Evaluating the vermicomposting efficiency of some Earthworm collections and the effect of their Vermicompost on growth and yield of tef (eragrostis tef (zucc.trotter))

Abstract

Earthworms are considered as friends of farmers and natural soil engineers. Vermicompost obtained with the help of earthworm has many benefits soil, to plants and friendly to our environment. The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of local earthworm species for their compositing capacity of different feedstock (wheat straw, chickpea straw, khat waste , and mesquite) under controlled conditions at DebreZeit Agricultural Research Center (DZARC) and to evaluate the effect of selected vermicompost products on yield and yield components of tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.Trotter)). Vermicomposting process was prepared using Eisenia fetida (as standard check), Adet and Werta earthworms’ collections as local source of earthworms for composting. The highest multiplication was observed on Adet earthworm spices fed with mesquite. The physicochemical variables like pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus were analyzed at the beginning of the experiment and at harvesting over a period of 72 days. At harvesting day the best vermicompost found at a pH of 7.15 with 1.1% (organic carbon), 0.448% (nitrogen) and 114.072ppm (available phosphorus) were obtained from fed on mesquite. Significant differences were observed in tef yield and other variables of tef (variety DZ-Cr-387) due to vermicompost application. The highest plant height (84.2cm), panicle length (39.21cm), root length (30.33), root weight (28.91g/pot), fresh straw yield (88.233g/pot) and grain yield (2.64g/pot) were obtained from Vermicompost of mesquite. This study suggests that the earthworms that were collected from Adet could be used efficiently to produce good quality vermicompost from mesquite and also promising yield was result on tef crop