scholarly journals Impact of Vermicompost on Vegetable Transplant Quality

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 2020-2023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay C. Paul ◽  
James D. Metzger
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Eisenia Fetida ◽  
Solanum Melongena ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Organic Wastes ◽  
Microbial Metabolites ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Available Nutrients ◽  
Potting Media ◽  
Nutritional Balance

Vermicomposting is a promising method of transforming unwanted and virtually unlimited supplies of organic wastes into usable substrates. In this process, the digestive tracts of certain earthworm species (e.g., Eisenia fetida) are used to stabilize organic wastes. The final product is an odorless peat-like substance, which has good structure, moisture-holding capacity, relatively large amounts of available nutrients, and microbial metabolites that may act as plant growth regulators. For these reasons, vermicompost has the potential to make a valuable contribution to soilless potting media. The objective of this study was to evaluate the transplant quality and field performance of vegetable transplants grown in vermicompost. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) transplants were grown in a commercial soilless mix including 0%, 10%, or 20% (v/v) worm-worked cattle manure. Growth of vegetable transplants was positively affected by addition of vermicompost, perhaps by altering the nutritional balance of the medium. Transplant quality was improved in peppers and eggplants while tomato transplant quality was slightly reduced. There were no significant differences in field performance.

scholarly journals Plant Growth Regulator Effects on Germination and Root Traits of ‘Lambada’ and ‘Don Victor’ Onion Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1759-1764
Author(s):  
Maria A. Macias-Leon ◽  
Daniel I. Leskovar
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Root Surface ◽  
Root Diameter ◽  
Root Surface Area ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Relative Growth Rates

Onions (Allium cepa L.) are easily outcompeted by weeds because of slow germination and relative growth rates. Therefore, high percentage of seed germination and root vigor are important traits to improve field performance. The effects of exogenous plant growth regulators (PGRs), 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon, Eth), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), trans-zeatin (tZ), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) were evaluated on the germination and root growth of ‘Don Victor’ (yellow) and ‘Lambada’ (red) onion seedlings. Seeds were soaked for 10 hours in hormonal solutions and water (hydro-priming). Seed germination improved with Eth (30 and 100 μm), Eth (100 μm) + IAA (10 μm), and IAA (3 μm) treatments. Root surface area (RSA) increased in response to Eth at 30 and 100 μm, Eth + IAA, and 3 μm IAA. Root length (RL) and root diameter (RD) were enhanced by 1 μm tZ and 100 μm ACC. Eth reduced RL and RD, whereas IAA showed no effects. A subsequent experiment evaluated synergistic effects of different PGRs. Treatment of seeds with ACC (250 μm) + tZ (0.5 μm) and ACC (250 μm) + tZ (0.5 μm) + Eth (20 μm) enhanced RL and RD. RSA was unaffected by ACC + tZ + Eth. The results suggest that exogenous PGRs could be useful to enhance germination, RL, and RSA of onion seedlings.

Vermiculture in Greenhouse Plants, Field Crop Production, and Hydroponics

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Q. Arancon ◽  
Zachary Solarte
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Organic Wastes ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Pests And Diseases

Vermiculture is the art, science, and industry of raising earthworms for baits, feeds, and composting of organic wastes. Composting through the action of earthworms and microogranisms is commonly referred to as vermicomposting. Vermiculture is an art because the technology of raising earthworms requires a comprehensive understanding of the basic requirements for growing earthworms in order to design the space and the system by which organic wastes can be processed efficiently and successfully. It is a science because the technology requires a critical understanding and consideration of the climatic requirements, nutritional needs, growth cycles, taxonomy, and species of earthworms suitable for vermicomposting in order to develop a working system that supports earthworm populations to process successfully the intended organic wastes. The nature of the organic wastes also needs to be taken into careful consideration, especially its composition, size, moisture content, and nutritional value, which will eventually determine the overall quality of the vermicomposts produced. The quality of organic wastes also determines the ability of the earthworms to consume and process them, and the rate by which they turn these wastes into valuable organic amendments. The science of vermiculture extends beyond raising earthworms. There are several lines of evidence that vermicomposts affect plant growth significantly. Vermiculture is an industry because it has evolved from a basic household bin technology to commercially scaled systems in which economic activities emanate from the cost and value of obtaining raw materials, the building of systems, and the utilization and marketing of the products, be they in solid or aqueous extract forms. Economic returns are carefully valued from the production phase to its final utilization as an organic amendment for crops. The discussion revolves around the development of vermiculture as an art, a science, and an industry. It traces the early development of vermicomposting, which was used to manage organic wastes that were considered environmentally hazardous when disposed of improperly. It also presents the vermicomposting process, including its basic requirements, technology involved, and product characteristics, both in solid form and as a liquid extract. Research reports from different sources on the performance of the products are also provided. The discussion attempts to elucidate the mechanisms involved in plant growth and yield promotion and the suppression of pests and diseases. Certain limitations and challenges that the technology faces are presented as well.

Response of Eisenia fetida to the application of different organic wastes in an aluminium-contaminated soil

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1944-1949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Tejada ◽  
Isidoro Gómez ◽  
Teresa Hernández ◽  
Carlos García
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Eisenia Fetida ◽  
Organic Wastes

scholarly journals Variability in Plant Growth in Retail Potting Media

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Wiberg ◽  
Richard Koenig ◽  
Teresa Cerny-Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Physical And Chemical Properties ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Potting Media ◽  
Complete Fertilizer ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

There is extensive variability in physical and chemical properties among brands of retail potting media. The purpose of this study was to assess variability in seed germination and plant growth responses among and within brands. Twenty-four different brands of media, and multiple bags of five brands, were purchased at nine retail stores. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seeds were germinated in 11 different brands of media and in media from different bags of four of the same brands. Marigold (Tagetes erecta) and petunia (Petunia×hybrida) were grown to flowering in 10 brands of media. Germination varied significantly among media brands and among bags of one of the brands. Plant performance also varied significantly, with several of the brands producing plants with few flowers, long times to flowering, and low shoot and root dry weights even though all treatments received uniform applications of a complete fertilizer solution three times per week. Few relationships could be discerned between individual physical and chemical properties of the media and plant performance. Results indicate improvements in quality among brands and quality control within brands are needed in the retail potting media industry. Quality assessment tools emphasizing plant performance could improve overall media quality.

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