The Effect of Application of Agricultural Waste Compost on Growing Media and Greenhouse Lettuce Yield

Abstract

The potential of two agricultural waste composts, Tea Waste Compost (TWC) and Tree Bark Compost (TBC), as soil amendments was investigated for container production of 'Great Lakes 118' lettuce. Nine growing media mixtures including 3TWC+1Soil (on a volumetric basis), 1TWC+1Soil, 1TWC+3Soil, 3TBC+1Soil, 1TBC+1Soil, 1TBC+3Soil, 1TWC+1TBC, 1TWC+1TBC+1Soil, and Soil (control), were arranged in four blocks. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Great Lakes) seeds were directly sown in 2 liter pots. No supplementary fertilization was applied until commercial harvest. Due to the variation in date of commercial harvest, lettuce heads in each treatment were harvested as soon as they reached commercial maturity stage. Results revealed that either type of compost increased yield over control (soil based media). However, growth, dry matter accumulation, and head weight was lower in TBC amended media than that of TWC amended media. In addition to head yield, it was shown that crop maturity was positively affected with compost application. Earlier crop obtained in soilless media, while the crop in non amended soil reached maturity 3 weeks later.

Influence of Soilless Culture Substrate on Improvement of Yield and Produce Quality of Horticultural Crops

“…Afterward, several substrates have been evolved due to their unique properties for holding moisture, aeration, leaching or capillary action, and reuse potentiality. Soilless growing media are easier to handle and it may provide better growing environment (in terms of one or more aspects of plant growth) compared to soil culture [11,12]. Organic substrates includes sawdust, coco peat, peat moss, woodchips, fleece, marc, bark etc.…”

Vermicompost Application and Growth Patterns of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

“…The manure affects the environment (emissions of ammonia, methane, nitrous oxide, manure runoff and its components into surface water and nitrate and phosphorus leaching into the groundwater); therefore it is recommended to use materials after composting (Ulle et al, 2004). In particular, the lettuce crop responds positively to the application of organic supplements, although the recommendations on application rates vary between different authors and type of fertilizers (Jae-Jung et al, 2004;Polat et al, 2004;Ulle et al, 2004, Yuri et al, 2004Mastouri et al, 2005).…”

Factors Affecting the Performance of Greenhouse Cucumber Cultivation-A Review

“…Moreover, the soilless materials viz. coco-peat, rockwool are perlite are easier to handle and may provide a better growing environment compared to soil (Mastouri et al, 2005). Soilless cultivation offers benefits such as capabilities to control water availability, pH and nutrient concentration in the root zone.…”