response of bush bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.) seedling emergence and growth to different vermicompost amounts

recently, increase in crop production depends on better seedling establishment, emergence rate and uniformity. thus, an experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with 8 fertilizer treatments and 4 replications in 2008 at sari agricultural sciences and natural resources university. the aim of this research was to evaluate effect of vermicompost (vc) on bush bean seedling emergence parameters. the treatments were three levels of vc (15, 30 and 45 mg ha-1 alone and plus with 50% chemical fertilizer), chemical fertilizer (100 kg ha-1 urea, potassium sulfate, triple super phosphate) and a control (no vermicompost or chemical fertilizer application). among all treatments, strongly linear regression was observed between cer and fer and shoot and root dry weight, however, amount of these traits was greater in 15 and 30 mg ha-1 than other treatments specially, control and chemical fertilizers. analysis of data showed that the highest of field emergence rate, cumulating emergence rate and seedling and root length was obtained in 15 mg enriched vc per hectare and maximum chlorophyll content, aerial parts and seedling dry weight was belonged to 30 mg enriched vc per hectare. the orthogonal contrasts revealed that 30 mg ha-1 compost was caused significant increases field emergence rate (36.18%), cumulating emergence rate (49.82%), leaf area (44.67%), seedling fresh and dry weight (60.56% and 74.04%) compared to 45 mg ha-1 compost.