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Assessing the Potential of Organic Wastes through Vermicomposting: A Case Study with Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Vermicompost is considered a good substitute for mineral fertilizers as an agricultural amendment capable of reducing the cost of cucumber production and the degradation of the atmosphere associated with mineral fertilizer. Poultry manure, maize straw, fresh leaves of Gliricidia, and dry leaf litter was collected and processed into vermicompost. Field experiments were performed to determine the potential of vermicompost (VC) for growth yield, proximate analysis, and soil properties and to determine the economic viability of cucumber. Cucumber (VC) (Cucumis sativus L.) were planted under the following organic fertilizers VC at 0, 80, 90, and 100 kgN ha−1, NPK15-15–15 at 100 kgN ha−1and poultry manure at 100 kgN ha−1. Fertilizer treatments were arranged and replicated three times in a randomized complete block design and repeated three times. The outcomes showed that application of VC at 90 kgN ha−1significantly improved cucumber growth and yield compared to the initial application of NPK and residual harvest. Proximate study of cucumber shoot and fruit showed that after comparison with cucumber plots treated with poultry manure, NPK and control, the cucumber cultivated with VC at 90 kgN ha−1 differed significantly at P < 0.05 in P, N, Ca, K, crude fiber, moisture, ash, protein, fat and carbohydrate content. Application of vermicompost significantly improved chemical soil properties and yields of cucumber fruit were significantly related to soil properties. Consequently, the use of vermicompost at a rate of 90 kg N ha−1was economically suitable for cucumber production on the basis of these findings.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Kwara State University Management, Malete, Ilorin, Nigeria, for providing the research fund.

Funding

This study was funded by a grant from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Nigeria. Tertiary Education Trust Fund, KWASUTETFUND 2017–1, Olowoake Abayomi Adebayo, KWASUIBR/CSP/090320/VOL7/TETF2019/0087, Olowoake Abayomi Adebayo

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria

    A. A. Olowoake, A. A. Wahab & O. O. Lawal

  2. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria

    S. K. Subair

Authors
  1. A. A. Olowoake
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  2. A. A. Wahab
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  3. O. O. Lawal
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  4. S. K. Subair
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Contributions

All the authors contributed to the definition and design of the report. [OA], [WA], [LO], and [SS] were involved in content planning, data collection, and analysis. [OA] wrote the first draft of the manuscript and all the contributors reflected on past versions of the manuscript. The final manuscript was read and accepted by all the contributors.

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Correspondence to A. A. Olowoake.

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Significance Statement Vermicompost enhanced the growth, yield of cucumber and improved the physicochemical properties of soil.

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Olowoake, A.A., Wahab, A.A., Lawal, O.O. et al. Assessing the Potential of Organic Wastes through Vermicomposting: A Case Study with Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 92, 131–140 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-021-01321-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-021-01321-3

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