2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Biology and life history of earthworms
The biology and life history of L.mauritii (Gunasekaran, 1989; Ramalingam, 1997),
E.eugeniae (Viljoen and Reinecke, 1989; Ramalingam, 1997), E.fetida (Venter and Reinecke,
1988; Reinecke et al., 1992), Drawida nepalensis (Namita and Madhuri, 2008), Metaphire
houlleti (Namita and Madhuri, 2008) and P.excavatus (Hallatt et al., 1990; Reinecke et al.,
1992) have been thoroughly studied using cow dung / cattle manure as substrate and precisely
reported their data.
2.2 Factors affecting vermiculture and vermicomposting
Apart from these, some researchers have attempted to study the fundamental
requirements of certain composting earthworms using different organic materials. For
instance, the role of certain physic-chemical factors such as moisture on the feeding rate of
E.fetida exposed to sludge (Mitchell et al., 1977), growth of E.fetida exposed to cow manure
(Reinecke and Kriel, 1981), growth and reproduction of E.fetida and P.excavatus, respectively
exposed to cow manure (Reinecke and Venter, 1985; 1987) and cattle manure (Hallatt et al.,
1992), and growth rate, cocoon and hatchling production of P.excavatus exposed to press mud
(Parthasarathi, 2007), temperature on the growth, cocoon production and cocoon viability of
E.fetida, D.veneta, E.eugeniae and P.excavatus exposed to animal and vegetable wastes
(Edwards and Bater, 1992), temperature, moisture and pH on the growth, survival and
development of E.fetida exposed to activated sludge and horse manure (Kaplan et al., 1980),
temperature, pH and C/N ratio on the growth and survival of E.fetida exposed to municipal
solid waste (Hou et al., 2005), annual rhythm on the cocoon production of L.mauritii exposed
to different ratios of cow dung (Bakthavathsalam and Birmanandhi, 2007) and vegetable
market wastes (Bakthavathsalam and Uthayakumar, 2007), and sub lethal effect of
nimbecidine (Ramalingam and Kavitha, 2006) and monocrotophos (Kavitha et al., 2008) on
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the growth and reproduction of L.mauritii exposed to cow dung were carried out to understand
their optimum level for the test organisms to be studied under such conditions. Similarly, the
role of biological factors such as inbreeding and out breeding on the cocoon production of
E.andrei exposed to cow manure (Velando et al., 2006), selection breeding (Meyer and
Bouwman, 1995) and feeding patterns (Reinecke and Viljoen, 1990) on the growth and
reproduction of E.fetida exposed to cattle manure, and population densities on the growth and
reproduction of E.andrei exposed to pig manure (Ulrik Rech, 1992) were also reported. In
addition to these, the role of temperature and moisture on the decomposition process of
sewage sludge by P.excavatus and P.hawayana were also reported by Loehr et al. (1985).
Kale and Krishnamoorthy (1981) have studied the feeding activity of L.mauritii after
exposure to organic materials such as ragi hay, paddy hay and leaves of cashew, mango,
guava and eucalyptus with different C/N ratios. Shipitalo et al. (1988) have also studied the
impact of different feeds such as brome grass and leaves of alfalfa, red clover and corn on the
feeding and casting activity, food uptake and growth of L.terrestris and L.rubellus. Similarly,
Bisht et al. (2006) have found varied feeding and casting activity of Octolasion tyrtaeum
studied under different organic materials such as grass, maize and wheat leaves. Lee (1985) in
his review also reported varied decomposing efficiency and biomass production of E.fetida
and E.eugeniae exposed to agricultural residues, urban wastes and sludge. Similarly, Edwards
(1998b) in his review also reported varied growth, productivity and decomposing efficiency of
E.fetida exposed to animal dung, agricultural residues, urban wastes and sludge. Likewise, the
decomposing efficiency and biomass production of E.eugeniae exposed to maize stover, rice
straw, residues of Acioa, Gliricidia and Leucaena pruning (Tian et al., 1995), dried areca nut
leaves, cocoa leaves and cocoa pod husk (Chowdappa et al., 1999), and coconut leaves (Gopal
et al., 2004) were also studied.
