12.2 Management of Parthenium Weed
Many methods have been devised to manage this weed like chemical, mechanical
and biological control methods (Morin et al. 2009), but the results were not so
promising due to one or other disadvantages (Garg and Bhardwaj 2000). There is a
need to explore beneficial uses of it if any. The biomass of this plant is never put to
any use and is simply disposed off in open or burnt. Out of various available options,
vermitechnology holds a great promise and is compatible with the weeds’ high
growth potential (Abbasi and Ramasamy 2001). Yadav and Garg (2011) have
reported that Parthenium hysterophorus can be effectively converted into
vermicompost if mixed in appropriate quantities with animal dung. Composting
process has also served as an important method for waste treatment. Today, the
introduction of earthworms in the composting process has met with fair success, and
the technique is known as vermitechnology. In this process, the biological degradation of organic waste takes place in controlled conditions due to earthworm feeding
on the materials. The end-product vermicomposting process is vermicompost which
is a stable fine granular organic matter, enriched with higher levels of nutrients (C, N,
P, K, Na, Mg and Ca).
In the vermicompost, some of the secretions of worms and the associated
microbes act as growth promoters along with other nutrients. When the organic
matter passes through the gut of earthworms, the vermicompost acquires enzymes
and hormones which can stimulate plant growth (Atiyeh et al. 2000; Zaller 2007;
Lazcano et al. 2010; Samrot et al. 2015) and improve yield and quality of fruits
(Singh et al. 2008; Doan et al. 2015). The organic carbon in vermicompost releases
the nutrients slowly and steadily into the system and enables the plant to absorb these
nutrients. The vermicompost influences the growth and yield of crops and causes a
positive impact on their overall growth (Ravindran et al. 2013).
Vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida of Parthenium hysterophorus mixed with
cow dung in different ratios (25%, 50% and 75%) in an 18 weeks’ experiment shows
that in all the treatments, a decrease in pH and C/N ratio but increase in EC, N total, P
available, Ca total, K total and heavy metals was recorded. The cocoon production
and growth rate were maximum in 100% cow dung. The results indicated that
Parthenium can be a raw material for vermicomposting if mixed with cow dung in
appropriate quantity (Yadav and Garg 2011). The macronutrients (N, P and K) and
micronutrients were increased in Parthenium-mediated vermicompost and decreased
in compost of Parthenium-mediated compost. Parthenium can be utilized effectively
as an organic manure by composting and vermicomposting and thereby control this
weed (Sivaraj and Narendhran 2013).
It was observed that Parthenium hysterophorus mixed with other organic supplements imparts suitable physicochemical conditions for maximum worm production and large-scale vermicompost production. The future research is required to
explore the utilization of Parthenium hysterophorus in vermicompost production to
enhance crop yield (Anbalagan and Manivannan 2012). Parthenium hysterophorus
can be used as additive for effective vermicomposting process of sludge. Maximum
12 Vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A Solution to Weed. . .
197
Many methods have been devised to manage this weed like chemical, mechanical
and biological control methods (Morin et al. 2009), but the results were not so
promising due to one or other disadvantages (Garg and Bhardwaj 2000). There is a
need to explore beneficial uses of it if any. The biomass of this plant is never put to
any use and is simply disposed off in open or burnt. Out of various available options,
vermitechnology holds a great promise and is compatible with the weeds’ high
growth potential (Abbasi and Ramasamy 2001). Yadav and Garg (2011) have
reported that Parthenium hysterophorus can be effectively converted into
vermicompost if mixed in appropriate quantities with animal dung. Composting
process has also served as an important method for waste treatment. Today, the
introduction of earthworms in the composting process has met with fair success, and
the technique is known as vermitechnology. In this process, the biological degradation of organic waste takes place in controlled conditions due to earthworm feeding
on the materials. The end-product vermicomposting process is vermicompost which
is a stable fine granular organic matter, enriched with higher levels of nutrients (C, N,
P, K, Na, Mg and Ca).
In the vermicompost, some of the secretions of worms and the associated
microbes act as growth promoters along with other nutrients. When the organic
matter passes through the gut of earthworms, the vermicompost acquires enzymes
and hormones which can stimulate plant growth (Atiyeh et al. 2000; Zaller 2007;
Lazcano et al. 2010; Samrot et al. 2015) and improve yield and quality of fruits
(Singh et al. 2008; Doan et al. 2015). The organic carbon in vermicompost releases
the nutrients slowly and steadily into the system and enables the plant to absorb these
nutrients. The vermicompost influences the growth and yield of crops and causes a
positive impact on their overall growth (Ravindran et al. 2013).
Vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida of Parthenium hysterophorus mixed with
cow dung in different ratios (25%, 50% and 75%) in an 18 weeks’ experiment shows
that in all the treatments, a decrease in pH and C/N ratio but increase in EC, N total, P
available, Ca total, K total and heavy metals was recorded. The cocoon production
and growth rate were maximum in 100% cow dung. The results indicated that
Parthenium can be a raw material for vermicomposting if mixed with cow dung in
appropriate quantity (Yadav and Garg 2011). The macronutrients (N, P and K) and
micronutrients were increased in Parthenium-mediated vermicompost and decreased
in compost of Parthenium-mediated compost. Parthenium can be utilized effectively
as an organic manure by composting and vermicomposting and thereby control this
weed (Sivaraj and Narendhran 2013).
It was observed that Parthenium hysterophorus mixed with other organic supplements imparts suitable physicochemical conditions for maximum worm production and large-scale vermicompost production. The future research is required to
explore the utilization of Parthenium hysterophorus in vermicompost production to
enhance crop yield (Anbalagan and Manivannan 2012). Parthenium hysterophorus
can be used as additive for effective vermicomposting process of sludge. Maximum
12 Vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A Solution to Weed. . .
197