Scientific Trials

The following abstracts relate to independent scientific trials here and overseas of both solid and liquid vermicast products.

Fungicidal benefit on persimmons:

"The efficacy of applied micro-organisms for the control of botrytis-induced fruit abortion in persimmons" - Philip Barlow, Barlow Soil and Crop Horticultural Consultants, Oct 2002-Jan 2003.

Blocks treated with Wormtech Liquid and another bio-fungicide were compared with blocks treated with synthetic chemical fungicides including Roveral(R) and Scala(R). Aborted fruit were significantly less for the Wormtech and the other bio-fungicide treated blocks than for the chemical treated block.

"Given the serious nature of the problem for persimmon growers, along with great loss of yield and considering the promising results gained thus far, we shall be recommending bio-fungicides for botrytis control but will be carefully monitoring the results."

For a full copy of the report contact Wormtech.

Influence of vermiwash on the biological productivity of marigold

Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India April-June 2004 Madras Agric. J.

Abstract: A pot culture experiment was conducted during 1998-1999 to know the impact of Vermiwash on the growth and yield of African marigold along with other organic sprays such as cow dung extract, vermicast extract and cow's urine at the Observation on growth and yield parameters were taken.

The results revealed that vermiwash spray enhanced the growth parameters (plant height, number of laterals, number of leaves and leaf area) and yield parameters (number of days to flowering, number of flowers per plant and flower weight). From the results it could be seen that extracts from earthworms offer a valuable resource which could be effectively exploited for increasing the production of ornamentals like marigold.