Pre-Planting Treatments of Stem Cutting with Vermicompost Tea Affecting Rooting and Growth Yields of Different Cassava Varieties

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of the pre-planting treatment of stem cutting with different vermicompost tea concentrations on the rooting, budding, and root biomass of cassava. The completely randomized design (CRD) was used with three replications. The stem cutting of three cassava varieties (Rayong 7, Rayong 9 and Kasetsart 50) were soaked into the different solutions consisting of un-treated (control), 0% VM tea (distilled water), 50% VM tea, and 100% VM tea. Root and bud number and root dry weight were monitored at 7, 14 and 21 days after planting. Results showed that the numbers of cassava root pre-treated with vermicompost tea treatments were significantly increased compared to control. The number of cassava root grown in soil amended with 50% and 100% of the original vermicompost tea concentration were increased by 41.69% and 36.56%, respectively and the buds were increased by 44.09% and 44.18%, respectively compared to the control. The dry weights of root were also increased significantly average 213% and 292%. Therefore, this study indicated that pre-treating cassava stem cutting of three varieties with vermicompost tea before planting had a positive effect on initial root development, bud and root growth. Because of vermicompost tea had organic substances: humic acids, fuvic acids and plant- growths regulators hormone and plant nutrients on cassava growth.