Short title: Vermicompost, FYM and PSB in organic rice

Split application of vermicompost, with and without FYM and PSB, and its
effect on growth and yield of organic rice (Oryza sativa L.)
T. BARIK*, S. SAHU
Department of Agronomy, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology,
Bhubaneswar, 751003
ABSTRACT
A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm of Orissa University of

Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi)

seasons of 2007. The treatments consisted of different combinations of PSB (2 kg/ha),

FYM (15 t/ha) and vermicompost (VC) @ 5t/ha in organic rice (Oryza sativa L.). The

experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. Application of PSB recorded

significantly higher yield of 3.82 and 4.20 t/ha when pooled over rainy and winter

seasons. Various growth characters and yield attributes also followed a similar trend. PSB

recorded significantly higher net return (Rs 14036 /ha) and benefit – cost ratio (1.68).

Application of 50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal) + 25% VC as topdressing at 10 days

after transplanting produced the highest grain yield of 4.11 and 4.48 t/ha, when averaged

over the kharif and rabi seasons, respectively. The net return and benefit- cost ratio of the

above treatment over the two years were Rs 15657/ha and 1.73, respectively. Available

N, P and K contents of the soil after harvest of the two crops were higher when PSB and

organics were applied. VC @ 5 t/ha was at par with 15 t/ha of FYM almost in all the

growth characters, yield attributes and yield.

Key words: FYM, Organic rice, PSB, Vermicompost

The modern intensive agriculture which brought about “Green Revolution” during

early seventies resulted in degradation of the environment which has led to

*Corresponding author: Email- [email protected]

(Kler and Walia, 2006). Organic farming which largely excludes the use of chemicals in

agriculture relies on holistic production and management system for enhancing health of

agricultural ecosystem (Otto, 2003). In this system of holistic management as the soil is

kept biologically active the plethora of micro-organisms present in soil takes care of

making the soil productive, living and vibrant. Again contrary to the argument that plants

always take up nutrients in inorganic form, it is a fact that plants can and do absorb

significant amounts of large organic molecules including vitamins, chelated minerals,

hormones and other compounds beneficial to it (Singh and Singh, 2007). It is expected

that with green manuring of Sesbania; use of FYM, vermicompost, PSB and neem

(Azadirachta indica) cake, rice can be grown successfully and profitably in an organic

farm. Many researchers have found that vermicompost stimulates further plant growth

even when the plants are already receiving optimal nutrition (Atiyeh et al. 2000). Again

one or two application of pitcher khad (pot manure) reduces the cost of plant protection

to a negligible level. Keeping all these in view an experiment was taken up to study if the

above claims also hold good for medium land rice under Orissa condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The field study was conducted at Agronomy Farm of the Orissa University of

Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi)

seasons of 2007. The latitude and the longitude of the research station are 20 015’ N and

85052’ E, respectively, with an altitude of 25.9 m above the mean sea level. The soil was

loamy sand in texture, slightly acidic with pH (6.1), low in organic carbon (0.46%) and

available N (162.2 kg/ ha), medium in available P (9.9kg /ha) and K (153.3 kg/ ha) content.

Bulk density was 1.65 (g /cm3) and EC was 0.259 dS/m. Rice variety ‘Lalat’ was used

during both the seasons. This variety is resistant to blast and leaf spot and moderately

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resistant to bacterial leaf blight (BLB), sheath blight, brown plant hopper (BPH) and leaf

folder. The treatments were: FYM 15 t/ha (basal); Vermicompost (VC) 5 t/ha (basal);

75% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal); 75% FYM (basal) + 12.5% VC (basal) + 12.5%

VC as topdressing at 10 days after transplanting (DAT); 50% FYM (basal) + 50% VC

(basal); and 50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal) + 25% VC as topdressing at 10 DAT;

all of which were also taken up with PSB @ 2 kg/ha as another six treatments. Thus the

RBD design had 12 treatments and 3 replications.

Green manuring was done during kharif with sesbania which were

incorporated at 40 days after sowing. Farm yard manure and vermicompost were

applied as per the treatments. No chemical fertilizer was applied. Neem cake was

applied uniformly @ 250kg/ha. The N, P and K contents of various organics are given

in Table 1.