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2.3 Impact of organic materials on adult earthworms
Studies have also been made by various researchers on the effect of different organic
materials on the growth and reproduction of many adult earthworms: Impact of miscellaneous
wastes and activated sewage sludge (Haimi and Huhta, 1986), cow manure (Bouwman and
Reinecke,1991), wheat straw with or without Pleurotus sajor – caju, Trichoderma harzianum,
Aspergillus niger and Azotobactor chroococcum (Singh and Sharma,2002), cattle and goat
manures (Loh et al., 2005), lignite fly ash, cow dung and press mud (Sarojini et al., 2009) and
duck weed from municipal waste water treatment plant and cattle manure (Kostecka and
Kaniuczak, 2008) on the growth and reproduction of E. fetida, press mud on the growth and
vermiprotein of E.eugeniae (Ramalingam,2004), pine saw dust, poultry litter, cotton industry
waste and horse manure (Castillo et al., 2005) and cattle manure, paper – mill sludge and
dairy sludge (Elvira et al., 1998) on the growth and reproduction of E. andrei, neem leaves,
cow dung, bio gas slurry, neem and mustard cake, Putranjiva roxburghii and Pongamia
pinnata on the growth and reproduction of E.fetida and Allolobophora parva (Garg et al.,
2006a), domestic waste (house hold waste) on the growth and reproduction of P.excavatus
and P.sansibaricus (Suthar and Singh, 2008), sago wastes and press mud (Christy and
Ramalingam, 2005a) and horse manure with saw dust and shredded news paper (Latifah et al.,
2009) on the growth and reproduction of P.excavatus, cattle manure on the growth and
reproduction of E.fetida, E.eugeniae and P.excavatus (Meena and Renu, 2007), cellulose and
dry neem leaves on the growth and reproduction of Hyperiodrilus euryaulos (Sogbesan and
Ugwumba, 2006), jowar straw, bajra straw, sheep manure, farm yard manure, kitchen waste
and leaf litter of Magifera indica on the growth and reproduction of E.eugeniae, P.excavatus
and P.sansibaricus (Suthar, 2007a), and cashew leaves, gram waste, urea, cow dung and press
mud with lignolytic fungi and cellulolytic fungi on the growth and reproduction of E.eugeniae
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(Raja and Ramalingam, 2007a and b) were studied in detail and reported their positive and
negative impacts.
In addition to these, Kale et al. (1982) have studied the feeding and casting activity,
growth and reproduction of P.excavatus after exposure to fresh cow dung, sheep droppings,
horse dung and poultry manure. Similarly, Reinecke and Hallatt (1989), and Bouwman and
Reinecke (1991) have also studied the impact of urine free cattle droppings and cow manure
on the growth rate, maturation and cocoon production of P.excavatus and E.fetida,
respectively. Butt (1993) has studied the impact of paper pulp on the growth rate, cocoon and
hatchlings production, incubation time and hatching success of Aporrectodea longa,
L.terrestris and Octolasion cyaneum. Dash and Senapati (1980) have studied the cocoons
morphology, hatching and emerging pattern of L.mauritii, D.willsi and O.surensis cultured in
a medium containing only cow dung. Similarly, Bhattacharjee and Chaudhuri (2002) have
studied the cocoons morphology, cocoon production, fecundity, incubation period and
hatching pattern of P.excavatus, L.mauritii, P.elongata, P.corethrurus, Eutyphoeus gammiei,
Dichogaster modiglianii and D.nepalensis after exposure to cow dung, leaf litter and pasture,
as substrates. Hartenstein (1984) has studied the growth rate in relation to species and size
using 9 earthworm species (E.fetida, E.eugeniae, Amynthas sp., Allolobophora longa,
A.chlorotica, Aporrectodea turgida, Lumbricus rubellus, L.terrestris and Octolasion sp.) after
exposure to horse manure as substrate. Gajalakshmi et al. (2001) have studied the impact of
paper waste with different ratios of cow dung on the vermicast production, survival, growth
and reproduction of adult E.eugeniae. Kaviraj and Sharma (2003) have studied the impact of
municipal solid waste on the growth rate, earthworm number, cocoon number and body
weight of E.fetida and L.mauritii. Martin and Lavelle (1992), and Elvira et al. (1997),
respectively have studied the growth rate of Millsonia anomola and E.andrei after exposure
to savanna soils, leaves and roots of Loudetia simplex, legume leaves and wheat roots, and
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solid paper mill sludge, sewage sludge, pig and poultry slurry. Manna et al. (2003) have also
studied the impact of forest litters of Tectona grandis (teak), Madhuca indica (Mahua) and
Butea monosperma (palas) on the growth rate and population of E.fetida, P.excavatus and
Dichogaster bolaui to assess their food quality.
