Effect of Vermi-compost Fertilizer Application and Foliar Spraying of Compost Tea and Acid Humic on Growth Indices of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

بوم شناسی کشاورزی

Article 8, Volume 9, Issue 3 - Serial Number 33, September 2016, Pages 805-820   

Document Type: Scientific - Research

DOI: 10.22067/jag.v9i3.51879

Authors

maryam safaee^{* 1}; asghar rahimi²; benjamin torabi³; azadeh khoram²

¹valiasr rafsanjan

²vali asr rafsanjan

³Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Introduction
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual crop with high environmental compatibility and resistant to drought condition. Vermi-compost is the ability of some species of earthworms to consume and break down a wide range of organic residues such as sewage sludge, animal wastes, crop residues and industrial refuse. Vermi-composts are usually more stable than their parent materials with increased availability of nutrients and improved physicochemical and microbiological properties. Aerial compost tea contains high populations of live microorganism consisting of rhizobactria, trichoderma and pseudomonas species which increase the growth and yield of the plant. Acid humic is the main humic substance and the important ingredient of soil organic matter (humus) which increase crop yield and quality. The aim of this study is evaluating potential use of vermi-compost as a biological fertilizer in safflower production and assessment of foliar application of compost tea and humic acid related to vermi-compost utilization in safflower production.
Material and Methods
In order to study the effect of vermi-compost and foliar application of compost tea and acid humic on growth indices of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), an experiment was conducted as a factorial based on complete randomized design with three replications in agricultural research farm at Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. Treatments were included application of vermi-compost (0 (control), 4, 8 and 12 t.ha-1) and 4 level of foliar application (distilled water as control, acid humic derived from vermi-compost, commercial acid humic and compost tea). Samples collected from the center of each treatment plot with observance of margin effect. Samples were taken 30 days after planting which is collected 10 times over the growth stage every 10 days for determine of total dry weight, LAI change trend, CGR, NAR and RGR.
Results and Discussion
Results indicated that vermi-compost and foliar application treatment significantly affected LAI, CGR, NAR, TDM and RGR. Applying more vermi-compost resulted in higher CGR and NAR which is observed under 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost and the lowest level of vermi-compost (control) resulted in 1145 GDD. The highest and the lowest LAI, CGR and NAR obtained under tea compost foliar application treatment and control, respectively. Under all treatments declining trend observed from 1145 GDD (first flower appearance). The highest total dry matter obtained under the 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost at 1847 GDD and the maximum of RGR observed in early growth (277 GDD) in 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost with foliar application of tea compost and then declined. It is also resulted that the highest seed yield obtained from 8 t.ha-1 vermi-compost with no significant difference with 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost. Vermi-compost have available plant nutrient solution which increase leaf area indices compared with none use vermi-compost treatment. Hameeda et al. (2007) reported that using 10 t.ha-1 vermi-compost increased the leaf area of sorghum more than 34 % compared with control. Arancon et al. (2004) also reported that using 5 and 10 t.ha-1 vermi-compost significantly increased leaf area, shoot dry matter and RGR in strawberry. Vermi-comost due to containing micro and macro element, plant growth stimulate and hormones can improvement of physiological indices like LA, CGR and NAR and finally total dry weight. Vermi-compost have different enzyme like protease, lipase, amylase and cellules which decompose the soil organic matter and the plant remains and increase the plant availability of nutritional element.
Conclusion
Results indicated that using 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost and foliar application of compost tea caused increasing of LAI, CGR, TDM, NAR and RGR compared with control. It is also resulted that using 8 and 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost significantly increased safflower yield while no significant effect observed from foliar application. Totally, it is concluded that in Rafsanjan climate, using 12 t.ha-1 vermi-compost is the best treatment for increasing growth indices and seed yield of safflower.

Keywords

Leaf area; Physiological growth indices; Seed yield; Dry matter

References

Ali, S., Khan, A.R., Miraj, G., Arif, M., Fida, M., and Bibi, S. 2002. Assessment of different crop nutrient management practices for yield improvement. Australian Journal of Crop Science 2(3): 150-157.

Amini, F., Saeidi, G., and Arzani, A. 2008. Relationship among seed yield and its components in genotypes of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water and Soil Science 12(45): 525-535. (In Persian)

Ansari, A.A. 2008. Effect of vermicompost and vermiwash on the productivity of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), onion (Allium cepa) and potato (Solanum tuberosum). World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 4(5): 554-557.

Arancon, N.Q., Edwards, C.A., Bierman, P., Welch, C., and Metzger, J.D. 2004. Influences of vermicomposts on field strawberries: 1. Effects on growth and yields. Biology Resource Technology 93: 145-153.

Aremu, A.O., Kulkarni, M.G., Bairu, M.W., Finnie, J.F., and Van Staden, J. 2012. Growth stimulation effects of smoke-water and vermicompost leachate on greenhouse grown-tissue-cultured ‘Williams’ bananas. Plant Growth Regulation 66: 111-118.

Astaraei, A.R., and Ivani, R. 2008. Effect of organic sources as foliar spray and root media on nutrition of cowpea plant. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Science 3: 352-356.

Atiyeh, R., Arancon, N., Edwards, C., and Metzger, J. 2000. Influence of earthworm-processed pig manure on the growth and yield of greenhouse tomatoes. Bioresource Technology 75: 175-180.

Ayas, H., and Gulser, F. 2005. The effect of sulfur and humic acid on yield components and macronutrient contents of spinach. Journal of Biological Sciences 5: 801- 804.

