P S Chaudhuri
Tripura University, India
Title: Production of tea and increase in earthworm density-biomass following vermicompost application
Biography
Biography: P S Chaudhuri
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Vermicompost is a nutritive organic fertilizer rich in NPK, micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes and increases plant growth and its yield. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an economically important and intensively managed cash crop in Tripura. Earthworms play a significant role in the structure of soils and its over-all above ground crop productivity.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The present study was conducted during January 2015 to November 2016 at Harishnagar Tea estate (Tripura, India) to study the effects of different doses of vermicompost on tea production and earthworm population. The experiment was set up with 3 different amounts of vermicompost [T0 (control), T1 (5 tons ha-1 yr-1), T2 (10 tons ha-1 yr-1) and T3 (15 tons ha-1 yr-1)] each having 4 replicas in the plots of 2-year-old tea plants. Evaluation of different plant parameters was assessed. Earthworms were also collected by hand digging and sorting method during the experimental period to determine species composition, density and biomass. Composite soil samples from each experimental plot were collected for soil analysis.
Findings: Among all the experimental plots, highest values of pH (5.49), electrical conductivity (865 µMho), organic carbon (2.29%), available phosphorus (25.25 mg%) and potassium (60.25 mg%), TPC (0.522 mg GAE/g sample) and TFC (1.576 mg QEE/g sample) estimation of tea leaf was observed significantly in T3 plot in the second experimental period (2016). During the second year (2016), average leaf length (8.81 cm) and leaf width (3.55 cm), number of tea leaf plucks (10.17 plant-1) and total leaf production (92.71 tons ha-1 yr-1) were significantly highest in the T3 plot. A total of only 3 earthworm species viz. exotic, Pontoscolex corethrurus (60%), Metaphire houlleti (24%) and native, Drawida assamensis (15%) were collected from the experimental plots. A significant (p<0.05) but gradual increase in density and biomass of earthworms were also recorded in the second year (2016) with the increase in the amounts of vermicompost. In fine, it is advocated that application of vermicompost in the tropical soils of tea agro-ecosystem promotes plant growth and increases the crop yield through increase in density and biomass of earthworms.