Application of phospho-feather compost as a soilless culture medium for the production of two consecutive melon harvests without additional fertilization

Abstract

Microbial-inoculated phospho-feather compost (PIFRM) was manufactured by inoculating Arthrobacter ureafaciens K10 and Streptomyces sp. CP3 into compost composed of spent mushroom waste (SMW), duck feathers (DF), pitaya pruning waste (PPW) and rock phosphate. PIFRM was slightly acidic; carbon to nitrogen ratio was 11.1; electric conductivity (EC) (1:10) was 5.5 dS m−1; bulk density (BD) was 0.3 g cm−3, and germination index (GI) was 164.7%. Seven culture media: PIFRM, coconut fiber (CF), coconut fiber mixed with PIFRM in a 1:1 volume ratio (CF-PIFRM 1:1), coconut fiber mixed with PIFRM in a 3:1 volume ratio (CF-PIFRM 3:1), peat (P), peat mixed with PIFRM in a 1:1 volume ratio (P-PIFRM 1:1) and peat mixed with PIFRM in a 3:1 volume ratio (P-PIFRM 3:1) were evaluated for the production of two melon harvests without additional fertilization. The highest fruit weight and total soluble solids (TSS) obtained in the first cultivation cycle was from treatment with CF-PIFRM 1:1. Fruit weight significantly decreased in treatment with CF-PIFRM 3:1, due to high potassium to calcium ratio (7.1) in the medium. In the second cultivation cycle, commercially viable fruit was only produced in planted PIFRM. PIFRM possessed stability and long-lasting fertility, and can be used as culture medium or medium component to decrease fertilizer input and increase melon fruit quality.