Effect of vermicompost on yield and seed mucilage content of Plantago psyllium

This research was conducted to investigating of effect of different vermicompost substitutions (0, 25, 50, 75%) on yield and seed mucilage content of Plantago psyllium in a greenhouse experiments. In reproductive phase, spike number per plant, seeds number per spike, thousand seed weight, seed yield and seed mucilage properties were recorded. Results showed that 25% vermicompost substitution promoted the highest seed number per spike and thousand seed weight but the highest number of spikes per plant was observed in 50% vermicompost substitution.The highest seed yield, mucilage content and swelling factor were obtained in 50% vermicompost substitution that had no significant difference with 25% vermicompost. In contrast, 75% vermicompost substitution reduced dramatically these traits. However there is no significant difference between treatments and control for swelling a gram of mucilage Therefore, effectiveness of vermicompost depends on factors such as concentration.

Keywords:

Plantago psyllium , mucilage , vermicompost , Yield