Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 26, Aug Suppl. Issue, 2020; Page No.(330-338)

GROWTH PROMOTION EFFECTS OF HUMIC ACIDS ISOLATED FROM CO-COMPOST PREPARED USING FISH PROCESSING WASTE AND SUGARCANE BAGASSE ON SEEDS OF FABACEAE FAMILY

Aranganathan L., Radhika Rajasree S.R., Sivarathna Kumar S., Gayathri S., Remya R.R., Suman T.Y., Govindaraju K. and Jayaseelan C.

Abstract

Humic acids act as growth promoting agents to enhance plant growth and are considered as vital organic input to increase agricultural productivity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the growth promotion effects of humic acids isolated from fish processing waste and sugarcane bagasse co-compost on seeds belonging to Fabaceae family. Various concentrations of humic acids ranging from 0.02-0.1% was treated to the seeds and growth parameters such as root length, shoot length and seed vigour index were recorded. Among the four seeds tested, maximum root length was observed in V.radiata (11±1.61 cm) and V.mungo (10.3 ± 0.35 cm) treated with 0.02 % of humic acids. Similarly, maximum shoot length was observed in V. radiata (14.1 ± 2.02 cm) at 0.02 % concentration of humic acids. High concentration of humic acids resulted reduction in the growth of the seedlings. Maximum shoot length (9 ± 0.79 cm) was recorded in Vigna mungo treated with high concentration (0.1%) of humic acids. Highest SVI (2510) was identified in V.radiata seeds treated with 0.02% concentration of humic acids. The preliminary study results identified that treatment of humic acids promoted the growth of V.radiata and V.mungo seedlings whereas less growth response was observed in Vigna unguiculata and Cicer arietinum seedlings. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that humic acids derived from co-compost produced using biological waste such as fish processing waste and sugarcane bagasse could be used as valuable organic growth enhancing agent to promote plant growth and crop productivity.