No major incidence of pests and diseases was observed. However, from

precautionary point of view pot manure was applied at 20 and 40 days after sowing. The

pot manure was prepared as follows. Fresh cow-dung, cow urine, mixture of three

different kinds of leaves and water at the rate of 1kg each, were kept in a cement tank

along with 50g of molasses. Leaves of neem, Callotropis gigantia and Pongamia pinnata

were taken in equal proportions to make total of 1 kg. The leaves were cut into small

pieces before use. The mixture was fermented for 7 days after which the liquid was

collected, diluted 20 times with water (by volume) and sprayed on the crop.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

It is to be noted that growth characters, yield attributes and yield of rice during

both the years followed almost similar trend.

Effect of phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB)

It was found that application of PSB recorded significantly higher growth

characters (Table 2) like plant height, total and effective tillers/clump (27.3%and
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34.6%),number of leaves per clump at 45 DAT and at harvest, leaf area index, dry matter

accumulation (50.0%), CGR, NAR, and root dry weight (44.4%) than the crop which was

grown without PSB. The increase in various yield attributing characters (Table 3) and yield

(Table 4) were quite marked in PSB. The values were 7.1% in case of length of panicle,

10.3% in fertile grains/ panicle, 1.6% in 1000-grain weight and 25.0% in weight of

panicle when pooled across the years. Like wise it was 16.3 and 8.2% during wet season,

and 19.7 and 12.8% during dry season in grain and straw yield, respectively, when pooled

over the two years. PSB would have helped in higher availability of phosphorus and better

root growth. Beneficial effect of PSB on release of greater amount of phosphorus has been

reported by Gaur (1990).

Available N and K content of the soil after harvest of the crop was lower

when PSB was applied (Table 5) while it was reverse in case of P. The post harvest

variation in nutrient content of soil due to PSB application in rice may be attributed to the

differential uptake of nutrients. Increased availability of nutrients would have enhanced

root proliferation which helped in more uptake of nutrients. It was found that various

physical and chemical characteristics of the soil changed due to the effect of PSB.

Electrical conductivity and organic carbon content increased while with respect to bulk

density and pH it reduced. Total uptake of N, P and K were higher in case of PSB over no

application.

The maximum net monetary (Rs 10656) return (Figure 1) and benefit- cost

ratio of 1.56 were obtained due to PSB application because of higher grain and straw

yields as compared with the crop planted without PSB.

Effect of manurial scheduling

From the study it was found that the yield obtained from sole application

of vermicompost @ 5 tons/ha was lowest (Table 3) but was on a par with application of

FYM @ 15 tons/ha in all the years and seasons. Statistically equal yield, growth

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parameters and yield attributes in VC treated plots may be attributed not only to the

presence of higher amount of nutrients or hormones in vermicompost (Canellas et al.,

2002) but also the presence of higher number of microorganisms which would have

helped in better decomposition of added organic matters like sesbania, and neem cake

and ultimately resulted in better availability of nutrients from them. Among rest of the

treatments the growth characters (Table 2), root weight, yield attributes and yield of grain

and straw gradually increased in the order of combinations consisting of 75% FYM to

50% FYM and from basal application of VC to its split application with varying levels of

significancy. With respect to percent increase in length of panicle of “50% FYM (basal)

+ 25% VC (basal) + 25% VC as topdressing at 10 DAT” over VC was 23.4. Similar

values for fertile grains/ panicle was 31.9; 1000-grain weight was 8.6 and weight of

panicle was 44.9. Pooled grain and straw yield during kharif and rabi seasons were 40.2,

15.3; and 44.1, 18.4%, respectively. The basal application of FYM and split application

of VC is expected to supply nutrients and growth hormones (from VC) in a more

continuous manner which increased the growth attributes leading to higher

photosynthesis and translocation of photosynthates towards sink as indicated from the

yield attributing characters and grain yield. It is also a fact that nutrients in organic

matters/manures are released to the plant via the activities of soil microbes. This must

have occurred in a more efficient and continuous manner when a combination of FYM

and split application of VC was used.

The total uptake of nitrogen in FYM treated plot was only 6.1% higher over VC;

while that of others ranged from 24.3 (75% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal)) to 37.40%

(50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal) + 25% VC as topdressing at 10 DAT) over sole

VC. Similar values for total uptake of phosphorus were 6.8 and 27.2 to 39.4% and for

potash were 5.2, and 13.5 to 23.6%, respectively. Higher uptake is found to be related to

high biomass production.

