High-value vegetable production using vermicompost

Manatad and Jaquias (ASSCAT) evaluated the growth and yield performance of vegetables as influenced by the application of different rates of vermicompost at the experimental area of Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT), Bunawan, Agusan del Sur from May to December 2006. The study also assessed the economic viability of vegetable production using vermicompost. Vermicompost at 0, 1 t/ha, 2 t/ha, and 3 t/ha rates were applied on watermelon, eggplant, tomatoes, and sweet pepper. Basal application of inorganic fertilizer of 20 kg each of N, P2O5, and K2O per hectare was done in all treatments. All other cultural management practices normally applied in vegetable production were done. Data on plant height, number of fruits per plant, length of fruits, diameter of fruits, weight of fruits per plant, and yield were gathered and analyzed. Bacterial wilt incidence on eggplant, tomato and sweet pepper was determined. The economic viability for each of the crop's package of technology was assessed through partial budgeting. Findings of the study revealed the following: Chemical analysis showed that vermicompost used in the experiment has 26.32% organic matter (DM); 2.09%; 2.57% P; 0.44% K; 1.04% Ca; 0.45% Mg; 73.50 ppm Cu; 118.75 ppm Zn; 1055 ppm Mn; and 3257.5 ppm Fe. It has a pH of 6.9. In watermelon, the fruit length, diameter, weight of fruits/plant, and yield were significantly influenced by vermicompost application, except for the length of vines and number of fruits. The highest fruit yield of 24.2 t/ha was obtained from plots applied with 3.0 t/ha vermicompost while the control plots yielded 14.4 t/ha. In eggplant, all parameters were markedly influenced by the application of the different rates of vermicompost, except for the fruit length and diameter. Tallest plants (89.3 cm), number of fruits/plant (8.8), heaviest weight of fruits (0.66 kg), and highest yield (17.7 t/ha) were obtained from plants, which received 3.0 t/ha vermicompost. On the other hand, shorter plants (82.5 cm), lesser number of fruits/plant (6.6), lighter weight of fruits per plant (0.35 kg) and lowest yield of 9.0 t/ha were obtained from the control plots. In tomatoes, the different rates of vermicompost generated significant variation on the fruit length and diameter, weight of fruits and fruit yield. The plant height and number of marketable fruits were not significantly influenced by the treatments. In sweet pepper, all parameters significantly increased compared with the control, regardless of the amount of vermicompost applied. The highest fruit yield of 11.0 t/ha was obtained from plants, which received 3.0 t/ha vermicompost. The control plots received the lowest yield of 7.9 t/ha. The application of vermicompost significantly lowered the severity of bacterial wilt incidence in sweet pepper while in eggplant and tomatoes, the infestation was slightly reduced by statistically comparable in all treatments. Partial budget analysis showed that the application of 3.0 t/ha vermicompost resulted in additional net returns per hectare of PhP 61,400 in watermelon, PhP 52,600 in eggplant, PhP 70,000 in tomato, and PhP 60,500 in sweet pepper.