International Journal of Farm Sciences 2(2): 48-53, 2012 Impact of vermicompost on quality and yield of chrysanthemum JK SAROJANI, JS HILLI and S DEVENDRAPPA* Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dharwad *Directorate of Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad 580003 Karnataka Email for correspondence: sdevuasd@rediffmail.com ABSTRACT The study was done to motivate the farmers of Kurabagatti village of Dharwad district, Karnataka to take up vermicomposting and to know the impact of vermicompost on yield, economics and quality of flowers of chrysanthemum. Vermicompost was used alone and with fertilizers and farm yard manure (FYM). The use of vermicompost drastically reduced the cost of cultivation, the petals of flowers did not wither for a longer period and the flower luster was also good. Thus the flowers could fetch higher price in the market. The highest net return was obtained from the treatment receiving vermicompost and 50 per cent recommended doses of fertilizers. This is attributed to integrated soil fertility management which resulted in higher productivity and also higher market price for the flowers due to their better quality. Keywords: Chrysanthemum; vermicompost; flower; fertilizers INTRODUCTION Chrysanthemum ranks next to rose in value and is known as Queen of the East. In Karnataka it is cultivated in an area of 2020 ha with an annual production of more than ten thousand tonnes of flowers (Anon 1995). Chrysanthemum is extensively cultivated in vertisols under irrigated conditions in Kurabagatti village of Dharwad district covering an area of 40 ha. Modern and intensive agriculture calls for a heavy dependency on fertilizers and chemicals thereby neglecting the traditional good practices. Over the past few years the overall health and productivity of the soil have declined to such an extent that one cannot sustain profitable agriculture. The farmers of Kurbagatti village of Dharwad district have been under the practice of applying partially decomposed farm yard manure (FYM) and heavy
Sarojani et al dosages of chemical fertilizers in the form of urea and DAP deviating from the recommended dosages. This has posed a serious threat to the environment and resulted in the repercussions on the ecosystem. The yield and keeping quality levels of chrysanthemum flower crop has also been drastically reduced due to decline in the productivity of the soils. The organic farming may be desirable for improving the quality of chrysanthemum flower crop but it is impossible to meet the nutrient requirement of the crop exclusively through organic farming. Under such circumstances integrated soil fertility management practices involving judicious combination of organic manures like FYM and vermicompost with chemical fertilizers can be feasible and viable for sustained flower crop production on commercial profitable scale. Vermicompost is a biofertilizer rich in micronutrients, beneficial micro-flora and growth regulators for the cultivation of chrysanthemum flower crop (Bano et al 1987). In view of this the present study was undertaken during 2002-03 to motivate the farmers of Kurabagatti village to take up vermicomposting and use vermicompost along with fertilizers and to know the impact of vermicompost on yield, economics and quality of the flowers. METHODOLOGY At the beginning training programme and method demonstrations were conducted to educate the chrysanthemum flower crop growers of Kurubagatti village on vermicomposting technology and importance of technology. Later five farmers from the group were selected to conduct the experiments on their fields. The farmers implemented the composting technology for organic waste management through vermiculture and each farmer produced 50 quintals of vermicompost in 90 days. Each farmer prepared 15 Guntas of land for the experiment involving three treatments (each 5 Guntas) as follows: T1 Use of recommended doses of fertilizers (100:150:100 NPK kg/ ha)+fym @ 20 tonnes/ha T2 Use of vermicompost alone @ 30 q/ha T3 50 per cent recommended doses of fertilizers+fym @ 10 tonnes/ ha+vermicompost @ 15 q/ha The total land was brought to the fine tilth and FYM @ 20 and 10 tonnes per hectare was applied in the first and third treatments respectively. The ridges and furrows of 30 cm width were opened in all the treatments. The suckers of chrysanthemum Dendrathema indicum variety Gundi were planted during second week of June and light irrigation was given. The recommended doses of fertilizers were applied to the treatment T2 and T3 in the form of urea, DAP and potash in four split applications. The vermicompost @ 30 q/ ha and 15 q/ha was applied in T1 and T3 49