Available N and P content of the soil after harvest of the crop was higher than the

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initial value in case of all the treatments. This might have happened due to the fact that

the release of nitrogen is slow from the organics. With respect to phosphorus there was

slight loss from the initial value in all the treatments except 100% FYM.

With respect to the physico-chemical properties, reduction in bulk density was

highest in case of FYM and lowest in 50% FYM combinations. This might have

happened due to bulkiness of FYM in the former. The pH in case of FYM treatment

reduced from initial value of 6.4 to 5.33 while in case of VC it increased to 6.43. As the

pH of vermicompost remains close to neutrality it might have helped in increasing the pH

when VC was applied @ 5 t/ha. Topdressing or basal application of VC did not have any

conspicuous effect on pH. The organic carbon of sole VC increased by 20.6% over sole

application of FYM.

Economics of production

Application of PSB recorded significantly higher values over no application of

PSB with respect to net return and benefit – cost ratio, the respective values being Rs

14036 and Rs 9137/ha, and 1.68 and 1.45. This happened due to higher yield in case of

application of PSB. This indicates that with very little investment in PSB (Rs 60/ha for

2 kg of PSB) the advantage is much higher. With respect to manurial schedules net return

was significantly lowest in case of VC (Rs 4327/ha) followed by FYM. Each of the two

treatments containing either 75% or 50% FYM were at par among them being the highest

in case of “50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal) + 25% VC as topdressing at 10 DAT”

(Rs 15657/ha).

B-C ratio was lowest in vermicompost (1.45) and highest in “50% FYM (basal) +

25% VC (basal) + 25% VC as topdressing at 10 DAT” (1.73). This indicates that 50%

substitution of FYM with vermicompost and split application of the latter has tremendous

effect on the economics of organic rice production. Hussain et al. (2004) have stated that

higher productivity, net return and benefit – cost ratio of rice occurs due to use of green

manuring crop, vermicompost and farm yard manure in organic

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farming.

Application of FYM 15 t/ha as basal + vermicompost 2.5 t/ha (basal) +

vermicompost 2.5 t/ha as topdressing at 10 days after transplanting produced the highest

grain yield of 4.29 t/ha of organic rice when pooled over two seasons. Further study may

be done on twice topdressing of vermicompost in organic rice.

REFERENCES

Atiyeh, R.M, Subler, S., Edwards, C.A., Bachman, G., Metzger, J.D. and Shuster, W.

2000. Effects of vermicompost and composts on plan growth in horticultural

container media and soil. Pedo Biologia, 44 : 579-590.

Canellas, L.P., Olivares, F.L., Okorokova-Facanha, A.L. and Facanha, A.R. 2002. Humic

acids isolated from earthworm compost enhance root elongation, lateral root

emergence, and plasma membrane Ht+ATPase activity in maize roots. Plant

Physiology 130 : 1951-1957.

Gaur, A.C. 1990. Phosphate Solublising Microorganisms as Biofertilizer. Omega Scientific

Publisher, New Delhi.

Hussain, T., Anwar-ul-Haq, M. and Tahir, J. 2004. Use of BM-technology in integrated

nutrient management for rice – wheat and cotton production. 6th IFOAM-Asia

Scientific Conference "Benign Environment and Safe Food" 7th – 11th September

2004. Yangpyung / Korea. pp. 304 – 351.

Kler, D.S. and Walia, S.S. 2006. Organic, integrated and chemical farming in wheat

(Triticum aestivum) under maize – wheat cropping system. Indian Journal of

Agronomy 51 : 6-9.

Otto, S. 2003. Codex alimentarious. In: The world of organic agriculture – statistics and

future prospects, pp. 41-44. Yussefi, M. and Willer, H. (Eds.), IFOAM.

Singh Y.V. and Singh, B.V. 2007. Organic farming – Status, myth and opportunities.

Intensive Agriculture (July – December) : pp. 37-41.

