Evaluating the Effect of Vermicompost and Humus Soil on Green Vegetable (Amaranthus retroflexus) Production.

Abstract

The increasing waste generation rate, high collection cost and dwindling financial resources are the major problems faced by most developing countries for efficient solid waste management. In some cities, organic waste (market and household) are dumped indiscriminately or littered on the streets causing environmental deterioration. Biological processes such as composting and vermicomposting to convert vegetable (as valuable nutrient source) for agricultural use would be of great benefit. The first step was to provide habitat that housed the earthworms, making it seem like they are in their natural environment, minimise their escape and foster the process of vermicomposting. A worm bin was constructed with white wood, aired and netted with mosquito net to minimise worm escape. Bedding materials was introduced into it containing some biodegradables; careful considerations were taken in the choice of earthworms used for the process as some are better vermicomposters. The worm bin was kept in an environment having an ambient temperature range of 22 to 25.2 degree Celsius and kept moist at all times and at the same time; biodegradables were deposited for continued vermicomposting. At the end of the process which has no time frame depending on the quantity of vermicompost that is needed to be realized from the process, the worms are carefully separated from the worm bin and the proceed was ready for use after having no trace of any biodegradable found. Humus soil was sourced from a nearby poultry farm. The three samples viz; the vermicompost, the humus soil and the control were taken to the laboratory to analyse their nutritional value and were later used to plant green vegetable (Amarantus retroflexus). Each sample was put in a poly pot having three replicate. The plant height, stem girth, number of leaves and the leaf area index of each plant in each poly pot were determined and the results obtained were subjected to the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). From the ANOVA result, it was concluded that vermicompost gave high statistical difference at P=0.05 in all parameters assessed. However, results obtained showed that vermicompost seeded with Amaranthus retroflexus performed greatly over the control and in some cases slight difference statically over humus soil.

Keywords: Decompose, earthworm, Bio degradable, Vermicompost.