Efficient Utilization of Agro-industrial Waste through Vermicomposting and its Impact on Growth and Yield of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Organic manures for growing crops are a composition of waste materials. Composting of organic waste offers solution to large amounts of waste worldwide. Vermicomposting is a type of organic farming by which earthworms breakdown organic waste materials, stimulate microbial activity and at the same time, increase the rate of mineralization of the soil. The technique of organic farming plays a role in cultivation of high value of vegetable crops. Application of vermicompost to field soils have also been reported to increase crop growth and yields. Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops in India and plays essentials role in both agricultural and industrial economy of the country. India approximately 6.5 million tonnes of sugar cane trash are being produced every year and most of the residues are usually burnt in the field due to lack of proper composing techniques. Besides the loss of organic matter and plant nutrients, burning of crop residues also causes atmospheric pollution due to the emission of toxic gases methane, carbon dioxide that poses threat to human and ecosystem. Insitu composting of cane trash can be a good alternate to mitigate these problem Viji and Neelanarayanan (2016). Bagasse is composed largely of cellulose, pentose and lignin. It is made up of 45-55% of cellulose, 20-25% of hemicelluloses and 18-24% lignin Surya et al., (2015). Brinjal popularly known as egg plant belongs to family solanaceae, one of most common vegetable crops grown in India. Brinjal is staple vegetable in almost all tropical countries in the world and utilized by both poor and rich. Its nutritive value varies among varieties. It contains vitamin A and B. The brinjal fruit contains moisture 92.7 g, protein 1.4 g, phosphorous 47 mg, iron 0.9 mg, vitamin C 10 mg, riboflavin 0.11 mg, thiamine 0.04 mg more while brinjal may have the medicinal property. White brinjal which is used for Diabetics patients (Palia et al., 2021). The main objectives of the present investigation was to evaluate the impact of sugarcane trash and bagasse on growth and yield parameters in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.).

The present study was conducted from January to March 2019 at Alanthurai (10.9536 N, 76.7885 E) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu India. The method adopted for decomposition of agro waste sugarcane trash and bagasse was pit composting and subjected to field experiment using randomized block design with three replications.
 
Collection of agro-industrial waste
 
The agro industrial waste of sugarcane trash and sugarcane bagasse was collected from in and around Coimbatore. It was chopped into small pieces, sun dried and stored in bags.
 
Compost pit preparation
 
The process of composting was conducted in 1.5 feet length and 4 square feet width compost pit. It was filled by sugarcane trash and sugarcane bagasse waste. It was allowed to decompost for 30 days.
 
Sugarcane trash compost
 
Compost 2 kg of sundried sugarcane trash agro-waste was transferred to C1 pit, spread with 20 g of Pleurotus florida spawn was sandwiched uniformly. This process was repeated till the heap reaches a height of above 1 meter. The moisture content was maintained by sprinkling water with regular interval. Turning the agro-waste was manually done every week using composting process. Vermicomposting process was adopted by adding 10 to 15 earthworms after 30 days.
       
Compost 2 pit was filled with 2 kg of sugarcane trash waste along with 20 g of Trichoderma asperelloids was added. This process was repeated till the heap reached a height of above one meter. Manual turning was done every week during composting period to accelerate the decomposition process. After 30 days of composting, vermicomposting process was adopted.
       
Compost 3 pit was filled by sundried sugarcane trash waste. 20 g of Trichoderma asperelloids and 25 ml of microbial consortium was added. The process was repeated till the heap reached a height of above 1 meter. The pit moisture content was maintained to 60-70% by sprinkling of water with regular interval. Turning of compost was manually done every week.
 
Sugarcane bagasse compost
 
Same technique was repeated in place of sugarcane trash (C1, C2 and C3) sugarcane bagasse was used in the following composting pits compost 4 (C4) compost 5 (C5) and compost 6 (C6) respectively.
 
Field culture experiment with the treatments
 
The field culture experiment was conducted with brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) in Alanthurai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The compost was mixed thoroughly and applied to the field. Viable seeds were selected and they were sown in the field with three replications. As per recommendation of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, plant protection measures and other cultural practices were followed.
 
 
 
Statistical analysis
 
The data obtained from various observations on 30, 60 and 90 DAS were analyzed statistically using One-way and Two-way ANOVA.

Biometric characters
 
The results of the present study predicted the effect of composts by different treatments on biometric characters of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). A highest shoot length was observed in T₅ treatment (32.9, 55.3 and 98.5 cm) which is followed by T₂ treatment (29.5, 51.4 and 93.7 cm) and control (17.3, 33.5 and 75.3 cm) on 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing (DAS). A significant increase in root length was observed in T₅ treatment (17.85, 25.10 and 33.30 cm) followed by T₂ treatment (16.30, 22.85 and 30.75 cm) and compared to the control (8.35, 13.40 and 21.30) 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. Maximum number of leaves was observed in T₅ treatment (21.33, 50.00 and 77.00) when compared to the T₂ treatment (19.33, 46.00 and 72.67) and control (9.00, 26.00 and 54.67) 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing as shown in Table 1.
 

