INFLUENCE OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST (MSWC) ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF GREEN GRAM (VIGNA RADIATE (L) WILCZEK), FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM L.) AND ON SOIL QUALITY

Pot culture experiments were carried out to study the effect of characterized municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) amendments (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 g) with garden soil (6 kg) on the growth and the yield of green gram (Vigna radiata (L) wilczek) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) as well as changes on soil quality. The growth and the yield of green gram and fenugreek were enhanced by MSWC application upto 500 g. Soil amended with > 500 g MSWC inhibited the plants biometric parameters neither with-significantly nor without-significantly suggest a possible toxic effects to both plants. No dosage effect was detected for total chlorophyll synthesized, except green gram grown in 1000 g of MSWC amendments. Compared with control, percentage of protein was increased significantly upto 250 g for green gram and 500 g for fenugreek. A significant reduction in percentage of carbohydrates was observed above 750 g of MSWC exposure for green gram and above 500 g for fenugreek. There was no specific trend and significant changes were observed in percentage of reducing sugars in both plants except green gram exposed to 50 g MSWC exposure. There was no significant difference in all plant yield parameters of both plants except fenugreek seed weight in 250 g MSWC amendment. Generally, chemical parameters of soil are improved by the addition of MSWC, after 90 d of experimental period.