Performance of celery (Apium graveolens) in response to the combined effects of vermicompost and different vermiwash

Abstract

A field study was carried out during the dry season of 2020 at the University of Guyana, Guyana, South America, to determine the combined effects of vermicompost and vermiwash produced from lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus Staph (DC.)], moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), madar (Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw on growth parameters of celery (Apium graveolens L.) as compared to chemical fertilizer. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with 10 treatments and 3 replications. Plant-growth parameters showed that, treatment T1 (vermicompost + vermiwash + madar) recorded the highest plant height (61.0 cm) and percentage water content (92.5). Physico-chemical analysis after harvesting showed the highest nitrogen (14.5 mg/L), phosphorus (703.9 mg/L) and potassium (1326.2 mg/L) levels in the soil of treatment with vermicompost + vermiwash + madar (T₁).