Vermicompost Tea: Effects on Germination of Saluyot (Corchorus olitorius) [ 2017]

Jerald Anthony C. Esteban ^* , Imarie C. Taga-an, Belen P. Ocoy , nd Marlon J. Miculob

Abstract

Vermicompost tea is an organic derivative of vermitechnology with reported soluble mineral nutrients, organic acids and water-soluble plant growth regulators that enhance root development and stimulate seed germination. To further investigate, this study was conducted to test the effects of vermicompost tea on seed germination of saluyot (Corchorus olitorius). In order to produce fresh vermicompost tea of known sources, 2 kg of adult earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) were released onto vermibed containing cow manure: rice straw: kakawate leaves: chopped banana trunks (2:1:1:1 w/w) mixture. Prior to this, the substrate was subjected to 15-day anerobic decomposition. The bed was covered with coconut leaves, moistened daily and allowed to decompose under aerobic conditions for 40 days with manual turning over at seven-day intervals for the first three weeks. The granular tea-like vermicompost on the upper surface of the beds were harvested with the earthworms at 30-40 days after aerobic decomposition. The vermicompost tea (VT) was prepared using 2 kg of the vermicompost brewed overnight in 15 L non-chlorinated water, supplemented with 1 kg of molasses, brewed for 3 days then supplied with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 100 ?g/ml. Seeds of C. olitorious were soaked for 24 hours before placing in petri dishes with filter treated with 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, and 100% VT replicated three time. Filter paper soaked in distilled water and GA3 served as controls. Based on the results, germination was highest in GA3 (60.08%) followed by water (49.22%) and 10% VT (51.25%). Highest root length (4.07 cm), shoot length (7.93cm), and vigor index (608.23) was recorded in 10% VT. Increasing the concentrations of VT resulted to low germination and poor seedling growth. Saluyot leaves are used as vegetables, cooked as stew and eaten with rice. Similar with other wild plant species, saluyot seeds exhibit dormancy resulting to low germination.