Article history :Received : 18.07.2014Revised : 09.11.2014Accepted : 23.11.2014

Effect of different levels of vermiwash spray ongrowth and yield of radish cv. LOCAL VARIETY

P.B. JADHAV, A. KIREETI1, N.B. PATIL1, S.S. DEKHANE1 AND D.J. PATEL2

ABSTRACT : The present investigation was undertaken with the main objective of effect of differentlevels of vermiwash spray on growth and yield of radish cv. LOCAL VARIETY. The experiment was laidout in Randomized Completely Block Design with five treatments and four replications. The experimentconsists of five treatments involving application of water and vermiwash in the proportion of 1:1, 1:2,1:3 and 1:4 and control were imposed and the foliar application was made by using knapsack sprayerin the evening hours twice at 15 and 30 days after sowing seeds. The data clearly revealed that theyield obtained with treatment T4 (100 % RDF as fertigation and vermiwash foliar twice times spray1:4 at 15 and 30 days after sowing seeds) was significantly higher than all other treatments in growthand yield attributes such as root diameter (10.41 cm), length (23.79 cm), weight (85.21 g), yield/plot(17.04 kg), yield/ha (56.80 t/ha) and marketable yield (49.25 t/ha) of radish cv. LOCAL VARIETY. Thus,it can be concluded that foliar spray of vermiwash (1:4) effective than control.

KEY WORDS : Radish, Local, Vermiwash, Water, Organic

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE : Jadhav, P.B., Kireeti, A., Patil, N.B., Dekhane, S.S. and Patel, D.J. (2014). Effect ofdifferent levels of vermiwash spray on growth and yield of Radish cv. local variety. Asian J. Hort., 9(2) : 449-452.

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

Members of the Research Forum

Associated Authors:1ASPEE Agricultural Research andDevelopment Foundation, MUMBAI(M.S.) INDIA

2College of Agriculture, AnandAgriculture University, ANAND(GUJARAT) INDIA

Author for correspondence :P.B. JADHAVASPEE Agricultural Research andDevelopment Foundation, MUMBAI(M.S.) INDIAEmail : tropicalsubtropical@gmail.com

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) a member of the familyCruciferae is a popular vegetable in both tropical andtemperate regions of the world. It is one of the most

ancient vegetables. Certain remarks of Herodotus reveal thatit was cultivated about 2700 B.C. (Becker, 1962). It wasspread to China about 500 BC and to Japan 700 AD. Radishis a widely used root vegetable, tender leaves and shoots arealso used as greens. Generally commercial radishes areapproximately 2 cm in diameter and are either red or white.It is cool season vegetable and monthly mean temperature of10-15°C favours its growth and development. For an earlyand good crop stand, sandy to sandy loam soils are consideredsuitable for it. Its roots can be eaten raw as salad or cookedas a vegetable. It has cooling effect, prevents constipation,increases appetite and its roots and leaves are very tasty, whencooked together. It is recommended to the patients sufferingfrom piles, liver trouble, enlarged spleen and jaundice. Inthe year 2013, area and production of radish in India was170.30 Thousand hectare and 2410.78 Thousand metricTonnes, respectively (Anonymous, 2013). It has been widelyaccepted that organic farming alone could serve as a holistic

approach towards achieving sustainable agriculture as it isnature based, environment friendly and ensures theconservation of resources for the future (Sangeetha andThevanathan, 2010). Similarly, Shivasubramanaian andGaneshkumar (2004), vermiwash would have enzymes,secretions of earthworms which would stimulate the growthand yield of crops and even develop resistance in cropsthrough foliar spray. Zambare et al. (2008) reported thatvermiwash contains enzyme of proteases, amylases, ureasesand phosphatase besides nitrogen fixing bacteria likeAzotobacter sp. Agrobacterium sp. and Rhizobium sp. andsome phosphate solubilizing bacteria which influencessignificantly the growth of plant.

RESEARCH METHODSThe field experiment was conducted at Nare village,

Thane district in Maharashtra during December, 2013-14 ina front side of ASPEE, ARDF, experimental plot by Localvariety of radish with the spacing of 15 x 10 cm. Theexperiment was laid out in Randomized Completely BlockDesign with five treatments and four replications. The

RESEARCH PAPER

THE ASIAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE

Visit us -www.researchjournal.co.inVolume 9 | Issue 2 | Dec., 2014 | 449-452AJH

DOI : 10.15740/HAS/TAJH/9.2/449-452

eISSN- 0976-724X

Hind Agricultural Research and Training InstituteAsian J. Hort., 9(2) Dec., 2014 : 450

experiment consists of five treatments involving applicationof water and vermiwash in the proportion of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3and 1:4 and control were imposed. The foliar applicationwas made with knapsack sprayer in the evening hours twiceat 15 and 30 days after sowing seeds.

An untreated check was also maintained, plot size was3 x 1 m and each treatment as replicated four times. Therecommended doses of 25 tones FYM, half dose 25 kg N,50 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O per hectare at the time of soilpreparation and half 25 kg N top dressed in two equal splitsat 12 and 23 days after sowing were imposed. Vermiwashwas applied as per treatment at 15 and 30 days after seedsowing and thinning operation were carried out at 15 and25 days after seed sowing and maintained proper plantpopulation.