Bess, V.H. 2000. Understanding compost tea. Biocycle 41: 71-72.

Cavender, N.D., Atiyeh, R.M., and Knee, M. 2003. Vermicompost stimulates mycorrhizal colonization of roots of Sorghum bicolor L. at the expense of plant growth. Pedobiologia 47: 85-89.

El-Din, A.A.E., and Hendawy, S. 2010. Effect of dry yeast and compost tea on growth and oil content of Borago officinalis plant. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences 6(4): 424-430.

Fritz, J., Franke-Whittle, I., Haindl, S., Insam, H., and Braun, R. 2012. Microbiological community analysis of vermicompost tea and its influence on the growth of vegetables and cereals. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 58: 836-847.

Ghorbani, S., Khazaie, H.R., Kafi, M., and Bannayan Aval, M. 2010. Effects of humic acid application in irrigation water on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Agroecology 2(1): 123-131. (In Persian with English Summary)

Hameeda, B., Harini, G., Rupela, O., and Reddy, G. 2007. Effect of composts or vermicomposts on sorghum growth and mycorrhizal colonization. African Journal of Biotechnology 6: 9-12.

Junying, Z., Yongli, X., and Fuping, L. 2009. Influence of cow manure vermicompost on plant growth and microbes in rhizosphere on iron tailing. Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering. 3th International Conference, 11-13 June 2009, Beijing, China, 1-4.

Karimi, M.M., and Siddique, H.M. 1991. Crop growth and relative growth rate of old and modern wheat cultivars. Australian Journal of Agriculture Research 42: 13-20.

Kashiri, M., Latifi, N., and Ghasemi, M. 2004. Growth analysis of four safflower cultivars at different plant arrangement in dryland condition. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources 10(4): 85-95. (In Persian with English Summary)

Koocheki, A., and Bannayan Aval, M. 1994. Physiology of Crop Yield. Publications University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 424 pp. (In Persian)

Loveland, P., and Webb, J. 2003. Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: A review. Soil and Tillage Research 70: 1-18.

Maheshbabu, H.M., Hunje, R., Biradarpatil, N.K., and Babalad, H.B. 2008. Effect of organic manures on plant growth, seed yield and quality of soybean. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 21(2): 219-221.

McDonald, M.B. 1999. Seed deterioration: physiology, repair and assessment. Seed Science and Technology 27: 177-237.

Nemati Darbandi, H., Azizi, M., Mohammadi, S., and KarimPour, S. 2013. Reviewing the effect of vermiwash foliar application on morphological characteristics, percentage and yield of lemon balm essence (Melissa officinalis L.). Journal of Horticultural Science 27(4): 411-417. (In Persian)

Norman, Q., Edwards, A., Lee, S., and Byrne, R. 2006. Effect of humic acids from vermicomposts on plant growth. European Journal of Soil Biology 42: 65-69.

Pant, A.P., Radovich, T.J., Hue, N.V., Talcott, S.T., and Krenek, K.A. 2009. Vermicompost extracts influence growth, mineral nutrients, phytonutrients and antioxidant activity in pak choi (Brassica rapa cv. Bonsai, Chinensis group) grown under vermicompost and chemical fertiliser. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 89: 2383-2392.

Pant, A.P., Radovich, T.J., Hue, N.V., and Paull, R.E. 2012. Biochemical properties of compost tea associated with compost quality and effects on pak choi growth. Scientia Horticulturae 148: 138-146.

Pant, A., Radovich, T., Hue, N., and Arancon, N. 2011. Effects of vermicompost tea (aqueous extract) on pak choi yield, quality and on soil biological properties. Compost Science and Utilization 19: 279-292.

Patra, P., and Biswas, S. 2009. Integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and economics of maize (Zea mays L) under terai region. Journal of Crop and Weed 5)1): 136-139.

Pyrasteh Anoosheh, H., Emam Y., and Jamali Ramin, F. 2010. Comparing between the effect of biological and chemical fertilizer on growth, yield a sunflower oil percentage in different levels of drought tension. Journal of Agroecology 2(3): 492-501. (In Persian with English Summary)

Rashtbari, M., and Alikhani, H.A. 2012. Effect and efficiency of municipal solid waste compost and vermicompost on morpho-physiological properties and yield of canola under drought stress conditions. Journal of Agricultural Knowledge and Sustainable Production 22(2): 113-127. (In Persian with English Summary)

Sajadi Nik, R., and Yadavi, A.R. 2013. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer, vermicompost and nitroxin on growth indexes, phonological stages and grain yield of Sesame. Electronic Journal of Crop Production 6(2): 73-99. (In Persian with English Summary)

Sarmadnia, G.H., and Koocheki, A. 1993. Crop Physiology. Publications University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 468 pp. (In Persian)

Siddiqui, Y., Meon, S., Ismail, R., Rahmani, M., and Ali, A. 2008. Bio-efficiency of compost extracts on the wet rot incidence, morphological and physiological growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). Scientia Horticulturae 117: 9-14.

Sujatha, M.G., Lingaraju, B.S., Palled, Y.B., and Ashalatha, K.V. 2008. Importance of integrated nutrient management practices in maize under rain fed condition. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 21: 334-338.

Yasari, T., Khoshhal, J., and Shahsavari, M. 2013. Planting dates zoning of safflower varieties in Esfahan province. Geography and Environmental Planning Journal 24(1): 171-182. (In Persian with English Summary)