Effect of vermiwash prepared from livestock biowaste as vermiponics medium on the growth and biochemical indices of Amaranthus viridis L.

With rising urban sprawl, the rural villages are getting transformed into urban villages and land constraints are increasing in cities, so it is difficult to designate land for farming. In this case for ensuring food security, innovative technologies like vertical indoor farming through vermiponics and aquaponics can be an alternative option for urban farming. The present study highlights the evaluation of growth and biochemical characteristics of a green vegetable, Amaranthus viridis L. in different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of cattle dung derived vermiwash (vermiponics) and aquarium water (aquaponics) with tap water as a control. The growth indices such as shoot length, root weight, shoot weight, number of primary and secondary roots, the total number of leaves, leaf area, and wet weight of A. viridis were significantly higher in 100% vermiponics (P<0.05). A maximum of 1.96 mg/g protein and 0.98 mg/g carbohydrates was recorded in 100% vermiwash treatment. Vermiwash showed significantly higher nutrients than aquarium water, which probably influenced the growth and biochemical indices of A. viridis. Conclusively, the integration of vermitechnology with hydroponics technology in vertical indoor farming can be a suitable and sustainable alternative for the futuristic urban farming methods. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the growth and biochemical characteristics of Amaranthus viridis L. in different concentrations of cattle dung derived vermiwash and aquarium water. It found that integrating vermitechnology with hydroponics in vertical indoor farming can be a suitable and sustainable alternative for futuristic urban farming.