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Amynthus alexandri earthworm species was used for the conversion of a useful product the “Vermicompost”from Argemone species through “Vermitechnology”. This was applied on two cultivars of Wheat namely Raj. 3765 and Raj.3777 to study primary production and grain yield. It was observed that 20% to 30% Vermicompost favoured the production and grain yield as compared to control, organic manure, and chemical fertilizers.

This paper describes the application of vermicompost on two varieties of Wheat to study the effect on production and yield.

Different effects of casts from three species of earthworms on plant and production were reported by Graff and Makeschin (1980), they concluded that yield influencing substances were released into the soil through in differing amounts ofLumbricusterrestris , A. callinosa and E. foetida but did not speculate on nature of the substance. The differing ability of earthworm species to release growth promoting substance could depend on gut microflora. Many earthworm species are microvores ingesting, litter and inorganic soil material together with soil microorganisms. The vitality and dispersal of microorganisms are effected by passage through the gut (Parle 1963 and Yeates, 1981).

Nainawat (1997),Garg (1999 ) and Khandal (1999) also observed that the addition of vermicast in different ratio to the soil increased the crop production. Nainawat (1997) studied the application of vermicompost on total dry matter production and grain yield of two cultivars of wheat Raj. 3077 and Raj.1482. He found that the application of vermicompost in small dose (10% of the soil ) the total dry matter. Production and grain yield showed increase trend in comparison to organic manure and chemical fertilizers. Treatment of higher dose of vermicompost (20% of the soil) gave the maximum grain yield of cv. Raj. 3077 (37.99g/pot) and cv Raj.3077 (71.98g/pot) and cv.Raj. 1482 (71.08g/pot).Garg (1999) similarly studied the application of vermicompost on total dry matter production and grain yield of two cultivars of wheat cv.Raj.3777 and cv.Raj.3765.

Material and Methods: To study the effect of vermicompost and fertilizers on a variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum) namely Raj.3765 and Raj.3777 on primary production and grain yield. Certified breeders seeds of these varieties were obtained from agriculture research station Durgapura,Jaipur. Seeds were sown in the earthen pots of 12” with vermicompost , organic manure, and chemical fertilizers . Following amendments were taken.

S.No.	Symbol	Treatments	Materials used
1.	T1	Control	6 kg. garden soil
2.	T2	Chemical fertilizers	N120, P40, K30 in combination N was applied as urea (45%N) @ 0.711 g/kg soil. P as super phosphate (16%P) @0.66 g/6 kg and K as muriate potash (60% K20) @0.133 g/6 kg soil.
3.	T3	Organic manure	10% decomposed cattle dung was used as organic manure @600 g/6 kg soil.
4.	T4	10% Vermicompost	Mixed vermicompost was used @ 600 g/6 kg soil.
5.	T5	20% Vermicompost	Mixed vermicompost was used @ 1200 g/6 kg soil.
6.	T6	30% Vermicompost	Mixed vermicompost was used @ 1800 g/6 kg soil.
7.	T7	40% Vermicompost	Mixed vermicompost was used @ 2400 g/6 kg soil.

 Twelve pots were taken for each treatment. Ten seeds with equal distance in each pot to ensure germination.After seedling emergence only five seedlings were left in each pot and allowed to grow. Regular watering was done during course of study. Three pots of each treatment were taken out and washed thoroughly to remove any soil particles adhered to them. Various morphological parameters were taken for each plant. 

The grain weight revealed that there was an increased trend in grain weight per plant at higher concentration of vermicompost as compared to other treatments. The data on yield of both the cultivars showed that when dose of vermicompost was 20% the total dry matter production of Raj. 3765 and Raj. 3777 was 59.9 g/pot and 51.4 g/pot respectively. The total grain yield of Raj.3765 was 19.00 g/pot and Raj.3777 was18.25 g/pot (table 5).

Table 5. Effect of chemical fertilizers, organic manure and vermicompost of Argemone on grains weight (g/pot) at different stages of plant growth.

Treatments	Varieties	Days after sowing
		45	80	120
T1	Raj. 3765			1.53±0.04
	Raj. 3777			1.66±0.38
T2	Raj. 3765			1.50±0.06
	Raj. 3777			2.14±0.06
T3	Raj. 3765			2.42±0.01
	Raj. 3777			2.25±0.00
T4	Raj.3765			3.36±0.12
	Raj.3777			3.59±0.19
T5	Raj. 3765			3.80±0.11
	Raj. 3777			3.65±0.03
T6	Raj. 3765			3.80±0.11
	Raj. 3777			3.33±0.08
T7	Raj. 3765			3.05±0.02
	Raj. 3777			3.07±0.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Root/Shoot ratio-The root/shoot ratio showed increased trend in T1,T6, andT7 while it was increasing and decreasing in all other treatments, at 45 days growth period in Raj.3765.While it showed increasing trend throughout in the Raj. 3777 at 45 days growth. At the last harvest it showed decreased trend except inT2, in the Raj. 3765, while it is decreasing in almost all the treatment except T1, in the Raj. 3777. It is because of more pronounced growth of shoot than the root.

Leaf area ratio-The data for leaf area ratio of both the varieties revealed that it is increasing gradually from T1 to T7 in both the varieties. Later on as the growth pronounced the leaf area gradually reduced because of leaf fall at various stages particularly at the last harvest.

Specific leaf area-Specific leaf area increased up to 80 days growth in all the treatments, therefore it decreased in treatments of chemical fertilizers, organic manure, and 10% vermicompost, 30% vermicompost and in 40% vermicompost where as it was higher in control. While in the variety Raj. 3777 the maximum SLA was observed at T7 at the last harvest.

Relative growth rate- Relative growth rate of Raj.3765 and Raj. 3777 revealed that it showed increasing trend almost in all the treatment as the growth period increased. There is considerable literature showing that earthworm and their castings favor rooting, root growth and plant development (Edwards 1980; Edwards and Lofty,1978, Edwards and Lofty, 1980, Springett and Syres (1978). Beneficial effects have been mainly to the soil improvement and to the increased content of available mineral nutrients (Gupta and Saket 1967: Mackay et al. 1983). In the present study , the vegetative growth was more in vermicompost treatment than organic manure and control. Supporting the views of Edwards and Lofty (1978).

She found that the total dry matter production of both the varieties was 74.23g/pot and 72.06g/pot respectively and grain yield for Raj.3777 was 24.4g/pot and for Raj.3765 was 16.59g/pot. These data support our study as dry matter production and grain yield of both the cultivars Raj.3765 and Raj.3777 were maximum at higher dose of vermicompost (30% of the soil). Garg and Bhardwaj (2000 &2001) studied the application of vermicompost of Parthenium and Lantana on these varieties and found that 50% vermicompost favoured total dry matter production dry grain yield in comparison to organic manure and chemical fertilizers. SimilarlyNijmavan (1952) have also observed that the application of casting even in small dose of soil increased the grain yield by 18 percent in pot culture but when their dose was 20% of the soil, the yield was nearly doubled.

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