Cocoon and hatchling production, and hatching success of L.mauritii after exposure to
farm yard manure, neem seed and neem cake (Bakthavathsalam, 2003b), paddy chaff and
weed plants material (Bakthavathsalam and Geetha, 2004a) and cow dung, press mud, paddy
chaff powder and paddy chaff ash (Bakthavathsalam and Ramakrishnan, 2004), growth and
cocoon production of E.fetida after exposure to waste (faeces + urine) of cow, buffalo, horse,
donkey, sheep, goat and camel (Garg et al., 2005a), growth, survival and hatchlings
production of P.excavatus after exposure to sugarcane trash and cow dung (Ramalingam and
Thilagar, 2000), growth, cocoon production and incubation period, and hatching success of
Octodrilus complanatus after exposure to cow manure (Monroy et al., 2007), cocoon and
hatchling production, incubation time, hatching success of E.eugeniae after exposure to green
gram plant waste (Jayaseelan and Bakthavathsalam, 2009a) and paddy straw waste
(Subramaniyan and Bakthavathsalam, 2009), rate of cocoon, hatchling and vermicast
production, incubation time and biomass production of E.eugeniae after exposure to coir
waste, Eichhornia crassipes, cow dung and poultry excreta mixture (Bakthavathsalam et al.,
2010c) and coir waste, water lily, goat droppings and poultry excreta mixture
(Bakthavathsalam et al., 2010d) were studied to understand the reproductive potentials of test
species and the quality of organic materials used.
2.4 Impact of organic materials on F1 earthworms
Researchers have also attempted to study the reproductive potential and growth of F1
P.excavatus using urine free cattle droppings (Reinecke and Hallatt, 1989), F1 L.mauritii using
paddy chaff and weed plants materials (Bakthavathsalam and Geetha, 2004b), cow dung,
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press mud, paddy chaff powder and paddy chaff ash (Bakthavathsalam and Ramakrishnan,
2004) and sheep droppings, press mud and Pongamia leaves (Uthayakumar, 2011), F1
E.eugeniae using cattle solid waste (Dominguez et al., 2001), green gram plant waste
(Jayaseelan and Bakthavathsalam, 2009a), paddy straw waste (Subramaniyan and
Bakthavathsalam, 2009) and black gram plant waste, bagasse and cow dung (Purushothaman,
2011), F1 E.andrei using grasses, garden and municipal prunings and river weeds
(Frederickson et al.,1997), and F1 E.fetida using sheep droppings, press mud and Pongamia
leaves (Uthayakumar, 2011) and black gram plant waste, bagasse and cow dung
(Purushothaman, 2011).
