Biomanagement of lantana (Lantana camara L.) and congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) through vermicomposting and its response on soil fertility

The investigation was made for the biomanagement of lantana (Lantana camara L.) and congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) through vermicomposting using earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae. The mixture of cowdung and raw material of both the weeds was used in the ratio of 1:1. The vermicompost was ready for use within two months. The nutrient composition of vermicompost prepared from lantana and congress grass was higher than that of its substrates as well as FYM. Further, the effects of vermicompost prepared from different sources were evaluated on soil fertility and yield of wheat (PbW 343). For this, a field experiment was carried out using three different sources of organic manures viz. lantana vermicompost, congress grass vermicompost and FYM and three levels of recommended NPK fertilizers i.e. 33, 67 and 100% along with control. The higher grain and straw yield of wheat, maximum concentrations of available nutrients in soil were observed at 67% recommended NPK along with the different sources of vermicompost. Among organic manures, lantana vermicompost was found to be superior to congress grass and FYM in terms of nutrient composition as well as in increasing the yield of wheat. Among different treatments, 67% recommended NPK along with 10 tha⁻¹ lantana vermicompost was found to be the best treatment for increasing wheat yield and maintaining soil fertility.