Vermiwash was used in four different dilutions viz., 1:1,1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 by mixing with water, as foliar spray to evaluateits effect on growth and yield of radish cv. LOCAL.Recommended dose of fertilizer along with water sprays wasmaintained as standard check. Two rounds of vermiwash sprayswere taken up at 15 days interval commencing after sowing.Vermiwash was obtained by culturing earthworms on organicsubstrates (65 % pre-composted crop wastes and 35 % animalmanure) in equipment specially fabricated as described byASPEE, ARDF, Tansa Farm. Composting material such as,cow dung, waste leaf material were collected from their bybuffalos shed was exposed to sun light for 5 to 10 day to removethe various harmful organism and noxious gases. The moisture

level was maintained by sprinkling water and the earthwormsto get acclimatized to the vermiwash unit conditions.Vermiwash extracted from vermiwash collecting device. Theapparatus made by effective cementing tank method in whichworm bed is prepared. Concentrated sample of vermiwashcollected after a period of 30 days. Vermiwash is a liquid thatis collected after the passage of water thought a column ofworm and is very useful as a foliar spray. If us a collection ofexcretory products and mucus secretion of earthworm alongwith micronutrient from the soil organic molecular. These aretransported to the leaf, shoot and other parts of the plants inthe natural ecosystem vermiwash.

Statistical analysis :The recorded data were statistically analyzed (ANOVA

analysis) using the software WASP, (developed at ICARResearch Complex for Goa, India). Sources of variation werefertilizer treatments. Mean comparisons were performedusing LSD test to determine whether the difference betweenthe variables were significant at P < 0.05.

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONThe present study was undertaken to study the impact

of vermiwash spray on growth and yield of radish cv. LOCAL.Leaf length of radish was significantly recorded by

different levels of vermiwash (Table 1 and Plate 1). Thehighest leaf length (41.62 cm) was found with T4 (1:4

Table 1: Effect of vermiwash spray on radish cv. LOCAL VARIETY growth parameters

Treatments Leaf length (cm)

Single radish leaf weight (g)

Total no. leaves per plant

Root diameter (mm)

Single root length (cm)

Single radish weight (g)

Yield/ plot (kg)

T1 35.96 9.75 9.00 8.10 20.93 81.22 16.24 T2 37.80 12.33 9.40 8.88 21.96 82.37 16.47

T3 40.68 13.90 10.30 9.90 22.94 84.00 16.80 T4 41.62 14.48 11.57 10.41 23.79 85.21 17.04 T5 31.72 8.97 8.24 7.94 19.90 79.59 15.92

S.E. ± 0.75 0.92 0.79 0.42 0.65 0.31 0.06 C.D. (P=0.05) 2.24 2.75 2.37 1.26 1.95 1.01 0.20 C.V. (%) 4.44 17.27 18.19 10.39 6.65 0.65 0.65

P.B. JADHAV, A. KIREETI, N.B. PATIL, S.S. DEKHANE AND D.J. PATEL

Table 2 : Effect of vermiwash spray on radish cv. LOCAL VARIETY yield parameters

Treatments Yield per ha (t/ha)

Marketable yield (t/ha)

Cost of production (`/ha)

Total gross realization (`/ha) Net realization (`/ha) B:C:R

T1 54.14 42.58 31783.48 127740 95956.52 3.02:1 T2 54.91 45.12 32883.48 135360 102476.5 3.12:1

T3 56.00 47.31 34383.48 141930 107546.5 3.13:1 T4 56.80 49.25 35783.48 147750 111966.5 3.13:1 T5 53.06 38.84 29483.48 116520 87036.52 2.95:1

S.E. + 0.21 0.15 C.D. (P=0.05) 0.67 0.51 C.V. (%) 0.65 0.65

449-452

Hind Agricultural Research and Training InstituteAsian J. Hort., 9(2) Dec., 2014 : 451

vermiwash) and the lowest leaf length (31.72 cm) wasobserved in control treatment.

application of vermiwash increased radish yield of 7.30 percent by Buckerfield et al. (1999), dry chilly yield by Georgeet al. (2007).

Venkataramana et al. (2009) studied the influence offoliar sprays of vermiwash yield increased due to might bethe reason for increasing chlorophyll and nitrogen contentsin the leaf.

Economics :Result regarding in economics i.e. total expenditure,

total gross income, net return and benefit: cost ratio arepresented in Table 2. Result indicated that, among varioustreatments, T4 registered maximum gross return (1,47,750 ‘per hectare), net return (1,11,996 ‘ per hectare) and benefit:cost ratio (3.13:1). Minimum gross return (1,16,250 ‘ perhectare), net return (87,036 ‘ per hectare) and B:C ratio(2.95:1) was registered in treatment T5. Variation in theseprofit values was due to yield obtained from various levels ofvermiwash spray which was accountable for maximum returnand benefit from different varieties.

Conclusion :From the forgoing discussion, it can be concluded that

foliar spray of vermiwash (1:4) i.e., water: vermiwasheffective than control one (without water) were found bestfor enhancing growth and yield attributes of radish cv. LOCALVARIETY.

Acknowledgement :The authors are grateful to Directors of ASPEE,

Agricultural Research and Development Foundation,Mumbai for providing facilities for conducting the researchwork.

REFERENCESAnonymous (2013). Area and production of fruits and vegetables -all India (2012-13). Indian Horticulture Data base, pp. 282.

Becker, G. (1962). Handbush der pflanzenzuchtung. 6: 23-78.

Buckerfield, J.C., Flavel, T.C., Lee, K.E., Webster, K.A.,Diazcozin, D.J., Jesus J.B., Trigo, D. and Garvin, M.H. (1999).Vermicompost in solid and liquid forms as a plant growth promoter.Sixth International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology. Vigo, Sain.Pedobiologia, 43: 753-759.

George, S., Giraddi, R.S. and Patil, R.H. (2007). Utility ofvermiwash for the management of thrips and mites on chilli(Capsicum annuum L.), Amended with soil organics. Karnataka J.Agric. Sci., 20(3): 657-659.

Samuthiravelu, P., Sangeetha, B., Sakthivel, N., Ravikumar, J.,Isaiarasu, L., Balakrishna, R. and Qadri, S.M.H. (2012). Impactof organic nutrients on the incidence of major pests, leaf productivityin mulberry and food consumption and utilization of Bombyx moriL. management of pests using organic nutrients. J. Biopest.(Supplementary) 5: 228-232.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF VERMIWASH SPRAY ON GROWTH & YIELD OF RADISH

Fig. 1 : Plate 1: Effect of vermiwash spray on radish cv. Local variety

T1 T3

T2

T5 T4

Single radish leaf weight and total no of leaves per plantwas observed maximum in treatment T4 i.e., 14.48, 11.57and was lowest in treatment T5 i.e., 8.97, 8.24, respectively.The positive effect of vermiwash spray on crop growth wasobserved by Buckerfield et al. (1999), Thangavel et al. (2003)and Samuthiravelu et al. (2012).

Different levels of vermiwash showed significantvariation in root diameter, length and weight (Table 1).Maximum root diameter (10.41 cm), length (23.79 cm) andweight (85.21 g) was recorded from treatment T4 (1:4vermiwash) whereas, minimum root diameter (7.94 cm),length (19.90 cm) and weight (79.59 g) was recorded in T5control. Root length was maximum in plants involvingvermiwash treatments. Root length increase indicatesefficient absorption of water followed by transport andconduction.

The positive effect of vermiwash spray on root growthis in confirmation with Bucker field et al. (1999), Thangavelet al. (2003) and Samuthiravelu et al. (2012).

Effect of vermiwash spray on radish cv. Local variety yieldparameters :

The results of the experiment revealed that the radishcv. LOCAL VARIETY yield characters such as yield/plot, yield/ha and marketable yield were significantly influenced byfoliar spray of vermiwash compared to control with no sprayor water spray. Among the vermiwash sprays, (1:4 i.e. dilutionof water: vermiwash) recorded significantly higher valuesfor yield (17.04 kg/plot), yield/ha (56.80 t/ha) and marketableyield (49.25 t/ha) of radish cv. LOCAL VARIETY. Whereas,lower values yield /plot (15.92 kg), yield/ha (53.06 t/ha) andmarketable yield (38.84 t/ha) of radish cv. LOCAL VARIETYwas recorded in control (T5) Several reports revealed that

449-452

Hind Agricultural Research and Training InstituteAsian J. Hort., 9(2) Dec., 2014 : 452

Sangeetha, V. and Thevanathan, R. (2010). Effect of Panchakavyaon nitrate assimilation by Experimental plants. J. American Sci.,6(2): 76-82.

Shivasubramanaian, K. and Ganeshkumar, M. (2004). Influenceof vermiwash on biological productivity of marigold. Madras Agric.J., 91 (4-6) : 221-225.

Thangavel, P., Balagurunathan, R., Divakaran, J. andPrabhakaran, J. (2003). Effect of vermiwash and vermicastextraction soil nutrient status, growth and yield of paddy. Adv. Pl.

Sci., 16: 187-190.

Venkataramana, P., Narasimhamurthy, B., Krishnarao, J.V. andKamble, C.K. (2009). Efficacy of foliar spray of vermin wash andcow dung wash on biochemical and yield attributes and yield ofmulberry (Morus alba L.). Karnataka J. Agric. Sci., 22(4): 921-923.

Zambare, V.P., Padul, M.V., Yadav, A.A. and Shete, T.H. (2008).Vermiwash: Biochemical and microbiological approach asecofriendly soil conditioner. ARPN J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 3(4): 1-5.

P.B. JADHAV, A. KIREETI, N.B. PATIL, S.S. DEKHANE AND D.J. PATEL

9th

of ExcellenceYear

449-452