2.5 Nutrients and heavy metal analysis of organic materials
Research works have been made by various researchers on the role of different
earthworms on the decomposition of different organic matters through nutrient and heavy
metal analysis and the measurements of certain physical parameters of earthworm exposed
organic matters: Role of earthworms such as L.rubellus on the levels of N, P and K in onion
sludge waste (Kavian et al., 1997) and TN, TC, C/N ratio, P, K, extractable NH4+ – N and
NO3– – N in cattle manure, leaves and food scraps (Chaoui et al., 2003), E.fetida on the levels
of pH, C, N and C/N ratio in sewage sludge (Benitez et al., 1999), transformation of
phosphorus in kitchen waste, cow dung, poultry droppings, municipal waste and dry leaves
during vermicomposting (Ghosh et al., 1999a), pH, N, P, volatile solids and ash content in bio
solids and paper mulch (Ndegwa et al., 2000), C/N ratio, N, P, K, Cu, and Zn in mustard
residues, sugarcane trash and cattle dung (Bansal and Kapoor, 2000), pH, EC, TN, TC and
inorganic anions in aerobic and anaerobic sludge of municipal sewage plant (Masciandaro
et al., 2000), OC, N, P, K, C/N ratio, cellulose, hemi cellulose and lignin in wheat straw
residue (Singh and Sharma, 2002), OC, TN, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb and Cd in
farm yard manure, tannery sludge, saw dust, card board and wheat straw (Gondek and Filipek
19
– Mazur, 2003), pH, EC, TOC, N ,P, K and C/N ratio in animal wastes of cow, buffalo, horse,
donkey, sheep, goat and camel (Garg et al., 2005a), pH, TOC, TN, TP, TK and C/N ratio in
cow dung, biogas plant slurry and solid textile mill sludge (Garg et al., 2005b), Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd
and Pb in sewage sludge added with heavy metals (Shahmansouri et al., 2005), pH, ash, OC,
N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Cd and Pb in duck weed and cattle manure
(Kostecka and Kaniuczak, 2008), pH, EC, OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in cattle
manure vermicompost (Peyvast et al., 2008), Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr and Mo in cow manure added
with heavy metals (Macki Aleagha et al., 2009) and pH, OC, N, P, K, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pd and
Zn in kitchen waste, grass clippings and goat manure (Fauziah and Agamuthu, 2009),
E.eugeniae on the levels of pH, OC, N, P, K, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and C/N ratio in areca nut leaves
and cocoa leaves (Chowdappa et al., 1999), pH, EC, OM ,OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Zn, Fe,
Mn, Cu, C/N ratio, C/P ratio and crude protein in press mud (Ramalingam and Ranganathan,
2001), N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Zn and humic acid in press mud vermicasts (Parthasarathi and
Ranganathan, 2002), pH, OM, OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, C/N ratio and C/P ratio in sago
solid waste and press mud (Christy and Ramalingam, 2005b), pH, EC, total solids, volatile
solids, C, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Cd in fruit waste, yard waste, municipal solid waste
and paper mill sludge (Hemalatha and Meenambal, 2006), pH, EC, N, P, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn in
press mud, bagasse, coir waste, rice husk and ground nut shell (Kitturmath et al., 2007), pH,
EC, OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, B and Mo in fly ash and cow dung (Venkatesh
and Eevera, 2008), pH, EC, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in green gram plant waste (Jayaseelan
and Bakthavathsalam, 2009b), pH, EC, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in paddy straw waste
(Subramaniyan and Bakthavathsalam, 2009), pH, EC, OC, N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe
and Mn in coir waste, E.crassipes, cow dung and poultry excreta mixture (Bakthavathsalam
et al., 2010c), pH, EC, OC, N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in coir waste, water
