~ 976 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2021; 10(9): 976-981 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.23 TPI 2021; 10(9): 976-981 © 2021 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 02-07-2021 Accepted: 11-08-2021 Laxman Ram Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India Arun Kumar Jha Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India Shriman Kumar Patel Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India Ajeet Kumar Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India Amarjeet Kumar Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India Corresponding Author: Laxman Ram Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India Response of vermicompost and levels of nitrogen on growth, yield and yield attributes in pea (Pisum sativum L.) rhizosphere Laxman Ram, Arun Kumar Jha, Shriman Kumar Patel, Ajeet Kumar and Amarjeet Kumar Abstract The present investigation “Effect of vermicompost and levels of nitrogen on growth, yield and yield attributes in pea (Pisum sativum L.) rhizosphere” Pot experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications. Details of treatments are as under T1 - Control, T2 -N40:P60:K50 (Kg ha -1 ), T3 -N20:P60: K50 (Kg ha -1 ), T4 -Vermicompost @ 5 t ha -1 , T5-enriched Vermicompost @5 t ha -1 , T6-N20:P60:K50 + vermicompost @ 2.5tha -1 , T7-N2O: P60: K50+ enriched vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha -1 , and T8- N10: P60: K50+ enriched vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha -1 . Based on the experimental results, it may said that enriched vermicompost contained higher mineral element content than normal vermicompost. Treatment T7- (N2O:P60:K50+enriched vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha -1 ) was found to be superior to all other treatments in increasing growth, nodulation and yield of the pea. Nodule count and pod yield with this treatment were 12.09% and 7.33% higher than those recorded with RDF. Keywords: Pisum sativum, enriched vermicompost, NPK, yield Introduction Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the worlds’ top 10 vegetable crops and ranks among the top 10. Pea is widely used worldwide in human diets and is rich in protein (21 -25%), carbohydrates, vitamin A and C, Ca, phosphorous and has high levels of amino acids lysin and trypophan (Bhat et al., 2013) [3] . Its cultivation maintains soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation in association with symbiotic rhizobium prevalent in its root nodules and thus play a vital role in fostering sustainable agriculture (Negi et al., 2006) [17] . Nitrogen (N) is necessary for life. The ultimate source of nitrogen used by plants is N2 gas, which constitutes 78% of the earth’s atmosphere. Higher plants, unfortunately, can not directly metabolized N2 into protein. The quantities of NH3 and NO3 - available to plants depend largely on the amounts applied as N fertilizers and mineralized from organic soil N. The amount released form organic N, and to some extent those existing in the soil after the addition of NH4 + or NO3 - depend on factors affecting nitrogen mineralization, immobilization, and losses from the soil (Tisdale et al., 1993) [28] . Sustainable agriculture relies greatly on renewable resources like biologically fixed nitrogen or product prepared from waste and residues. Vermicompost is one of the potential renewable resources which can offer sustainability in agriculture. But, due to lesser NPK content in recycled waste and residues these are not becoming popular among farming community. However, use of these renewable resources in agriculture is essential on sustainability consideration. Thus, these renewable resources are required to be enriched. Vermicompost has been proved important agricultural input having potential to sustain fertility of the soil. Its nutritional content can further be increased by enriching it with nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Kumar and Singh, 2001) [12] . Enrichment of vermicompost with rock phosphate, phosphogypsum, Azolla, Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria also improves nutritional status of vermicompost (Rani and Jha, 2018) [21] . The vermicompost (The compost made from organic matter with the use of earth worm) has gained impetus in organic farming to boost agricultural production to its important multifarious features for example they are rich in nutrients, vitamins, growth regulators, pathogen- free and contain immobilized micro flora.