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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Soils".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2022) | Viewed by 23131

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Prof. Dr. Gederts Ievinsh

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Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, 1 Jelgavas Str., LV-1004 Rīga, Latvia
Interests: plant functional diversity; coastal plants; plant interactions; plant adaptations; halophytes, salinity; edaphic factors, nitrophytes; metal tolerance and accumulation, metalophytes; phytoremediation; Green Walls
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Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable crop production requires new means of fertilization in light of both the use of renewable resources and improving soil quality. The processing of biological waste by the concerted action of earthworms and microorganisms leads to the production of vermicompost—an organic fertilizer with high microbiological activity, rich in mineral nutrients and humic substances. Vermicompost is an extremely promising type of amendment, as evidenced by many studies at laboratory and field level, as well as the results of practical application. In organic farming, vermicompost can be used as a basal soil fertilizer, providing plant-available mineral nutrients and organic matter as a source for additional nutrients and microbiological activity. In conventional farming, vermicompost can substitute chemical fertilizers. It is evident that the benefits from the application of vermicompost in agriculture are related to direct and indirect effects on crop plants as well as to the improvement of soil properties leading to a long-term increase in soil sustainability. However, the lack of understanding of specific mechanisms of beneficial influence hinders the ability to scientifically predict the outcome of vermicompost application in different crop production systems. Therefore, additional scientific knowledge is necessary to characterize functional relationships involved in vermicompost production and after its application in soil, leading to a certain quality of use of this organic fertilizer. Contributions to this topic are welcome reporting results both from laboratory and field studies concerning earthworm/microorganism/soil/plant interactions at different levels from vermicompost production to application, including those related to crop yield and quality.

Prof. Dr. Gederts Ievinsh
Guest Editor

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Keywords

vermicompost
organic fertilizer
sustainable crop production
soil sustainability
mineral nutrition
microbiological activity
organic farming

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 9576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Biochar and Animal Manures Application on Ammonia and Nitrate Concentrations in the Root and Shoot of Three Varieties of Turnips

by George F. Antonious, Eric T. Turley, Buddhi R. Gyawali and Angel C. Freeman

Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010137 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1829

Abstract

Many investigators have focused on the impact of fertilizers on crop yield and ignored fertilizers impact on the plants composition. The impact of seven types of soil treatments (sewage sludge, horse manure, chicken manure, vermicompost, elemental organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and native soil) and similar seven treatments amended with biochar on the concentrations of NH₃ and NO₃ in the roots and shoots of three commercial varieties of turnips, Brassica rapa was investigated. The three varieties (Purple Top White Globe PTWG, Scarlet Queen Red SQR, and Tokyo Cross TC) varied in concentrations of NH₃ and NO₃ levels. High levels of NO₃ in edible plants is associated with harmful effects on human health, due to the risk of creation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. NO₃ in SQR roots and shoots (edible greens) was greater than varieties PTWG and TC. The concentration of NH₃ averaged 20.2, 12.8, and 8.9 µg g⁻¹ fresh turnip roots, whereas NO₃ values averaged 107.6, 64.1, and 62.9 µg g⁻¹ fresh turnip roots in varieties SQR, PTWG, and TC, respectively. Regardless of soil amendment type, the concentration of NH₃ in the shoots (44.0 µg g⁻¹) was greater than the roots (15 µg g⁻¹). On the contrary, NO₃ was higher in the roots (89.4 µg g⁻¹) compared to the shoots (67.6 µg g⁻¹ fresh tissue). Overall, biochar added to vermicompost amended soil increased NH₃ by 73% compared to vermicompost not amended with biochar. Regarding acceptable daily intake (ADI) for NO₃, none of the three varieties analyzed constitute any NO₃ adverse effects on normal human intake. Similarly, consuming turnips grown in any of the animal manures tested do not represent any hazardous issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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14 pages, 1123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How the Composition of Substrates for Seedling Production Affects Earthworm Behavior

by Sandra Ečimović, Mirna Velki, Alma Mikuška, Jelena Bažon, Lucija Sara Kovačić, Suzana Kristek, Jurica Jović, Franjo Nemet, Katarina Perić and Zdenko Lončarić

Agriculture 2022, 12(12), 2128; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12122128 - 11 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1916

