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Research Article

Agricultural Science Digest, volume 41 issue 2 (june 2021) : 274-281

Impact of Rubber Leaf Vermicompost on Tea (Camellia sinensis) Yield and Earthworm Population in West Tripura (India)

Priyasankar Chaudhuri, Singh Kwrak Santua Jamatia
1Earthworm Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Agartala-799 022, West Tripura, India.
Cite article:- Chaudhuri Priyasankar, Jamatia Santua Kwrak Singh (2021). Impact of Rubber Leaf Vermicompost on Tea (Camellia sinensis) Yield and Earthworm Population in West Tripura (India). Agricultural Science Digest. 41(2): 274-281. doi: 10.18805/ag.D-5234.

ABSTRACT

Background: Vermicompost is a manure produced from organic waste through the activity of epigeic earthworms and microbes. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers for long term to increase the crop productivity have led to deterioration of soil health. Therefore, to assess the effect of vermicompost, as an alternative option to chemical fertilizer, on tea yield and earthworm population, field application of vermicompost on tea plantation was carried out for a period of two years (2015-2016) in Harishnagar Tea Estate, West Tripura, India. 
Methods: The experimental plot (25 sq. m) was set up using a random block design with 4 different rates of vermicompost viz. T0 (Control), T1 (5 t ha-1 year-1), T2 (10 t ha-1 year-1) and T3 (15 t ha-1 year-1) each having five replications. Composite soil samples were collected at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Earthworms were also collected during the experimental period.
Conclusion: Application of vermicompost significantly influenced the tea plantation soils, increased the tea yield along with earthworm population and was dependent on the vermicompost doses applied.

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