Potential of producing organic lettuce seedlings without peat using agricultural and agro-industrial compost

Abstract

Peat is an unrenewable resource. Compost can partially replace peat in the growing seedling substrates due to its high electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (BD), and pH. This study aimed to assess the potential of substituting peat for seedling substrate with compost made from a mixture of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes. Four compost piles (C1–C4) were constructed as follows: C1: a 1:1:1.5 weight ratio mixture of filter mud, mushroom waste, and date-palm fronds, while C2–C4: a 0.5:1 weight ratio mixture of either bagasse, cutting grassland, or date-palm fronds and cattle dung. After four months of decomposition, the compost’s physical, chemical, and biological properties were estimated in comparison to commercial compost (CC), peatmoss (PM), and their ideal ranges (IR) for seed germination and seedling growth. Composts differed significantly in their physical and chemical properties. Some composts revealed property values within the IR. In comparison to PM, Composts have a lower C/N ratio and organic matter, along with higher BD, EC, and pH. Cattle manure enhanced organic matter and carbon, total nitrogen and potassium, and ammonium levels, and reduced ash levels in C2–C4 compared to filter mud in C1. In winter 2018 and 2019, C1–C4 substrates were compared with CC and PM substrates to determine their suitability for producing crisp lettuce ‘Big Bell’ seedlings under plastic-house conditions. Substrates had significant effects on lettuce seedling traits. Shoots of C2–C4 substrate seedlings grew more rapidly than those of other substrate seedlings due to the increased length and diameter of their stem and leaf area.