
4.3. Number of root nodules (nodules/plant)
The result on the effect of various doses of 4.5. Dry weight of plant (g/plant)
vermicompost on number of root nodules per plant of The results on the effect of various doses of
groundnut at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 vermicompost application on dry weight (g/plant) of
DAS) is shown in Table 3. The highest number of root groundnut crop at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and
nodules (36, 58, 75 and 94 per plant) was recorded in 100 DAS) are shown in Table 5. The highest dry weight of
groundnut crop grown in 200 g of vermicompost treatment. plant (7.49, 16.29, 42.96 and 72.73 g/plant) was recorded in
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11
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4. groundnut crop grown with 200 g of vermicompost treatment. grow vigorously if it contains much amount of fresh weight
The lowest dry weight (3.23, 6.51, 17.17 and 36.73 g/plant) and dry weight. In the present study, the application of 200 g
of plant at 25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS was recorded in the crops of vermicompost increased the fresh weight and dry weight
grown without vermicompost treatment. of crop plants at the highest level when compared to control
as well as with other treatment. The highest fresh weight and
4.6. Yield parameters
dry weight were recorded in 100 day old plants followed by
The effect of application of various dose of
75, 50 and 25 DAS. Root and shoot weights of marigolds
vermicompost on the yield parameters of groundnut are
were also significantly greater due to vermicompost
shown in Table 6. The highest number of pods (65 per plant),
application[16].Vermicompost caused increased growths in
number of seeds (116 per pods), hundred seed weight (288.5
terms of shoot and root dry weight of Petunia[13].
g) were recorded in the crop grown with 200 gram of
vermicompost application. The lowest number of pods (29 5.4. Yield parameters
per plant), number of seed (49 per pot), hundred seed weight In this experiment, the highest yield parameters (number of
(202.5 g/plant) were recorded in the crops grown in the pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100 seed weight
control plants which are grown without vermicompost and yield) were registered in the crop grown under the
application. different dose of vermicompost (control, 100, 150, 200 and
250 g) treatment. Almost thirty per cent yield increase was
5. DISCUSSION
observed in 200 g of vermicompost treatment. The
The vermicompost contain plant growth regulating
vermicompost application increased the germinating ability,
substances including growth hormones and humic acids
growth and yield of vegetables and ornamentals than in
which are probably responsible for the increase in
commercial plants growth media [14, 15].
germination, growth and yield of plant [4,5].Vermicompost
are cost effective, ecofriendly and a source of plant nutrients
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Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None declared
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