lily, goat droppings and poultry excreta mixture (Bakthavathsalam et al., 2010d) and pH, EC,
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OC, N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in elephant dung (Sudha and
Bakthavathsalam, 2010), L. mauritii on the levels of EC, N, P, K, C, Ca, S, total solids,
volatile solids and ash in vegetable market wastes (Logakanthi et al., 2000), pH, N, P and K in
paddy chaff and weed plants materials (Bakthavathsalam and Geetha, 2004c), TN and TOC in
sewage sludge, rice straw and cow dung (Arumugam et al., 2004), pH, EC, N, P, K, Fe, Zn,
Mn and Cu in organic kitchen waste (Indirabai et al., 2006), pH, N, P, and K in cow dung and
press mud (Bakthavathsalam, 2007b), pH, N, P and K in cow dung and vegetable market
waste (Muthukumaravel et al., 2008), pH, EC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, OC, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in
vegetable market wastes (Uthayakumar and Bakthavathsalam, 2009) and OC, N, P and K in
fly ash and cow dung (Ananthakrishnasamy et al., 2009), P. excavatus on the levels of pH,
EC, OM, OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, C/N ratio and C/P ratio in sugarcane
trash and cow dung (Ramalingam and Thilagar, 2000) and sugarcane trash and press mud
(Ramalingam, 2001), pH, EC, OM, OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, C/N ratio and C/P ratio in
sago solid waste and press mud (Ramalingam and Christy, 2006) and N, P and K in press mud
(Parthasarathi, 2007), E. andrei on the levels of pH, TOC, N, C/N ratio, total solid, ash and
crude fiber in solid paper-pulp mill sludge, sewage sludge, pig slurry and poultry slurry
(Elvira et al., 1997), pH, C, N, C/N ratio, cellulose, lignin and ash in grasses, garden and
municipal prunings and river weeds (Frederickson et al., 1997), pH, EC, TEC, non-humified
fraction, humic acids, fulvic acids, total soluble carbon, humification index, degree of
humification, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni in cattle manure, paper mill sludge and
dairy sludge (Elvira et al.,1998), pH, OC, N, P, K, Mn, Cu, Fe, and C/N ratio in pine saw dust,
poultry litter, cotton industry waste, horse manure and shredded paper (Castillo et al., 2005),
O. tyrtaeum on the levels of pH, OC, N, P, K and C/N ratio in litters of grass, maize and wheat
(Bisht et al., 2006), E.fetida and E.eugeniae on the levels of N, P, K, C, ash and C/N ratio in
weed materials such as Achyranthes asperal, Cassia tora L. and Parthenium hysterophoruse
21
(Umesh Mogle and Bharati Jadha, 2007), L.terrestris and L.rubellus on the levels of N, P, K,
Ca, Mg, OC, C/N ratio and ratio of aliphatic, carbohydrate, aromatic and carboxylic acid C in
alfalfa leaves, red clover leaves, corn leaves and brome grass (Shipitalo et al., 1988),
L.mauritii and E.eugeniae on the levels of pH, EC,OM, OC, TN, TP, TK, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe,
Mn, Zn, Cu, C/N ratio and C/P ratio in coir waste, press mud, water hyacinth, farm wastes,
farm yard manure, biogas slurry of press mud and cattle dung (Ramalingam, 1997), E.fetida,
P.excavatus and D.bolaui on the levels of TOC, TN, C/N ratio, TP, TK, TCa, TMg, lignin,
cellulose and lignin/ cellulose ratio in forest litters such as T.grandis (teak), M.indica (mahua)
and B.monosperma (palas) (Manna et al., 2003), P.excavatus, Octonochaeta rosea and
Octochaetona phillotti on the levels of OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na in rice straw (Vikram
Reddy and Ohkura, 2004), E.fetida, E.eugeniae and P.excavatus on the levels of pH, EC, ash,
OC, N, P, K, Ca and Na in cattle manure with saw dust (Meena and Renu, 2007), P.excavatus
and L.mauritii on the levels of pH, EC, OC, N, K, Na and Ca in paddy straw and cattle dung
(Ansari, 2008), and P.excavatus and P.sansibaricus on the levels of pH, OC, TN, P, K, C/N
ratio and C/P ratio in domestic waste (house hold waste) (Suthar and Singh, 2008) have been
studied to know their decomposing efficiency under different organic matters.
