The Effects of Vermicompost and Phosphorus on the Development of Soybean Plant

Aims: Vermicompost (worm manure), which has gained importance in the last quarter of the century among innovative agricultural practices, has positive effects on both plant development and soil structure. The shortage of organic matter in soil reduces the productivity of agricultural production and hampers its continuity. Vermicompost products confer plant nutrient elements, various hormones, enzymes, humic substances and especially organic matter to the soil. This study aimed to study the effects of vermicompost application and phosphorus fertilizer rates on soybean in limy soil conditions.

Study Design: The affect of vermicompost applications was evaluated with four doses of vermicompost (Control, 1.5, 3, and % 6) in three doses of phosporus applications. So, 0, 50 ppm and 100 ppm phosporus blocks had all four doses of vermicompost. Optimum level (100 ppm N and 100 ppm K) of N and K fertilisers were applied to all plants tested. Total plant biomass, leaf wet and dry weights, bean wights, plant height and nitrogen compositions of leaf and bean were measured.

Results: The results were detected significant at % 1 on all parameters. As control plants’ leaf + scape wet and dry weights were measured 3.29 and 1.23 g respectively, they were measured 8.6 and 5.22 g at plants used vermicompost and phosphorus together. With vermicompost and phosphorus aplications, the phosphorus and nitrogen uptakes increased too. While control plants’ leaves have % 0.38 phosphorus content, it was measured % 0.84 at plant aplicated vermicompost and phosphorus.

Coclusion: As a result, we observed increased P uptake levels with increased doses of vermicompost application in limysoils.