Effects of kitchen-waste vermicompost on chlorophyll content, leaf area index, biomass and other growth characteristics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graceum Linn.) under field conditions

Kitchen-waste converted into vermicompost. using the earthworm, Eudrilus euginae (Kingberg) was stabilized to 70% by weight. When used for growing fenugreek, Trigonella foenum graceum Linn. (Fabaccae) under field conditions in a kitchen garden, it increased the germination by >90% compared to that of compost-free garden soil. The carbon content of compost and vermicompost was higher by 2.75 and 3.17 times respectively, than that of the compost-free garden soil. It indicates the presence of more humic acid substances in the vermicompost. Different growth traits viz. plant height, leaf number, leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content, biomass, branch length, number of lateral roots and root length in three different doses of compost and vermicompost of 80, 100 and 120 kg/ha, increased significantly (P>0.05) in the seedlings as compared to that of seedlings grown in the un-composted garden soil.