Abstract

The constant increase in the intensity of agricultural production simultaneously increases the risk of negative effects of long-term agricultural practices. By-products of agricultural, forestry, and food production, as well as other types of organic waste, can be used as raw materials in the production of organic fertilizers and substrates for seedling cultivation through various processes of biological stabilization. In this way, the amount of waste is reduced, which contributes to the preservation of soil fertility and the sustainable use of resources. During waste processing and the stabilization of organic matter can be improved by using earthworms (vermicomposting). The aim of this study was to determine how different substrates, composed of different components and their mixtures, affect the earthworm Eisenia andrei. The effects of investigated substrates on the survival and behavior of earthworms were monitored. In addition, the effect of tested substrates on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CES), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was also assessed. The results showed that the most suitable substrates were leaves with horse manure and grape pomace alone and in combination with rock wool and sawdust. The obtained results provide important information on components and mixtures that have the greatest potential in the production of organic fertilizers and substrates for growing seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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18 pages, 7607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vermicompost Amendment in Soil Affects Growth and Physiology of Zea mays Plants and Decreases Pb Accumulation in Tissues

by Zaiga Landorfa-Svalbe, Māra Vikmane and Gederts Ievinsh

Agriculture 2022, 12(12), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12122098 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1604

Abstract

Minimization of the possible harmful effects of soil pollution on agricultural production and food safety are the major challenges in modern agriculture. There is great scientific interest in the detailed understanding of the physiology of lead uptake and toxicity in Zea mays, together with the search for approaches to minimizing Pb accumulation in tissues. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility of reducing Pb accumulation in Z. mays plants cultivated in Pb-contaminated soil, by means of vermicompost amendment. Z. mays plants were cultivated at three soil vermicompost amendment rates (10, 20, and 30%), with the addition of 1000 mg L⁻¹ of Pb in the form of Pb(NO₃)₂ or an equivalent amount of nitrogen in the form of NH₄NO₃. Additional nitrogen had a significant stimulatory effect on plant growth and physiology, but only for control plants, and at a low vermicompost amendment rate. Independently, Pb had an insignificant negative effect on plant growth and biomass partitioning, but significantly negatively affected the mineral nutrition of Z. mays plants. At a 10 and 20% soil vermicompost amendment rate, the Pb concentration in plant leaves and roots decreased by 65%, while plant biomass increased four to five times in comparison to soil-grown control plants, together with accelerated flowering. It was concluded that vermicompost is one of the most promising soil amendments for reducing heavy metal uptake and accumulation in crop plants, while also being an efficient organic fertilizer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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20 pages, 1688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid, Clean, and Sustainable Bioprocessing of Toxic Weeds into Benign Organic Fertilizer

by Dhandapani Banupriya, Tabassum-Abbasi, Tasneem Abbasi and Shahid Abbas Abbasi

Agriculture 2022, 12(10), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101511 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1666

Abstract

A recent report in this journal from these authors, which shows that vermicomposting transforms a toxic weed such as lantana into a benign organic fertilizer, can be of practical utility only if processes can be developed for rapid, inexpensive, and sustainable vermicomposting of these weeds. This paper describes attempts leading to such a process for the vermicomposting of toxic and allelopathic weeds lantana (Lantana camara), parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus), and ipomoea (Ipomoea carnea). For it, the ‘high-rate vermicomposting’ concept was employed due to which the weeds could be used for vermicomposting directly in each case without the need for pre-composting or any other form of pretreatment. The manure worm Eisenia fetida, which had been cultured on cowdung as feed and habitat, was slow to adapt to the weed-feed but survived and then began to thrive, in all the three weeds, enabling the weeds’ sustained and efficient vermicomposting throughout the 16 month’s uninterrupted operation of the vermireactors. In all cases the extent of vermicast production per unit time showed a rising trend, indicating that the rate of vermicomposting was set to rise further with time. The vermicomposting was found to accompany a 50 ± 10% loss of organic carbon of each weed with a 50 ± 10% increase in the concentration of total nitrogen as also the weed’s additional mineralization. The combined effect was a significant lowering of the carbon-nitrogen ratio, and enrichment of all major, medium, and trace nutrients in the vermicomposts relative to their parent substrates. The findings establish that sustained, direct, and rapid transformation to organic fertilizers of even toxic and allelopathic weeds can be accomplished with the high-rate vermicomposting paradigm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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16 pages, 876 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Sulfur-Enriched Vermicompost on the Growth of Brassica chinensis L. and the Spodoptera litura Fabricius Larvae Feeding

by Chang-Jun Fong, Yi-Yuan Chuang and Hung-Yu Lai

Agriculture 2022, 12(4), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12040494 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2363

