Effects of vermicomposts and composts on plant growth in horticultural container media and soil

Abstract

E Ef ff fe ec ct ts s o of f v ve er rm mi ic co om mp po os st ts s a an nd d c co om mp po os st ts s o on n p pl la an nt t g gr ro ow wt th h i in n h ho or rt ti ic cu ul lt tu ur ra al l c co on nt ta ai in ne er r m me ed di ia a a an nd d s so oi il l SummaryVermicomposts, which are produced by the fragmentation of organic wastes by earthworms, have a fine particulate structure and contain nutrients in forms that are readily available for plant uptake. In greenhouse trials, the growth of marigold and tomato seedlings, in a commercial horticultural potting medium (Metro-Mix 360), was enhanced significantly upon substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 10 % or 20 % vermicomposted pig solids or vermicomposted food wastes, when all required nutrients were supplied. Same enhancement in marigold and tomato seedlings' growth occurred also upon substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with composted biosolids, but not with leaf compost. The shoot dry weights of raspberry plants, grown in a mineral soil mixed with vermicomposted pig wastes weighed more than those grown in unfertilized control soil, and were as great as those in soil receiving a complete fertilizer treatment. By comparison, raspberry shoot growth in soils amended with yard, leaf or bark composts, was poorer than that in the unfertilized control soil. Amending the soil with 4 % chicken manure compost killed most of the raspberry plants. However, plant mortality was reduced and growth restored when the chicken manure compost was mixed with vermicomposted pig solids, but not with bark or yard composts. Plant growth in soils containing a mixture of chicken manure compost with 20% vermicomposted pig wastes was similar to that of plants grown in the unfertilized control. Our results showed that vermicomposts have the potential for improving plant growth when added to greenhouse container media or soil. However, there seem to be distinct differences between specific vermicomposts and composts in terms of their nutrient contents, the nature of their microbial communities, and their effects on plant growth.

Effect of tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon RoxB.) leaf vermicompost on growth and yield of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

“…Atiyeh et al (2000) reported that the shoot dry weights of raspberry plant soil mixed with vermicomposted pig wastes weighted more than those grown in unfertilized control soil, and were as great as those in soil receiving a chemical fertilizer treatment.…”

“…Several studies have examined growth of plants using vermicompost derived from different materials in green house conditions or in field studies (Atiyeh et al 2000). All such studies indicated beneficial effects of vermicompost on plant growth.…”

Effects of vermicompost amendment as a basal fertilizer on soil properties and cucumber yield and quality under continuous cropping conditions in a greenhouse

“…The changes result from the addition of a large number of base cations to the soil at the time of fertilization (Orozco et al 1996;Atiyeh et al 2000aAtiyeh et al , 2000b and to the fact that crops selectively absorb ions, such as hydrogen ions. After seven cucumber crops, the application of VP amendment resulted in decreased soil pH that differed from those after FT and FC amendments.…”

Sustratos orgánicos como alternativa para la producción de albahaca (Ocimum Selloi Benth)

“…Por otra parte, la vermicomposta es un abono producto de la transformación de residuos orgánicos realizada por lombrices. Tiene una estructura fina y contiene nutrientes en formas que son inmediatamente disponibles a las plantas (Atiyeh et al, 2000).…”

“…Moreover, the fertilizer product is vermicompost transformation of organic waste by earthworms. It has a fine structure and contains nutrients in forms that are readily available for the plants (Atiyeh et al, 2000).…”