Vermicompost impact on chrysanthemum treatments respectively after seven days of planting. As a plant protection measure the crop was sprayed with recommended pesticides to control pest and diseases. The protective irrigation was given during dry spell. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Cost of cultivation The average cost of cultivation using different treatments is shown in Table 1. It is clear that the cost of cultivation was highest in treatment T1 (Rs 34,465) followed by T3 (Rs 30,475) and the lowest in T2 (Rs 27,055). The higher cost of cultivation was due to high cost incurred on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The cost incurred by chemical fertilizers and insecticides was highest (34.28%) in treatment T1 followed by T3 (26.16%) and T2 (20.53%). This indicates that the use of vermicompost drastically reduced the cost of cultivation. Yield The average yield and economics of chrysanthemum, Dendrathema indicum variety Gundi as influenced by the treatments are shown in Table 2. The highest chrysanthemum flower yield (155 q/ha) was obtained with treatment T3 followed by T1 (140 q/ha) and T2 (105 q/ha). Hemavathi (1997) reported that the number of suckers and height of the plants were highest in the treatment receiving vermicompost and 50 per cent recommended doses of fertilizers as compared to other treatments. The petals of the flowers grown in treatments T2 and T3 did not wither for a longer period and the flower luster was also good. Due to this flower could fetch higher price in the market compared to the flowers grown in the treatment T1 (Rs1,700 15,000). Net returns The highest net return (Rs 2,33,025) was obtained from the treatment receiving vermicompost and 50 per cent recommended doses of fertilizers. This is attributed to integrated soil fertility management which resulted in higher productivity and also higher market price for the flowers due to their better quality. In different vegetable crops application of vermicompost @ 1.0 to 2.0 tonnes/ha substituted inorganic fertilizers requirement by 25 to 75 per cent (Giraddi et al 2003). The B:C ratio was highest in the treatment T3 (7.6:1) followed by T2 (5.6:1) and T1 (5.1:1). CONCLUSION Integrated soil fertility management is very much essential to meet the crop nutrient requirements and to get high yield of chrysanthemum flower crop with better quality which fetches higher prices in the market. Further creating awareness among the farmers on the use of vermicompost in 50
Table 1. Average cost of cultivation of chrysanthemum, Dendrathema indicum variety Gundi Input/ Labour Particulars I Treatment (T1) II Treatment (T2) III Treatment (T3) Qty (per ha) Rate (Rs) Cost (Rs) Qty (per ha) Rate (Rs) Cost (Rs) Qty (per ha) Rate (Rs) Cost (Rs) I Input Farm yard manure 20 t 300/t 6,000 10 t/ha 300/t 3,000 Suckers 1,45,000 no 0.03 4,350 1,45,000 no 0.03 4,350 1,45,000\no 0.03 4,350 Urea 100 kg 470/q 470 50 kg 470/q 235 DAP 300 kg 920/q 2,760 150 kg 920/q 1,380 Potash 150 kg 440/q 660 75 kg 440/q 330 Vermicompost 30 q 200/q 6,000 15 q 200 3,000 51 II Labour cost Men 35 no 30/day 1,050 20 no. 30/day 600 30 nos. 30/day 900 Women 450 no 20/day 9,000 415 20/day 8,300 450 20/day 9,000 Bullock 5 pairs 250/day 1,250 5 pairs 250/day 1,250 5 pairs 250/day 1,250 Transportation & 1,000 1,000 1,000 marketing Sarojani et al III Plant * (Chemicals Dithane 7,925 5,555 6,030 protection cost M-45, Bavistin, Kelthane, Starthane used) Grand total (Rs) 34,465 27,055 30,475
Table 2. Average yield and economics of Chrysanthemum, Dendrathema indicum variety Gundi as influenced by the treatments Sl.No. Treatments details Yield Yield Av market Gross Cost of Net income B:C ratio (q/plot)* (q/ha) rate income cultivation (Rs/ha) (Rs) (Rs/ha) 52 I Recommended dose of fertilizer 7 140 1,500 2,10,000 34,465 1,75,535 5.1:1 (100:150:100/ha) II Vermicompost 5.25 105 1,700 1,78,500 27,055 1,51,445 5.6:1 III Vermicompost +50 per cent 7.75 155 1,700 2,63,500 30,475 2,33,025 7.6:1 recommended dose of fertilizer * Plot area = 5 Guntas. Vermicompost impact on chrysanthemum
Sarojani et al horticultural/agricultural crops is need of the hour. REFERENCES Anonymous 1995. Statistical data on horticultural crops in Karnataka State Department of Horticulture, pp 3-4. Bano K, Kale RD and Gajanan GN 1987. Cultivation of earthworm Eudrillux eugenae for cast production and assessment of worm cost as biofertilizer. Journal of Soil Biology and Ecology 7: 78-104. Gireddi RS, Smita MS and Chennappagoudar BB 2003. Organic amendments for the management of chilli insect pests and their influence on crop vigour. In: Proceedings of National Seminar on New Perspectives in Spices, Traditional and Aromatic Plants 27-29 Nov 2003, ICAR, Old Goa, pp 361-366. Hemavathi M 1997. Effect of organic manure and biofertilizers on growth and production of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum monifolium Ramat) cv Local Yellow. MSc thesis, Division of Horticulture, University Agrcultural Sciences, Bangalore. Received : 7.9.2011 Accepted : 14.12.2011 53