Straw composting using earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) and fungal inoculant (Trichoderma viridae) and its utilization in rice (Oryza sativa)-groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) cropping system

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region, India during 2007-09 on composting of paddy straw and its effect on rice (Oryza sativa L.)-groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cropping system. The composting experiment consisted of eight treatments (i) Eudrilus eugeniae, (ii) E. eugeniae + 2.5% lime, (iii) E. eugeniae + 5.0% lime, (iv) E. eugeniae + 7.5% lime, (v) Trichoderma viridae, (vi) T. viridae + 2.5% lime, (vii) T. viridae + 5.0% lime, (viii) T. viridae + 7.5% lime. The composting was faster (67 days) and multiplication of earthworm was highest (22 times) with earthworm + 5.0% lime. There was a positive effect of lime application on the pH of the compost and it increased from 6.24 to 7.09 due to application of 5.0% lime to the composting substrate. The field experiment consisted of 11 treatments, viz. eight composts produced from composting experiment @ 6 tonnes/ha, farmyard manure (FYM) @ 6 tonnes/ha, recommended dose of fertilizer (80-26.2-33.3 kg N-P-K/ha) and control. Soil moisture in 0-15 cm layer increased by 3.06%, pH changed from acidic to neutral and soil organic carbon increased by 0.39% due to application vermicompost. Addition of vermicompost prepared with 5% lime increased the soil microbial biomass carbon by 147% over control, while 51% increase was recorded with application of T. viridae compost with 2.5% lime. The grain and pod yields of upland rice and groundnut increased by 120% and 107% respectively over control due to application of vermicompost prepared with 5.0% lime.