7 International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11

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

Groundnut is believed to be a native of Brazil (South

America). The oil content of the seed varies from 44 to50

percent. They are rich in protein and vitamins, A, B and some

members of the B2 group with a high calorific value of 349

per 100 grammas. The residual oilcake contains 7 to 8

percent of N, 1.5 percent of P2O5 and 1.2 percent K2O and is

used as a fertilizer. Environmental degradation is a major

threat confronting the world, and the rampant use of chemical fertilizers contribute largely to the deterioration of the

environment through depletion of fossil fuels, by generation

of carbon dioxide (CO2) and contamination of water

resources. It leads to loss of soil fertility due to imbalanced

use of fertilizers that has adversely impacted agricultural

productivity causing soil degradation. Now there is a growing

realization that the adoption of ecological and sustainable

farming practices can only reverse the declining trend in

global productivity and environment protection [1]. All

synthetic fertilizers must be replaced by organic fertilizers

such as vermicompost. Vermicompost has been recognized as having considerable potential as soil amendments.

Vermicompost are products of organic matter degradation

through interactions between earthworms and

microorganisms. The process accelerates the rate of

decomposition of the organic matter and alters the physical

and chemical properties of the materials [2, 3]. In order to

increase the growth and yield of groundnut, the present

research work has been carried out to know the effect of

different doses of vermicompost on growth and yield of

groundnut.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present investigation was carried on to find out

the impact of vermicompost on growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

2.1. Location of experimental site

Pot experiments were conducted in Botanical

Garden, Department of Botany, Annamalai University,

Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India.

2.2. Methods Ten seeds of groundnut were sown in earthen pots

filled with soil mixed with various doses of vermicompost.

The details of vermicompost application were as follows.

2.3. Application of vermicompost

Control : 10 kilogram soil + without vermicompost 100 : 10 kilogram soil + 100 gram vermicompost

150 : 10 kilogram soil + 150 gram vermicompost

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8 International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11

200 : 10 kilogram soil + 200 gram vermicompost

250 : 10 kilogram Soil + 250 gram vermicompost

Thoroughly mixed with the soil in pots.

2.4. Root length and Shoot length

Five plants were randomly selected for recording the root length and shoot length of crop plants. They were

measured by using centimeter scale and recorded.

2.5. Nodulation

Five plants from each pot with intact roots were

removed with the help of digging fork. The root with root

nodules were carefully separated from the soil, washed

thoroughly and the number of nodules per plant were counted

and recorded.

2.6. Fresh weight and dry weight

Five plant samples were randomly selected at

regular intervals (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS). They were

separated into root and shoot. Their Fresh weight was taken by using an electrical single pan balance. The fresh plant

materials were kept in a hot air oven at 80C for 24 hrs and then their dry weight were also determined.

3. YIELD PARAMETERS

3.1. Number of seeds per plant

The seeds were removed from the pod and the

number of seeds was counted and they were expressed in

number of seeds per plant.

3.2. Hundred Seed weight (g/seed)

100 matured seeds were collected from test crop and

their dry weight was recorded by using an electrical single

pan balance.

4. RESULTS

The present research work deals with the influence

of vermicompost in different doses on growth, and yield

parameters of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) var. VRI 2 an

important oil seed crop of India.

4.1. Root length (cm/plant)

The result on the effect of different doses of vermicompost on

root length of groundnut at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS) is shown in Table 2. The highest root

length (9.1, 14.5, 15.7 and 18.2 cm/plant) was recorded in

groundnut grown in 200 g of vermicompost treatment. The

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.).

Treatments Age of the plant in days

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.

Treatments Age of the plant in days

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.).

Treatments Age of the plant in days

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

9 International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11

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.

Treatments Age of the plant in days

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.).

Treatments Age of the plant in days

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.).

Treatments Number of pods/plant Number of

seeds/plant 100 seed weight/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

DAS) in the crops grown without vermicompost treatment.

4.2. Shoot length (cm/plant)

The results on the effect of various doses of

vermicompost fertilizers on the shoot length (cm/plant) of

groundnut crop at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and

100 DAS) are shown in Table 1. The highest shoot lengths (8.7, 29.4, 36.2 and 39.4 cm/plant) were recorded in

groundnut crop grown in 200 g of vermicompost treatment.

The lowest shoot length (5.8, 16.8, 26.1 and 30.7 cm/plant)

was recorded at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and

100 DAS) in the crop grown without vermicompost

treatment.

