TANVI TANEJA, MUKESH KUMAR, INDU SHARMA, M. K. RANA AND RAJ SINGH*
Department of Bio-Sciences and Technology, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala-133 207 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: dr.rajsingh09@gmail.com Mobile: 98979 90346)
(Received: January 2, 2024; Accepted: February 29, 2024)
ABSTRACT
Two significant issues in the context of sustainable economic operations include weeds that are harmful to the environment, people, and other living organisms, as well as the production and environmental costs for plant nutrition in agriculture. This study aimed at acquiring plant nutrition input with minimal environmental and production costs by using the weeds waste generated due to the undesirable methods adopted for the cultivation of cauliflower and cabbage. The study united these two challenges into a common denominator. The weeds, such as Parthenium hysteropherous, Solanum nigrum, Calotropis procera, and Trianthema portulacastrum, were used to prepare weed compost (WC). It was used as a source of nutrients for the cultivation of cauliflower and cabbage to provide nutrition to the plants. The weed composts at 100, 75, 50, and 25% concentration were used to study the germination rate, root length (cm), shoot length (cm), vigour index, number of leaves, number of roots, fresh and dry weight of 10 seedlings (g), and root to shoot length ratio of cabbage and cauliflower. These researches showed that the highest value observed in 100% concentration in Brassica oleracea var. botrytis germination rate (82%), mean germination frequency (16.4), seed vigour index (69), root length (5.1 cm), shoot length (10.8 cm), number of leaves (5), number of roots (15), fresh and dry weight of 10 seedlings (20 and 5 g), and in Brassica oleracea var. capitata germination rate (92%), mean germination frequency (18.4), seed vigour index (76.33), root length (5.3 cm), shoot length (7.4 cm), number of leaves (5), number of roots (19), fresh and dry weight of 10 seedlings (21 and 5.2 g). Root-shoot length ratio of cauliflower and cabbage varied at different concentrations. The findings revealed that adding weed organic manure to soil enhanced the plant development and yield.
Key words: Weed compost, seed germination, Brassica oleracea, sustainable economics