Effect of Compost and Vermicompost Prepared from Different Biodegradable Wastes on the Growth of King Chilli Capsicum Chinense

Vermicompost is becoming one of the best organic fertilizers which have an important contribution to agriculture. In fact, it contains more plant nutrients than that of organic compost. The research experiment is focuses on the nutrients present in vermicompost and its important role on the growth and yield of King Chilli, Capsicum chinense commonly known as U-Morok in Manipur. Study was carried out at garden of Life Sciences department, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal West, Manipur. Phumdi biomass were collected from Loktak lake, Moirang and Municipal Solid Waste (organic) was collected from Lamdeng Khunou, Lamsang, Imphal West. Vermicomposting of these wastes were done by mixing with cow dung slurry in the ratio 3:1 and precomposted for three weeks. An experiment was conducted for 60 days by using three species of earthworms, Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyx excavatus. Vermicompost obtained from the above observation were further utilised in plantation of Capsicum chinense. The seedlings of Capsicum chinense were planted in five sets of pots having three replicates each. Two sets of pots were filled with compost and vermicompost of Phumdi, the other two sets are filled with compost and vermicompost of Municipal Solid Waste while the fifth set was filled with soil and kept for control. The experiment was set up and observed for 150 days.The plants were watered regularly for every alternate day. Various growth and yield parameters like mean stem diameter, mean plant height, marketable yield fruit per plant, non-marketable fruit per plant, total plant biomass were recorded for each treatment. The presence of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) and nutrients (N, P, K) in the compost, vermicompost and soil were analysed. The plant biomass (dry form) grown in compost and vermicompost of phumdi and Municipal Solid Waste and soil were determined for the presence of nutrients and heavy metals. The nutrients present in the vermicompost were found to be higher than that of compost and soil. Almost all the plant growth, yield and nutrient parameters increased significantly in vermicompost and compost when compared to that of soil or control.