Title of Document: LOCAL LETTUCE: HEAT TOLERANT ROMAINE CULTIVARS AND VERMICOMPOST SOIL AMENDMENT TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC. Anna Wallis M.S., 2014 Directed By: Dr. Chris Walsh Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Local production of lettuce in the Mid-Atlantic utilizing heat-tolerant romaine cultivars and vermicompost soil amendment has the potential to significantly i...

Globally, there are a number of treatments indicated for the control of invasive alien plant species like parthenium. The production and use of vermicomposts from weeds or other wastes in agriculture is economical and eco-friendly. The unique advantage of using vermicomposting is that it helps to build and sustain soil condition and fertility for sustainable agricultural activities. The present...

Vermicomposting is a non-thermophilic, boioxidative process that involves earthworms and associated microbes. This biological organic waste decomposition process yields the biofertilizer namely the vermicompost. Vermicompost is a finely divided, peat like material with high porosity, good aeration, drainage, water holding capacity, microbial activity, excellent nutrient status and buffering cap...

A factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of super absorbents and organic wastes of rice, olive marc, vermicompost and farmyard manure on the soil water holding capacity and the growth of plant based on randomized complete block design with 13 treatments at two irrigation intervals 5 and 10 days. The olive saplings with same heights and better appearances were planted...

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi hold considerable potential for use as inoculant and nowadays much attention is focused on mass production of AM fungal inoculum, since this is of paramount importance in improving plant production in agriculture and horticulture. However, effectivity of these fungi on crop growth relies on their production practices, typically the substrate selected for its ma...

To identify environmental risks of vermicompost-borne pollutants after consecutive application for different times, pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of application of polluted vermicompost produced by Eisenia fetida on growth and Cu and Zn uptake of Mexico corn (Euchlaena mexicana) and Sudan grass (Sorghum hybrid Sudangrass) as well as soil characteristics. The results sho...

Micropropagation is an important technique for rapid and large-scale multiplication of selected plants. The type and concentration of plant growth regulators and physiological status of the explant have profound effect on the efficacy of plant regeneration. However, success of any micropropagation protocol depends upon the percentage survival and successful establishment of plants from in vitro...

It is known that in vermicomposting soil layer in bedding of the reactor helps in earthworm biomass growth and reproduction but growth is influenced by soil characteristics such as texture, pH, and water holding capacity. The present study was conducted to asses the influence of soils on earthworm biomass growth and reproduction during the vermicomposting of source separated human faeces. The s...

Soil applications with poultry refuse, cocodust, vermicompost, ash, sawdust, khudepana, cowdung, solarized sand, Trichoderma harzianum and or with seed treatment by T. harzianum were evaluated against damping off disease complex of potato and chilli. All the treatments significantly reduced percent damping off over control. T. harzianum treated seed along with soil treatment with T. harzianum p...