Comparative Assessment of Cow Manure Vermicompost and NPK Fertilizers and on the Growth and Production of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) Flower

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the comparative effect of cow manure vermicompost and NPK fertilizers on the growth and flower production of Zinnia ( Zinnia elegans ) . An air dried sandy loam soil was mixed with four rates of NPK fertilizer equivalent to 0 (control), 0.5 dose (N-P-K = 69-16-35 kg &#183 ha &#45 1 ), 1 dose (recommended) (N-P-K = 137-32-70 kg &#183 ha &#45 1 ), 2 doses (N-P-K = 274-64-140 kg &#183 ha &#45 1 ) and 4 doses (N-P-K = 548-128-280 kg &#183 ha &#45 1 ) and three rates of vermicompost equivalent to 5%, 10%, 20% by oven dry weight. Two plants were grown in each pot. After blooming of flowers, the plants were harvested at 50 days of growth and leaves and stems were separated. The growth parameters (shoot height, root length, leaf number, total number of flower, flower diameter, fresh and dry weight of flower) of Zinnia plant increased by the application of vermicompost and the effect of NPK fertilizer was not found effective. The growth performance was similar between 10% and 20% and hence 10% vermicompost should be taken into consideration when ornamental plants are grown in potting media.