it was 60 g. The minimum dry weight of the root was 18 and 8 g was found in
C. Similar results were reported earlier (Pujari et al. 1977; Rojagopal et al. 1979;
Parthasarathi 1998. Babalad’s (2005) report highlights that the highest dry weight
and total dry matter were yielded by applying poultry manure to the chili plant
(Yadav and Vijayakumari 2003). Further, the authors have mentioned that the
increase in fresh weight of leaves, roots, and whole plant may be due to the higher
level of nitrogen from inorganic and biofertilizers which could stimulate amino acid
synthesis. This might have resulted in building of complex proteins and promoting
the growth of crop (Muthuswamy and Muthukrishnan 1971). Further reports prove
that the root volume or root diameter of chili has increased due to the application of
vermicompost along with other organic manures (Yadav and Vijayakumari 2003).
The increase in bulb diameter and length may be attributed to solubilization of plant
nutrients by the addition of vermicompost and FYM, leading to increased uptake of
NPK (Subbaih et al. 1982). The results were in agreement with the findings reported
by Renuka and Sankar (2001) and Giraddi (1993) in onion.
Finally, the root growth is reported to be dependent upon the water, the nutrient
availability, and the external applications of hormones (Lopez-Velez et al. 2003).
Root growth and lateral root formation were found to be good in nutrient-rich
environments, and the presence of hormone such as auxins was found to stimulate
plant growth, root development, butt formation, etc., (Forde and Lorenzo 2001).
Therefore, evidence proved that the development of morphology in the Raphanus
sativus L. was favored by the nutrient-rich and biologically active substrates like
compost and vermicompost when compared with the CF and C. The results obtained
in this study clearly indicate that Raphanus sativus L. respond to the application of
organic manures. In general, the plant treated with DSC, DSV, and VV consequently
resulted in greater values of root diameter, yield, and dry matter production of roots
than with the chemical fertilizer.
5.5 Effect of Heavy Metals in Organically Grown Radish
Organically cultivated DSC-, DSV-, VV-, C-, and CF-grown Raphanus sativus
L. was reported to accumulate heavy metals like Cu, Cd, Zn, Fe, and Mn. But the
obtained results were found to be within the limit of Indian standards (Table 5.3).
Hence, the distillery sludge-based vermicompost could be used for promoting plant
growth when compared with the chemical fertilizer.
5.6 Minerals
In this study, the highest content of minerals was found to be present in DSV than in
others (DSC, VV, C, and CF) (Table 5.3). The mineral content in the plant was as
follows: phosphorus, 0.215 mg/g; potassium, 2.65 mg/g; sodium, 0.58 mg/g;
76
S. Sugumar et al.
C. Similar results were reported earlier (Pujari et al. 1977; Rojagopal et al. 1979;
Parthasarathi 1998. Babalad’s (2005) report highlights that the highest dry weight
and total dry matter were yielded by applying poultry manure to the chili plant
(Yadav and Vijayakumari 2003). Further, the authors have mentioned that the
increase in fresh weight of leaves, roots, and whole plant may be due to the higher
level of nitrogen from inorganic and biofertilizers which could stimulate amino acid
synthesis. This might have resulted in building of complex proteins and promoting
the growth of crop (Muthuswamy and Muthukrishnan 1971). Further reports prove
that the root volume or root diameter of chili has increased due to the application of
vermicompost along with other organic manures (Yadav and Vijayakumari 2003).
The increase in bulb diameter and length may be attributed to solubilization of plant
nutrients by the addition of vermicompost and FYM, leading to increased uptake of
NPK (Subbaih et al. 1982). The results were in agreement with the findings reported
by Renuka and Sankar (2001) and Giraddi (1993) in onion.
Finally, the root growth is reported to be dependent upon the water, the nutrient
availability, and the external applications of hormones (Lopez-Velez et al. 2003).
Root growth and lateral root formation were found to be good in nutrient-rich
environments, and the presence of hormone such as auxins was found to stimulate
plant growth, root development, butt formation, etc., (Forde and Lorenzo 2001).
Therefore, evidence proved that the development of morphology in the Raphanus
sativus L. was favored by the nutrient-rich and biologically active substrates like
compost and vermicompost when compared with the CF and C. The results obtained
in this study clearly indicate that Raphanus sativus L. respond to the application of
organic manures. In general, the plant treated with DSC, DSV, and VV consequently
resulted in greater values of root diameter, yield, and dry matter production of roots
than with the chemical fertilizer.
5.5 Effect of Heavy Metals in Organically Grown Radish
Organically cultivated DSC-, DSV-, VV-, C-, and CF-grown Raphanus sativus
L. was reported to accumulate heavy metals like Cu, Cd, Zn, Fe, and Mn. But the
obtained results were found to be within the limit of Indian standards (Table 5.3).
Hence, the distillery sludge-based vermicompost could be used for promoting plant
growth when compared with the chemical fertilizer.
5.6 Minerals
In this study, the highest content of minerals was found to be present in DSV than in
others (DSC, VV, C, and CF) (Table 5.3). The mineral content in the plant was as
follows: phosphorus, 0.215 mg/g; potassium, 2.65 mg/g; sodium, 0.58 mg/g;
76
S. Sugumar et al.