No abstract

This experiment was designed to characterize the physical and chemical properties of six crop's media obtained by mixing different percentages (v/v) of peat, perlite, coconut coir dust, and vermicompost (end-product of the breakdown of organic matter of crop residues mixed with re-used coconut coir dust by Eisenia fetida) and to evaluate the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. cumquat) seedling growth in this media. The treatments were: T1 (75% peat and 25% perlite), T2 (25% peat, 25% coconut coir dust, 25% vermicompost and 25% perlite), T3 (50% peat, 25% vermicompost and 25% perlite), T4 (25% peat, 50% vermicompost and 25% perlite), T5 (50% coconut coir dust, 25% vermicompost and 25% perlite), T6 (25% coconut coir dust, 50% vermicompost and 25% perlite). The electrical conductivity, pH, bulk density and water-soluble elements, contained in the substrate, increased with increasing amounts of vermicompost in the substrate, whereas the total porosity, easily available water and total water holding capacity decreased significantly with increasing amounts of vermicompost. Stem length and leaf area of tomato seedlings were higher in the substrate without vermicompost (T1) but no significant differences were found between substrates with vermicompost. No significant difference was found in the production of roots dry weight in all treatments; this is a very important result, because good quality of root system is the main goal in seedbeds. There are not clear relationships between the increase of vermicompost in mixtures and nutrient contents in stems and leaves.Additional key words: bioproductive variables; Eisenia fetida; seedling; Solanum lycopersicum; vegetable crop waste; water:air relationships. Resumen Caracterización y empleo de un vermicompost de residuos vegetales como componente alternativo de sustratos en semilleros hortícolasEste experimento se diseñó para caracterizar las propiedades físicas y químicas de seis medios de cultivo diferentes, obtenidos por la mezcla, en diferentes proporciones (v:v), de turba, perlita, fibra de coco y vermicompost (producto final obtenido de la degradación de restos hortícolas mezclado con fibra de coco reutilizada a través de la acción de Eisenia fetida) y evaluar el crecimiento de plántulas de tomate (Solanum lycopersicum cv. cumquat) en estos sustratos. Los tratamientos fueron: T1 (75% turba y 25% perlita), T2 (25% turba, 25% fibra de coco, 25% vermicompost y 25% perlita), T3 (50% turba, 25% vermicompost y 25% perlita), T4 (25% turba, 50% vermicompost y 25% perlita), T5 (50% fibra de coco, 25% vermicompost y 25% perlita), T6 (25% fibra de coco, 50% vermicompost y 25% perlita). La conductividad eléctrica, pH, densidad aparente y los elementos solubles contenidos en los sustratos aumentaron a medida que se aumentó la cantidad de vermicompost, mientras que la porosidad total y la cantidad de agua total y fácilmente asimilable, decreció significativamente al incrementar la cantidad de vermicompost. La longitud del tallo y el área foliar fueron mayores en el sustrato que...