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Table 1. N, P and K content (%) of various organics used in the experiment
Organic source N P K
FYM 0.52 0.179 0.233
Sesbania 3.87 0.148 1.308
Neem cake 5.1 0.432 1.083
Vermicompost 1.56 0.537 0.608

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Table 2. Growth parameters as affected by PSB and manurial scheduling in organic rice pooled over two years
Treatment Plant Total Effectiv Numbe Numbe LAI Dry CGR RGR NAR Root
height tillers/ e tillers/ r of r of at 45 weigh at 45- at 30 at 30 weig
at clump clump leaves/ leaves/ DAT t/ 60 - 45 - 45 ht/
harvest at 45 at clump clump clum DAT DAT DAT clum
(cm) DAT harvest at 45 at p at p
DAT harvest harve (g) at
st (g) harve
st
Without PSB 96.6 9.9 7.8 26.2 13.0 4.3 19.8 15.6 0.039 2.9 1.8
With PSB 101.7 12.6 10.5 31.6 18.3 5.2 29.7 21.6 0.039 3.2 2.6
SE m± 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.001 0.1 0.1
CD (P=0.05) 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.8 0.8 0.3 2.1 2.3 NS 0.2 0.4
100% FYM: 15 t/ha (basal) 95.8 9.8 7.9 23.1 13.5 3.8 16.9 12.4 0.034 2.6 1.4
100% VC: 5 t/ha (basal) 92.9 9.6 7.4 18.8 12.0 3.1 16.1 11.5 0.033 2.8 1.2
75% FYM (basal) + 25% VC 98.7 10.0 8.4 25.0 14.4 4.1 21.4 16.0 0.037 3.0 2.1
75% FYM (basal) + 12.5% VC
100.0 10.2 8.9 27.9 15.7 4.6 25.7 18.9 0.039 3.1 2.4
(basal) + 12.5% VC as topdressing
50% FYM (basal) + 50% VC (basal) 103.5 13.1 10.1 34.2 17.6 5.6 30.4 23.6 0.042 3.3 2.8
50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal)
106.1 14.9 12.5 40.6 20.4 6.7 38.0 29.3 0.045 3.5 3.3
+ 25% VC as topdressing
SE m± 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.1 0.5 0.2 1.5 1.0 0.001 0.1 0.2

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 CD (P=0.05) 3.0 2.3 2.5 3.2 1.5 0.5 4.4 3.0 0.003 0.2 0.6
PSB - Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, VC- Vermicompost, DAT – Days after transplanting,
Table 3. Yield attributes, and uptake of nutrients as affected by PSB and manurial scheduling in organic rice pooled over two years
(pooled)
Length Fertile Sterili 1000- Weig Net Cost of
of spikelet ty (%) grain ht of retur cultivation
panicle s/ weigh panic n (x103) in
Treatment (cm) panicle t (g) le (g) (x103) rupees
in
rupee
s
Khari
Rabi Kharif Rabi
f
PSB
Without PSB 24.0 107 8.4 22.02 1.84 6.90 7.07 10.21 12.36 20.46
With PSB 25.7 118 8.2 22.38 2.30 10.58 11.83 14.89 18.84 20.72
SE m± 0.22 2.13 0.08 0.48 0.07 0.28 0.18 0.32 0.11
CD (P=0.05) 0.59 6.35 0.25 1.44 0.23 0.82 0.53 0.94 0.32
Manorial scheduling
100% FYM: 15 t/ha (basal) 23.4 100 7.4 21.36 1.74 5.87 6.16 9.61 13.63 18.45
100%Vermicompost (VC): 5 t/ha
22.2 96 7.3 21.55 1.67 2.06 2.19 6.06 6.99 22.20
(basal)
75% FYM (basal) + 25% VC 24.7 115 7.7 21.71 2.13 10.04 10.59 13.85 17.53 20.17
75% FYM (basal) + 12.5% VC as basal
25.1 117 8.2 21.89 2.15 9.93 11.15 13.93 17.61 20.34
+ 12.5% VC as topdressing
50% FYM (basal) + 50% VC ( as basal) 26.4 121 9.3 23.28 2.30 11.65 12.26 15.76 18.57 21.06
50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC as basal + 27.4 126 9.7 23.40 2.42 12.89 14.37 16.10 19.28 21.35

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25% VC as topdressing
SE m± 0.44 4.23 0.15 0.85 0.14 0.46 0.33 0.61 0.18
CD (P=0.05) 1.23 12.64 0.42 NS 0.39 1.34 0.96 1.78 0.54
PSB - Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, VC- Vermicompost, DAT – Days after transplanting,