4.3. Number of root nodules (nodules/plant)

The result on the effect of various doses of

vermicompost on number of root nodules per plant of

groundnut at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100

DAS) is shown in Table 3. The highest number of root nodules (36, 58, 75 and 94 per plant) was recorded in

groundnut crop grown in 200 g of vermicompost treatment.

The lowest number of root nodules (10, 22, 34 and 48 per

plant) was recorded at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75

and 100 DAS) in crop grown without vermicompost

treatment.

4.4. Fresh weight of plant (g/plant)

The effect of various doses of vermicompost on

fresh weight (g/plant) of groundnut crop at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS) is shown in Table 4.

The highest fresh weights (22.48, 48.89, 128.89 and 218.19

g/plant) were recorded in groundnut crop grown with 200 g

of vermicompost treatment. The lowest fresh weight of plant

(9.71, 19.53, 51.53 and 110.2 g/plant) at various 25, 50, 75

and 100 DAS, were recorded in the crops grown without

vermicompost treatment.

4.5. Dry weight of plant (g/plant)

The results on the effect of various doses of

vermicompost application on dry weight (g/plant) of

groundnut crop at various stages of its growth (25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS) are shown in Table 5. The highest dry weight of

plant (7.49, 16.29, 42.96 and 72.73 g/plant) was recorded in

10 International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(1): 7-11

groundnut crop grown with 200 g of vermicompost treatment.

The lowest dry weight (3.23, 6.51, 17.17 and 36.73 g/plant)

of plant at 25, 50, 75 and 100 DAS was recorded in the crops

grown without vermicompost treatment.

4.6. Yield parameters

The effect of application of various dose of vermicompost on the yield parameters of groundnut are

shown in Table 6. 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 gram of

vermicompost application. The lowest number of pods (29

per plant), number of seed (49 per pot), hundred seed weight

(202.5 g/plant) were recorded in the crops grown in the

control plants which are grown without vermicompost

application.

5. DISCUSSION

The vermicompost contain plant growth regulating

substances including growth hormones and humic acids which are probably responsible for the increase in

germination, growth and yield of plant [4,5].Vermicompost

are cost effective, ecofriendly and a source of plant nutrients

to supplement chemical fertilizers in sustainable agriculture

system in India. They are microbial inoculants, which

enhance crop production through improved supplies of

nutrients [6].Germination, the critical phase in the life cycle

of a crop plant is subjected to numerous environmental

factors [7].The natural environment is favoured for growth

and development to plant communities [8].When the seeds

are grown to a wide range of environmental factors, it will reflect in the germination performance and the establishment

of healthy young seedlings.

5.1. Root length and shoot length

In the field experiment, the highest root growth and

shoot growth of groundnut were observed in the 200 g of

vermicompost application when compared with control as

well as with other treatment. The vermicompost application

induced plant growth hormones such as auxins and humic

acid produced by microorganisms [9].Increase in rates of

shoot and root growth was reported in response to all doses of

the vermicompost applied [10].

5.2. Root nodules

Legume nodules are spherical or cylindrical growth

formed in the plants roots as a result of an infection by

bacteria [11].Only certain bacteria, some blue green algae and

leguminous plants can fix the atmosphere nitrogen to the root

nodule [12].In this experiment, the highest nodule number of

groundnut was observed in 200 g of vermicompost

application when compared to control as well as with other

treatments.

5.3. Fresh weight and dry weight

The fresh weight and dry weight are mainly based

on their growth performance of a particular crop. A plant can

grow vigorously if it contains much amount of fresh weight

and dry weight. In the present study, the application of 200 g

of vermicompost increased the fresh weight and dry weight

of crop plants at the highest level when compared to control

as well as with other treatment. The highest fresh weight and

dry weight were recorded in 100 day old plants followed by 75, 50 and 25 DAS. Root and shoot weights of marigolds

were also significantly greater due to vermicompost

application[16].Vermicompost caused increased growths in

terms of shoot and root dry weight of Petunia[13].

5.4. Yield parameters

In this experiment, the highest yield parameters (number of

pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100 seed weight

and yield) were registered in the crop grown under the

different dose of vermicompost (control, 100, 150, 200 and

250 g) treatment. Almost thirty per cent yield increase was

observed in 200 g of vermicompost treatment. The

vermicompost application increased the germinating ability, growth and yield of vegetables and ornamentals than in

commercial plants growth media [14, 15].

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Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None declared