2.6 Effect of vermicomposts on plant growth and yield
The plant cultivation studies made by different workers using composts and
vermicomposts of different organic materials under laboratory and field conditions are
reviewed below: Hampton et al. (1999) have studied the impact of compost derived from
municipal solid waste and bio solids on the germination time, root growth and germination
index of ivy leaf morning glory, barnyard grass, common purslane and corn seeds under
laboratory condition. Jeyabal and Kuppuswamy (2001) have reported an improved growth and
yield of rice and black gram administered with vermicompost derived from sugar cane press
mud, bio digested slurry, coir pith, cow dung and a mixture of weeds after using them by
22
E.eugeniae through pot and field cultivations. Parthasarathi and Ranganathan (2002) have
compared the impact of press mud vermicompost (after E.eugeniae exposure) and chemical
NPK on the germination, leaf area, shoot and root length, shoot and root weight, root nodules,
chlorophyll, sugar and protein content of leaf, shoot and root, and yield of black gram and
ground nut through field cultivation. Gondek and Filipek – Mazur (2003) have studied various
plant parameters and reported an increase in the weights of stem, leaves, roots, shoots, grain
and straw of maize, rape, sunflower and oat after administered with vermicompost of tannery
sludge mixed with saw dust, card board and wheat straw (after exposure to E.fetida).Manna
et al. (2003) have found a significant increase in the growth, height and diameter of forest
trees such as Tectona grandis (teak), Madhuca indica (mahua) and Butea monosperma (palas)
after the application of vermicomposts derived from the forest litters (T.grandis, M.indica and
B.monosperma) after using them by E.fetida, P.excavatus and D.bolaui.
Ananda et al. (2004a and b) have reported an improved value in the growth
parameters (height, number of nodules, pegs, pods and mature pods, pod yield, kernel weight,
haulm and kernel yield, and harvest index) of ground nut cultivated in sandy clay loam soil
(field study) administered with poultry manure, sewage sludge, urban compost, farm yard
manure and recommended NPK. Mohanty et al. (2007) have studied the impact of poultry
manure, farm yard manure, vermicompost and sewage sludge through pot cultivation on the
stem and leaf biomass, kernel yield and micronutrient uptake of ground nut, and biomass yield
and micronutrient uptake of corn in red soil. Chettri and Thapa (2004) have found increased
tuber bulking rate and tuber yield of potato raised in sandy clay loam soil (field study) after
administered with farm yard manure and NPK. Vikram Reddy and Ohkura (2004) have
studied the impact of rice straw vermicompost obtained from P.excavatus, O.phillotti and
O.rosea on the height, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot and root biomass of
sorghum through pot cultivation. Rangaraj et al. (2007) have studied the grain yield of finger
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millet through field trial using compost of coir pith, farm yard manure, press mud and gypsum
mixed with Pleurotus sajor caju.
Kannan et al. (2005) have noted an improvement in the biological properties of soil
after the introduction of farm yard manure, coir pith compost, vermicompost and Azospirillum
through tomato cultivation (field study). Sinha et al. (2005) have found an improvement in the
leaf production, plant height, number of effective branches and average leaf area of mulberry
plant raised in field after administered with vermicompost derived from cow dung, silk worm
rearing wastes, farm refuse, weeds, mulberry leaves after using them by E.fetida. Bisht et al.
(2006) have studied the impact of vermicompost derived from litters of grass, maize and
wheat after using them by O.tyrtaeum through pot cultivation on the shoot and root weight of
maize, barley and wheat.
Through pot cultivation study, Gondek (2008) had determined the tolerance indices and
contamination indices of maize, rape, sunflower and oat by using vermicompost of tannery
sludge mixed with saw dust, card board and wheat straw after using them by E.fetida.
