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Author: search.filters.author.Meerabai, R SHas files: Yes

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    COMPOSTING OF COIRPITH AND ITS EFFECT ON GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL CONTENTS OF HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L. (Article)
    (Plant Archives, 2013) Sunitha Kumari, K; Meerabai, R S; Padmadevi, S N
    Continuous use of inorganic fertilizers lead to accumulation of injurious heavy metal ions, polluting the soil with precipitates of hydroxides, carbonates, sulphides and sulphates. These necessitate organic amendments to soil for environmental safety and soil health. One of the organic amendments is coir pith, but raw coir pith cannot be used as such due to its high C:N ratio. Present investigation was therefore carried out to find out a suitable technology to compost coirpith and to assess its efficacy on the growth and biochemical contents of an economically important plant (Helianthus annuus L.). For this, precomposting of coir pith (CP) by EM (Effective Micro organisms) technology followed by subsequent vermicomposting was carried out. The earthworm species used for the experimental study was Eudrillus eugeniae (Kingberg) and Eisenia foetida (Savigny). The extent of composting was adjudged based on the CO2 evolution, C:N ratio, macro and micro nutrients levels of composted coir pith (CCP) after different treatments. There was an increase in CO2 evolution and the levels of macro and micro nutrients in the coir pith composted by both the worms, without much difference when compared. However, C:N ratio was higher in the vermicomposted coir pith, when E. eugeniae was used. The composted coir pith (CCP) was amended to the soil in the plots at the rate of 5 t h-1, 10 t h-1 and 15 t h-1. The control plots were left unamended. This CCP was further used to find out its influence on the growth and yield of Helianthus annuus L. such as seed germination, root length, shoot length, vigour index, plant height, carbohydrate and protein contents of the leaves were assessed. It was found that CCP showed a positive influence on the above studied parameters in the fields amended with 15 t h-1. The iodine, saponification values of the seeds was more in the plants grown in the fields amended with 15 t h-1 of CCP, the oil content was more in 5 t h-1 of CCP and the plants grown in the control plot recorded higher fatty acid level.
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    COMPOSTING OF COIR PITH BY THE MUSHROOMS- PLEUROTUS FLORIDA (FR.) KUMM AND HYPSIZYGUS ULMARIUS (BULL. FR.) REDH (Article)
    (Plant Archives, 2013) Sunitha Kumari, K; Meerabai, R S; Padmadevi, S N
    Coir pith is a recalcitrant waste product of coir industry. Application of biotechnology for conversion of coir pith into useful biomass (mushroom) would not only solve the waste disposal problem, but also enhance the dietary status of the common man. The present experiment was designed to find out the biological efficiency of the mushroom to utilize coir pith as its substrate for growth. Two different types of mushrooms namely, Pleurotus florida (Fr.) Kumm and Hypsizygus ulmarius (Bull. Fr.) Redh were used for the study. The influence of the mushrooms on the physico-chemical characteristics of the coir pith, yield of the mushroom and its biological efficiency, along with the biochemical content of mushrooms were assessed. Coir pith (CP) composted by Pleurotus florida showed a reduction in pH, EC, bulk density, particle density, lignin, cellulose, hemi-cellulose and phenol content when compared to the CP composted by Hypsizygus ulmarius except for pore space and moisture content. There was drastic change in the C:N ratio, which narrowed down from 113.1:1 to 33.8:1. Likewise macro and micronutrients levels, which were analyzed did not show any significant difference among the CP composted by both the mushrooms except for iron. The maximum number of fruiting body was produced by Pleurotus florida (29/ bed) and Hypsizygus ulmarius (16/bed). Higher content of carbohydrate and protein was recorded in Pleurotus florida. The biological efficiency was comparatively higher in Pleurotus florida (16.52%) than Hypsizygus ulmarius (10.00%).