Abstract

(1) Background: Vermicompost is enriched with plant essential nutrients and has been shown to suppress the incidence of pests; however, its potential is affected by its food sources. (2) Methods: Earthworms were fed cabbage or pig manure to produce two vermicomposts enriched in sulfur and nutrients, respectively. A pot experiment and a feeding experiment were then conducted to determine whether the application of the vermicomposts and sulfur could increase soil fertility, promote the growth of Brassica chinensis L., and inhibit the growth of Spodoptera litura Fabricius larvae. (3) Results: The characteristics of the vermicomposts were mainly affected by the food sources, and vermicomposted cabbage was found to have a higher sulfur content than vermicomposted pig manure. The application of the vermicomposts enhanced the concentrations of organic matter and available phosphorus, as well as the exchange concentrations of potassium, cadmium, and magnesium in the soil. Moreover, the growth of and the accumulated phosphorus and sulfur in the B. chinensis L. samples significantly increased when the plants were grown in soils treated with the two vermicomposts. Hence, the addition of vermicomposted cabbage and sulfur fertilizers can decrease the relative growth rate, total consumption, efficiency of conversion of ingested food, and relative consumption rate of S. litura larvae, possibly due to the increase in leaf sulfur concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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16 pages, 1935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valorization of Quality of Vermicomposts and Composts Using Various Parameters

by Monika Jakubus and Weronika Michalak-Oparowska

Agriculture 2022, 12(2), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020293 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2696

Abstract

Due to the increasing biomass of biowaste it is necessary to manage it rationally. This work presents comparisons and valorization of vermicomposts (VCs) and composts (Cs) prepared from various biowastes generated in households and private gardens, in terms of their practical use. The tested VCs and Cs were subjected to chemical analyses to assess the amounts of macro- (N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca, Na) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni), as well as contents of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), humic compounds (HS) and labile and water extractable organic carbon (LC, WEOC). Moreover, humification indexes (HR, HI, DP) were determined. The amounts of macro- and micronutrients, OM, TOC, LC, WEOC were greater for vermicomposts. Regardless of these differences, both vermicomposts and composts were characterized by considerable amounts of organic matter ranging from 325 to 631 g·kg⁻¹ and TOC amounting from 82 to 270 g·kg⁻¹. Moreover, the tested organic fertilizers were characterized by high contents of N (7–21.5 g·kg⁻¹), K (3.7–24.4 g·kg⁻¹), Ca (12.2–44.0 g·kg⁻¹), Fe (133.1–333.8 mg·kg⁻¹) and Mn (71.5–113.8 mg·kg⁻¹). The analyzed VCs and Cs did not exceed the permissible amounts of heavy metals (Cr, Pb) and contained a comparable amount and quality of humus compounds. The level of C_HS ranged from 29.6 to 41 g·kg⁻¹ for vermicomposts, and from 19.8 to 51.8 g·kg⁻¹ for composts. The humification indexes indicate that VCs and Cs were well–matured despite different composting conditions. The HI values for VCs ranged from 8.3% to 10% and for Cs amounted from 12.2% to 16.8%. Similarly, the HR values were higher for composts (24.3–33%) in comparison to VCs (15.2–20.1%). Vermicomposting and composting of biowaste is economically and environmentally justified. Fertilizers obtained in the composting process are a valuable source of organic material and nutrients essential for plants and can be safely used in private gardens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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12 pages, 632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Biochar and Vermiwash to Improve Biological Activities of Soil

by Michelangelo Becagli, Iduna Arduini and Roberto Cardelli

Agriculture 2022, 12(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020178 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3598

