Margit Olle from Aru Agricultural Ltd. and NPO Veggies Cultivation participated as keynote speaker at the World Conference on Agriculture, Aquaculture and Food Science on 10-11.11.2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. Travel grant was provided by the National Foundation of Civil Society in Estonia, the State Shared Service Centre (in Estonia) and Aru Agricultural Ltd.
Oral presentation
The effect of vermicompost and vermicompost tea on plant growth, yield, quality and plant protection – a review.
Margit Olle1,2
1 Aru Agricultural Ltd. Vandu tee 17, Hulja, Lääne-Virumaa, 45203, Estonia
2 NPO Veggies Cultivation, Kesa 60, Tartu, 50115, Estonia
Abstract
This review specializes on the influence of vermicompost on the crop production. The second aim of this review is to describe the effect of vermicompost tea on plants growth, yield, quality and plant protection. Vermicompost is high in macro and micronutrients, vitamins, growth hormones, enzymes such as proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulase, and chitinase, and immobilized microflora. Vermicompost tea is a liquid vermicompost solution made by combining vermicompost with water and fermenting it for a set period of time. There are two kinds of compost tea: aerated compost tea and nonaerated compost tea. Nutrients and microorganisms are extracted from compost while it is steeped in water. Aerated tea is made by aerating well-matured compost suspended in water for 12 to 24 hours. Nonaerated tea is made by suspending compost or a bag of compost in a bucket of water for 14 days so that nutrients and anaerobic microorganisms are extracted, which are then used to enhance growth and strength in crops. Vermicompost can be produced "on-farm" at a low cost using simple techniques, whereas chemical fertilizers are high-tech and expensive products produced in factories. Vermicompost and vermicompost tea improves germination, growth, biomass and yield in plants. Vermicompost and vermicompost tea increased mineral nutrients in plants. Vermicompost and vermicompost tea also resulted in higher antioxidant activity and total phenolics in plants than synthetic fertilization. Vermicompost and vermicompost tea have been widely used for the management of plant diseases and pests. As a result, these organic fertilizers are regarded as viable alternatives to chemical pesticides and fungicides, and they should be used more frequently to prevent disease and ensure food security and safety.
Key words: plant growth, plant protection, quality, vermicompost, vermicompost tea, yield
VIDEO OF ORAL PRESENTATION
ADDITIONAL VIDEO OF VERMICOMPOST FARM PRESENTED TOGETHER WITH ORIGINAL KEYNOTE ORAL PRESENTATION
On a very high level presented presentations made this conference a success. The program and abstract book can be found here:
Conference had very good scientific presentations. Two presentations (very interesting to my colleagues) with prior approval can be found here: