Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ___________________________ ISSN 2320 – 6535   Vol. 1(3), 1-6, April (2013) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association        
1
 
Growth of Medicinal and Economical Plants in Vermicompost for Sustainable Development Jesikha M. Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore - 29, Tamilnadu, INDIAAvailable online at: 
www.isca.in
Received 11th December 2012, revised 24th January  2013, accepted 26th February 2013 Abstract 
Different concentrations of compost were used to test the growth of Plectranthus amboinicus, 
Morinda 
citrifolia
 and Jatropha curcas. Plants were allowed to grow for one month duration. The growth of the plant in terms of leaves, stem and root production were noticed. The results showed that 50% and 75% concentrations were found suitable for germination and growth of the plants.  Keywords: Eudrilus eugeniae, compost, concentrations, growth.Introduction Vermicomposting is an uncomplicated biotechnological process of composting, in which certain species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of waste conversion and produce a better end product. A revolution is unfolding in vermiculture studies for vermicomposting of diverse organic wastes by waste eater earthworms into a nutritive organic fertilizer and using them for production of chemical-free safe food, both in quantity and quality without recourse to agro-chemicals. Heavy use of agro-chemicals boosted food productivity, but affect the environment and society. It killed the beneficial soil organisms and destroyed their natural fertility, impaired the power of biological resistance in crops making them more susceptible to pests and diseases.The best part is that the use of earthworms and vermicompost in farm production provides dual-benefit to crops. While promoting admirable growth it also protects the crops from pests and diseases and thus significantly reduces the use of chemical pesticides.  The chemical fertilizers might increase plant yields but they do nothing for plant health. Continued use of chemical fertilizers inevitably leads to a breakdown in the soil. This natural support for the plants is not available with chemical fertilizers. The distribution of the compost through the soil also helps to encourage healthy root growth. Vermicomposting produces a product that is naturally designed to benefit plants in several different ways. The most important aspect of compost produced by earthworms is that it is 100% organic. There are no harmful 
Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ________________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 6535  Vol. 1(3), 1-6, April (2013)                            Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association             
2
chemicals and it does not need to be mixed with anything.  The aim of our experiment was to found the required quantity of vermicompost for the highest growth and yield of medicinal and economical plants. Material and Methods Earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae was maintained in cow dung medium. Compost was collected at regular intervals for testing the germination and growth of some selected plants. In order to test the effect of vermicompost on the growth of the plants, some vegetable plants were chosen and trails were performed with three replicates. 
Figure-1 Growth of Plectranthus amboinicus in different concentration of Vermicompost media 
Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ________________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 6535  Vol. 1(3), 1-6, April (2013)                            Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association             
3
Results and Discussion Different concentrations such as 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 0% (red soil as control)  prepared by vermicompost amended with soil for plant medium. The following plants were selected to study the 
growth parameters Plectranthusamboinicus (Country 
borage), 
Morinda citrifolia
 (Mulberry) and Jatropha curcas (Jatropha).  The growth parameters in the form of root weight stem weight and mass production or leaves weight were recorded. Plant growth tests were studied in different concentration of vermicompost media. The obtained results are shown in the figure number 1, 2 and 3. The highest leaf weight were observed in
Plectranthus amboinicus (25.5g), 
Morinda citrifolia
(22.1g) and Jatropha curcas (18.8) in75% consentration of vermicompost medium followed by 50% and 25%. The lowest leaf weight 5.4g, 4.2 and 7.5g in 100% vermicompost medium respectively. 
Figure-2 
Growth of 
Morinda citrifolia
 in different concentration of Vermicompost media
Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ________________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 6535  Vol. 1(3), 1-6, April (2013)                            Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association             
4
The beneficial effect of earthworms on plant growth may be due to several reasons apart from the presence of macro nutrients and micronutrients in vermicasts and in their secretions in considerable quantities. The maximum weight of stems were obtained from plants Plectranthus amboinicus 
(19.8g), 
Morinda citrifolia
 (5.4g) and Jatropha curcas (4.2g) grown in 75% concentration of vermicompost medium and lowest 5.1g, 1.4g and 1.6g in 100% vermicompost medium. The highest root weight gained in plants Plectranthus 
amboinicus (4.2gm),
Morinda citrifolia
 (4.1g) andJatropha curcas (3.8gm) collected from 75% concentration of vermicompost medium. Edwards reported that in a study with 25 types of vegetables, fruits or ornamentals, earthworm casts performed better than compost and commercial potting mixture amendments.  
Figure-3 Growth of Jatropha curcas in different concentration of Vermicompost media
Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ________________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 6535  Vol. 1(3), 1-6, April (2013)                            Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association             
5
The beneficial effects of earthworm cast utilization in other horticulture settings have also been reported. Cantanazaro demonstrated the importance of the synchronization between nutrient release and plant uptake and showed that slower release fertilizers can increase plant yield and reduce nutrient leaching. In 75% concentration of vermicompost promote required nutritions to the plants compare than the 50%, 25% and control. In 100% medium, the plants growth was retarded because of high amount of minerals in the plant medium. Growth promoting activity of vermicompost was tested using a plant of maize (Zea mays) was measured. It was indicated that plant growth promoting hormones are present in vermicompost. The fresh weight of flowers such as Chrysanthemum chinensis increased with the application of different levels of vermicompost. Vermicompost plays a major role in improving growth and yield of different field crops, vegetables, flowers and fruit crops. The application of vermicompost gave higher germination (93%) of mung bean (Vigna radiata) compared to the control (84%). Further, the growth and yield of mung bean was also significantly higher with 80% vermicompost application. Likewise, in another pot experiment, the fresh and dry matter yields of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) were higher when soil was amended with 70% vermicompost than with bio digested slurry. This result shows that the plant growth also depend upon the quantity of vermicompost applied in the plant medium. Reference 1.Sinha R.K., Sunita Agarwal, Krunal Chauhan, Dalsukh Valani; The wonders of earthworms and its vermicompost in farm production: Charles Darwin’s friends of farmers, with potential to replace destructive chemical fertilizers from agriculture, Agricultural Sciences, 1(2), 76-94, (2010)2.Edwards C. A., Historical overview of vermicomposting. Biocycle, 36(9), 56-8, (1995) 3.Hidalgo P., Earthworm castings increase germination rate and seedling development of cucumber. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Research Report,22, 6-13, (1999)4.Cantanazaro C.J., Williams K.A. and Sauve R.J., Slow release versus water soluble fertilization affects nutrient leaching and growth of potted chrysanthemum. Journal of Plant Nutrition,21, 1025-1036, (1998)5.Nagavallemma K.P., Wani S. P., Stephane Lacroix Padmaja V.V., Vineela C., Babu Rao M. and Sahrawat K. L., Vermicomposting: 
Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ________________________________________ ISSN 2320 – 6535  Vol. 1(3), 1-6, April (2013)                            Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association             
6
Recycling wastes into valuable organic fertilizer. Global Theme on Agrecosystems Report no. 8. Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics 2004; 2:20. Nethra NN, Jayaprasad KV and Kale RD; China aster (Callistephus chinensis L) cultivation using vermicompost as organic amendment. Crop Research, Hisar, 17(2), 209–215, (1999)6.Karmegam N., Alagermalai K. and Daniel T., Effect of vermicompost on the growth and yield of greengram (Phaseolus aureus Rob.), Tropical Agriculture, 76(2), 143–146, (1999)7.Karmegam N. and Daniel T., Effect of biodigested slurry and vermicompost on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), Environment and Ecology, 18(2), 367–370, (2000)