Abstract

The recycling of key nutrients and bioenergy from waste materials is a goal of sustainable agriculture. The co-application of biochar and a vermicompost solution (vermiwash) could enhance the positive effects of both materials on soil biomass and biological activities. Tomato plants were grown in soil amended with biochar, mixed at a rate of 2% w/w, and vermiwash, applied through fertigation at a rate of 25 mg per plant, alone (B and V) and in combination (BV). Organic C, dissolved organic C (DOC), soil biomass C, and some enzymatic activities were determined at the start (T0) and the end (T100) of the cultivation period in bulk soil and rhizosphere soil. B and V significantly increased the organic C and soil biomass contents. In addition, B retained the DOC species derived from the soil and, in the BV treatment, also the humic substance of the vermiwash. Generally, all the parameters achieved higher values in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. The altered soil index three (AI3) of enzyme activities suggests that applying V and B is helpful for the soil microorganisms. Synergisms between B and V were low in the bulk soil and clearly evident in the rhizosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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9 pages, 2087 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study of the Fertilizer-Cum-Pesticide Effect of Vermicomposts Derived from Cowdung and the Toxic Weed Lantana

by Naseer Hussain, Tabassum-Abbasi, Tasneem Abbasi and Shahid Abbas Abbasi

Agriculture 2021, 11(12), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121263 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2630

Abstract

The effect of vermicomposts, derived either from cowdung or the pernicious invasive plant lantana (Lantana camara), has been assessed on the seed germination, plant growth, fruit yield, quality of the produce, and disease resistance of a common vegetable, ladies finger (Abelmoschus esculentus).Seeds of A. esculentus were germinated and grown in soil fertilized with 0, 2.5, 3.75 and 5 t ha⁻¹ of lantana or cowdung vermicompost for 4 months. It was seen that the lantana vermicompost performed at par or better than the cowdung vermicompost in terms of most of the growth and yield parameters observed. Both the vermicomposts encouraged the germination, growth as well as the yield of ladies fingers. The fruits harvested from the vermicompost-treated plots had greater concentrations of minerals, proteins and carbohydrates than the control plants. Vermicomposts also reduced the incidence of pest attacks on the plants. The results confirm that vermicomposting destroys the harmful ingredients of lantana and turns it into as good a biofertilizer, perhaps even better than the vermicompost of cow-dung. The very large quantities of lantana biomass that is generated in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world every year, which presently go to waste, now appear capable of becoming a source of organic fertilizer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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18 pages, 8541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Substrate-Dependent Effect of Vermicompost on Yield and Physiological Indices of Container-Grown Dracocephalum moldavica Plants

by Alise Ose, Una Andersone-Ozola and Gederts Ievinsh

Agriculture 2021, 11(12), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11121231 - 7 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2741

Abstract

The development of sustainable plant production systems involves a search for different alternatives to chemical fertilizers. The aim of the present study is to compare growth and physiological effects of vermicompost on Dracocephalum moldavica plants in controlled conditions, using two types of commercially available substrates. The intention is to determine whether nondestructively measured photosynthesis-related parameters are useful for monitoring the physiological status of plants. The plants were cultivated in two base substrates without or with the addition of mineral fertilizer, as well as an amendment with vermicompost at a 20% or 30% rate in the conditions of an automated greenhouse. The biomass accumulation for control plants of D. moldavica was identical in peat substrate and commercial garden soil. The average growth increase by mineral fertilizer was 25% for D. moldavica plants grown in peat and 15% for plants grown in soil. Substrate amendment with 20% vermicompost resulted in an 114% average increase in biomass for plants grown in peat and a 98% average increase for plants grown in soil, but for plants at 30% the amendment rate increase was 148% and 68%, for peat and soil, respectively. Consequently, the addition of an identical amount of vermicompost resulted in a poorer growth response of plants in commercial garden soil as a substrate in comparison to peat, but an increase in the amendment rate from 20% to 30% resulted in some growth inhibition for these plants. Chlorophyll concentration was positively affected by the vermicompost amendment in a concentration-dependent manner, but this effect during a cultivation period appeared relatively late. Large differences were found between the three groups of fluorescence-derived parameters, with variable levels of predictability with respect to the differences in plant yield due to the pronounced variation in correlation through time. It is concluded that the incorporation of vermicompost for the cultivation of D. moldavica, even in substrate mixes with relatively high and balanced composition of plant-available nutrients, benefits plant growth, physiological status and biomass yield, but it is necessary to explore interactions between vermicompost and other substrates leading to possible changes in quality-related characteristics of vermicompost in substrate mixes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vermicompost in Sustainable Crop Production)

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