       
The fresh weight of the plant increase in T₅ treatment (31.10, 48.30 and 55.55 g) which is followed by T₂ treatment (28.90, 45.35 and 52.20 g) when compared to the control (16.70, 27.05 and 34.65 g) 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. A significant increase in dry weight was observed in T₅ treatment (7.10, 7.95 and 9.30 g) followed by T₂ treatment (6.75, 7.45 and 8.80 g) and control (3.75, 5.30 and 5.50 g) on 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing as shown in Table 2. Similar increase in results were also observed in number of flowers in T₅ treatment (27.50 and 55.50) when compared to T₂ treatment (25.50 and 52.50) and control (12.50 and 38.00) 60 and 90 days after sowing. A highest number of branches was observed in T₅ (22.50 and 27.50) treatment which is followed by T₂ treatment (20.50 and 25.00) when compared to the control (9.50 and 14.00) 60 and 90 days after sowing as shown in Table 3.


 

       
The results par with Manimegala and Gunasekaran (2020) who observed significantly higher plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and number of flowers recorded at 60 and 90 DAS of the crop with the application of treatment vemicompost and NPK fertilizer in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Similar work was reported by Tensing Baliah and Muthulakshmi (2017) who observed that the application of the vermicompost increase the shoot length (33.5 cm), root length (22.6 cm), number of leaves (30), fresh weight (4.41 g) and dry weight (1.29 g) in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). El- Mohamedy et al., (2015) A significant increase in plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, fresh weight and dry weight was observed in bio-compost when compared to the control in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants. The results coincides with Silpa and Vijayalakshmi (2022) who confirmed that the application of biocomposted cocoa shell and jack fruit peel waste increased the shoot length (175.83 cm), root length (39.23 cm) and number of leaves (37.50) in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. The present study was supported by Pinky and Vijayalakshmi (2022) who reported that the application of vermicompost increased the shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight in black gram (Vigna mungo L.). The present study is in correlation with Sardoei (2014) reported that the application of vermicompost increase of plant height (26.87), fresh weight (85.43) and dry weight (13.78) in marigold (Calendula officinalis).
       
The present study was also in agreement where an increase in plant height (32.56 cm) was noted with the application of T₃-Azolla vermicompost supplemented with 50% NPK, was observed Palia et al., (2021).
 
Yield parameters
 
The maximum number fruits was observed in T₅ treatment (22.00) followed by T₂ treatment (20.50) when compared to the control (14.50). The fruit length and single fruit weight are significantly increased in T₅ treatment (15.70 cm and 93.15 g) when compared to the T₂ treatment (15.40 cm and 91.80 g) and control (11.30 cm and 57.45 g). The fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per plot was observed maximum in T₅ treatment (10.35 and 37.25 kg) which is followed by T₂ treatment (10.00 and 35.35 kg) and control (7.30 and 25.10 kg) on 90 days after sowing as shown in Table 4.
 

       
The present results also coincide with the previous findings Rahman et al., (2012) that bio-compost + cowdung compost + NPK fertilizers had significant positive impact on number of fruit (62.38), fruit length (23.98) and yield per plant (24.49) in chilli. The present study was correlated with the findings of Gandhi and Sivagama Sundari (2012) who reported that the application of vermicompost increase number of fruits (6-12) in brinjal plant (Solanum melongena). Mamta et al., (2012) A significant increase in total yield per plant with the application of T₄- pv 2.5t/ha + FYM 6.25 t/ha in Solanum melongena.
       
The results was on par with Mullaimaran and Haripriya (2016) who confirmed that the application of organic manures increase number of fruits, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per plot in tomato. The present study coincides with the result of Kashem et al., (2015) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) which showed an increase number of fruits in vermicompost and NPK fertilizers. Similar work was reported by Saraswathy and Prabhakaran (2014) observed that the application of vermicompost increase number of fruits (36.57), fruit weight (71.65 g), fruit yield per plot (28.82 kg) in tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.).

The study revealed that the integration of sugarcane trash and bagasse had shown an enchancing effect on growth and yield of brinjal. On the basis of results, it is concluded that the vermicompost prepared from the test substrates viz. C₅ (Predecomposted Sugarcane bagasse, Trichoderma asperelloids and earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) 5 t/h) revealed beneficial outcomes with improved effects on the quality attributes of Brinjal. Thus, the study indicates that the vermicompost can be utilized effectively for sustainable crop production.

We would like to thank Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women for the facilities provided to carry out the research work.

Authors have no conflict of interest regarding this article.