Parthasarathi et al. (2008) have produced more grains and elevated levels of protein and sugar
in the seeds of black gram plant raised in clay loam soil, red soil, sandy loam soil after the
application of vermicompost derived from press mud, sugar cane trash and bagasse mixture
after using them by E.eugeniae. Muruganantham and Bakthavathsalam (2009) have studied
the effect of cabbage waste and cow dung composts on the total leaves, stem length and total
fruits of chilly plant raised in pots using alluvium soil as substrate. Peyvast et al. (2008) have
studied the impact of E.fetida exposed cattle manure on the plant height, leaf and root weight,
total leaves and leaf area of spinach raised in sandy loam soil through bag cultivation.
Bakthavathsalam et al. (2009) have studied the beneficial effect of vermicasts obtained
from sheep droppings and paddy straw waste after vermicomposting by E.eugeniae on the
production of total nods, leaves and flowers of red rose raised in pots using alluvium and red
24
soil. Kamaladevi and Bakthavathsalam (2010) have also reported the beneficial impact of
partly decomposed sheep droppings, E.crassipes and I.carnea on the total nods, leaves and
flowers of Ooty rose raised in alluvium and red soil through pot cultivation.
Bakthavathsalam and Deivanayaki (2007) have studied the comparative effect of NPK,
cow dung, vermicompost and Rhizobium on the shoot and root length, fresh weight, water
content of roots, shoot and leaves, number of leaves, lateral roots and root nodules, total
flowers, pods and seeds, seed protein, chlorophyll and carotenoid content of black gram plant
raised in alluvium soil through pot cultivation. Uthayakumar and Bakthavathsalam (2009)
have studied the beneficial impact of vermicompost derived from vegetable market wastes
after using them by L.mauritii on the total leaves, flowers, pods and seeds, stem height and
petiole length of black gram plant raised in alluvium soil through pot cultivation.
Bakthavathsalam et al. (2010e) have also noted a beneficial impact on the total leaves, total
pods and total seeds of green gram plant raised in pots under alluvium soil administered with
partly decomposed I.carnea and cow dung.
Bakthavathsalam and Geetha (2004c) have studied the beneficial impact of L.mauritii
vermicompost derived from paddy chaff and weed plants materials on the length of shoot and
root, total height, shoot weight, root weight and total weight of radish plant raised through pot
cultivation. Jayaseelan and Bakthavathsalam (2009b) have also reported the beneficial effect
of vermicompost derived from green gram plant waste after using by E.eugeniae on the total
leaves, leaves weight, tap root weight, total weight, tap root length and perimeter of radish
plant raised in alluvium soil under laboratory condition. Similarly, through pot cultivation
study, Subramaniyan and Bakthavathsalam (2009) have also found improved growth and yield
of radish plant raised in alluvium soil administered with vermicompost derived from paddy
straw waste after using by E.eugeniae. Bakthavathsalam et al. (2010d) have also studied the
impact of vermicompost derived from coir waste, water lily, goat droppings and poultry
25
excreta mixture after using them by E.eugeniae and T.viride on the total leaves, total weights
of leaves and tap root, and tap root length of same radish plant raised in pots under alluvium
soil.
Ansari (2008) had reclaimed the sodic soil through application of vermicompost and
vermiwash obtained from paddy straw and cattle dung after using them by P.excavatus and
L.mauritii and got good yield while cultivating spinach, onion and potato. Mathialagan and
Bakthavathsalam (2010) have also studied the impact of partly decomposed E.crassipes after
T.viride treatment on the total leaves, total weights of leaves and tap root, and tap root length
of same radish plant raised in pots with acidic soil as substrate. Umamaheswari and
Bakthavathsalam (2010), on the other hand, have studied the impact of cow dung compost
and P.longifolia vermicompost (after exposure to E.eugeniae) on the total leaves, total
weights of leaves and tap root, and tap root length and perimeter of same radish plant raised
in pots but with alkaline soil.