Table 4. Yield of grain and straw (t/ha) as affected by PSB and manurial scheduling in organic rice pooled over two years
Treatment 2007 2007- 2008 2008- Poole
kharif 08 rabi kharif 09 rabi d
Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw HI
yield yield yield yield yield yield yield yield yield yield
PSB
Without PSB 3.16 3.49 3.23 3.34 3.40 3.47 3.78 3.57 3.39 3.47 49.46
With PSB 3.65 3.67 3.84 3.84 3.98 3.86 4.55 3.95 4.01 3.83 51.11
SE m± 0.10 0.03 0.13 0.11 0.05 0.28 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.03 0.21
CD (P=0.05) 0.43 0.08 0.37 0.32 0.13 0.80 0.32 0.31 0.30 0.09 0.63
Manorial schedule
100% FYM: 15 t/ha (basal) 2.85 3.39 2.95 3.35 3.11 3.49 3.50 3.46 3.10 3.42 47.55
100%Vermicompost (VC): 5 t/ha
2.80 3.30 2.82 3.26 3.07 3.41 3.42 3.41 3.03 3.34 47.51
(basal)
75% FYM (basal) + 25% VC 3.51 3.56 3.64 3.60 3.79 3.62 4.36 4.00 3.82 3.69 50.86
75% FYM (basal) + 12.5% VC as
3.51 3.61 3.65 3.63 3.82 3.61 4.39 3.96 3.84 3.70 50.95
basal + 12.5% VC as topdressing
50% FYM (basal) + 50% VC ( as
3.81 3.75 3.93 3.74 4.13 3.85 4.60 3.82 4.12 3.79 52.05
basal)

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50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC as basal
3.99 3.82 4.24 4.00 4.23 3.91 4.71 3.89 4.29 3.91 52.36
+ 25% VC as topdressing
SE m± 0.05 0.05 0.22 0.08 0.07 0.53 0.19 0.21 0.04 0.08 0.43
CD (P=0.05) 0.15 0.15 0.64 0.23 0.20 1.56 0.54 0.61 0.13 0.22 1.22
PSB - Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, VC- Vermicompost, DAT – Days after transplanting,
Table 5. Soil physical and chemical characteristics as affected by PSB and manurial scheduling in organic rice
Treatment Bulk pH EC Organic Available nutrient (kg/ha) Total uptake of
density (dS/m) carbon nutrients (kg/ha)
(Mg/m ) 3
(g/kg) N P K N P K
65.3
Without PSB 1.46 6.21 0.227 6.3 240.7 12.4 179.6 54.12 16.18 6
82.4
With PSB 1.42 6.01 0.266 7.5 224.8 12.8 175.6 67.65 18.35 5
SE m± 0.002 0.01 0.001 0.02 1.4 0.1 0.3 1.4 0.1 0.5

CD (P=0.05) 0.01 0.04 0.003 0.1 0.7 0.3 0.8 4.2 0.4 1.3
63.2
100% FYM: 15 t/ha (basal) 1.41 5.33 0.237 6.3 242.9 14.0 181.4 50.80 13.91 1
60.1
100% VC: 5 t/ha (basal) 1.42 6.43 0.241 7.6 239.7 13.2 181.5 47.58 12.64 0
75.9
75% FYM (basal) + 25% VC 1.45 6.33 0.246 7.2 229.3 12.8 179.4 62.69 17.15 4
75% FYM (basal) + 12.5% VC 76.6
1.45 6.33 0.247 7.1 228.4 12.8 179.6
(basal) + 12.5% VC as topdressing 63.46 18.10 4
50% FYM (basal) + 50% VC 81.2
1.46 6.13 0.253 6.5 228.9 11.9 174.7
(basal) 68.34 20.56 7
50% FYM (basal) + 25% VC (basal)+ 85.8
1.46 6.13 0.256 6.5 227.5 11.0 169.0
25% VC as topdressing 72.54 22.20 2

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SE m± 0.003 0.02 0.001 0.04 1.2 0.3 0.5 2.7 0.3 0.8

CD (P=0.05) 0.01 0.06 0.004 0.1 3.4 0.8 1.4 8.0 0.8 2.5

Initial value 1.48 6.4 0.259 5.6 158.0 14.0 153.3 - - -

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 c
a c
d d

b e

Figure 1. Net return and benefit-cost ratio as affected by PSB and manurial scheduling in organic rice (pooled).

NB: Bars with same letter are not significantly different at P<0.05. Price of produce/ input – Paddy Rs 740/q, straw – Rs 70/q,
FYM – Rs 0.50/kg, Vermicompost – Rs 2.00/kg, PSB – Rs 30/kg, Casual labourer – Rs 70/ 8 hours

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