Effects of vermicompost as an alternative substrate on yield and quality of cauliflower and pepper seedlings

Abstract

It is wondered whether vermicompost can be an alternative to peat in seedling production. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different vermicompost rates on the growth, quality characteristics and macro and micro mineral concentrations of pepper and cauliflower seedlings. There were 4 treatments consisting of different mixtures in the study. T1: 70% peat + 27% perlite + 3% vermiculite; T2: 70% vermicompost + 27% perlite + 3% vermiculite; T3: 35% peat + 35% vermicompost + 27% perlite + 3% vermiculite; T4: 100% vermicompost. ‘Sivrillo’ F1 (Capsicum annuum var. longum) pepper and ‘Casper’ F1 (Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis) cauliflower varieties were used as the plant material. Vermicompost mixtures had a significant impact on pepper and cauliflower seedlings. The emergence and growth characteristics of pepper seedlings were similar in T1, T2 and T3 treatments. However, the T3 mixture provided the highest emergence rate and seedling height in cauliflower seedlings. T3 also increased the leaf area both pepper and cauliflower seedlings more than the other treatments. Although T2 medium showed the highest N, K, and Mg contents in pepper seedlings, vermicompost mixtures had the highest P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in cauliflower. Vermicompost mixtures had higher microelement contents in cauliflower, whereas similar results were obtained from T2 and T1 treatments in pepper seedlings. In conclusion, it was determined that the 35% peat and 35% vermicompost mixture was appropriate for pepper and cauliflower seedlings in terms of many criteria. Additionally, noteworthy results were obtained when 70% peat was substituted with vermicompost.