| Abstrakt: |
Increase in application of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture has detoriated the soil quality. Vermicompost as a soil conditioner has been emerging as a potential end use for maintaining soil productivity. The paper examines the effect of chemical fertilizer and vermicompost on the growth of Capsicum annum crop. Initially analysis of soil was done in order to know its composition and lacking nutrients. Urea as chemical fertilizer was applied for the comparative study with vermicompost. Fertilizer at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% concentration was applied in the plot. Plant height, leaf length, number of leaves per plant, chlorophyll content in leaves, fresh weight, dry weight etc. were measured. Significant increase in plant height, leaf length and fruit yield of pepper plants was observed in plots treated with vermicompost. Maximum leaf chlorophyll content, 2.9% was estimated from the vermicomposting plot of 20%. Effective results were obtained after application of organic fertilizer as compared to the chemical fertilizer. Hence, in some fields if organic fertilizer applied at appropriate dose, it shows the potential to act as growth promoter for particular crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
