Impact of Fertilization on Vinca (Catharanthus roseus L.) Grown in Binary Mixtures of Sugarcane Filter Press Mud and Vermiculite

Abstract

Filter press mud (FPM) is a waste product of the sugar manufacturing industry that is primarily composed of soil, finely ground sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) stalks, and lime. It is widely used as a soil amendment wherever sugarcane is produced. This study sought to investigate the impact of fertilization with potassium nitrate on the growth of vinca (Cataranthus roseus L.) being grown in mixtures of FPM and vermiculite. The purpose of the study was to investigate the nutrient-supplying ability of the FPM-based growing medium. A completely randomized factorial design was installed into 18-count landscape trays, with each cell consisting of a different growing medium by fertilization treatment. While the bulk density of FPM-based growing media tended to be higher than FafardTM 2, plant growth was not stunted. Electrical conductivity and pH were not deleterious to the plants in any of the FPM treatments. Fertilization increased plant growth and development in all treatments in comparison to non-fertilized controls. The 1:1 FPM and vermiculite mixture by volume had the greatest increase in growth from fertilization while the least change in growth from fertilization occurred with the 100 percent FPM treatment. When using FPM as a growing medium, it appears that the fertilization practices might be decreased to take advantage of the nutrients released by the growing medium.