Effect and Application of Vermicompost on Nitrogen Dynamics in Soil

The results of the present investigation indicate that vermicompost of water hyacinth and coconut leaf showed almost similar pH level (6.81 and 6.92) by Jackson method but it showed higher value in FCO method. Electrical conductivity resulted similar trend for both methods. CEC value for both vermicompost was 74.20 and 72.60cmol kg^-1. Organic carbon content in water hyacinth vermicompost was 23.1 per cent and in coconut leaf vermicompost 22.5 per cent. Maximum water holding capacity was much higher (213.90 and 226.2%). Available form of N, P, K, S, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe found very less content with respect to total content except K and Na content in both types of vermicompost. Water hyacinth vermicompost also contains higher values of dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass carbon content and lower value of urease enzyme activity. Results represented that water hyacinth vermicompost is better in quality than coconut vermicompost with respect to microbial activity. Changes of available nitrogen content over different stages of growth of cauliflower resulted maximum release at 10^th day in T6 (168.16mg kg^-1) which was 49.38 per cent over control followed by T₅ (157.48mg kg^-1), T₄ (151.95mg kg^-1), T₂ (137.40mg kg^-1), T₃ (127.48mg kg^-1) and T₁ (112.57mg kg^-1). But changes of its content in soil through incubation study over the period showed maximum release at different dates under different treatments.