The Effects of Kind and Rate of Vermicompost in Pot Medium on the Growth of Ficus bengamina

Abstract

In order to study the kind and rate effects of vermicompost in pot media on Ficus benjamin growth, an experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of Flower and Ornamental Plant Research Station of Lahijan for two years (2003- 2004). This experiment was implemented in factorial based on randomized complete block design with two kinds of vermicompost (vermicompost of cow manure and vermicompost of cow manure + saw dust) in five levels (0, 10 ,20, 30 and 40%) and three replications. These materials were substituted to peat in peat + perlit media (2 : 1 volume %) with respect to the kind and rate of vermicompost, and transferred to 4 liter pots. Results showed that, the effect of cow manure + saw dust vermicompost on shoot and dry leaf weight, dry leaf weight, dry shoot weight and Cu of media was more than cow manure vermicompost. The vermicompost at the rate of 20% significantly increased the shoot and fresh leaf weight, shoot and dry leaf weight and dry leaf weight compared to control. The effect of 10, 30 and 40% vermicompost on shoot and fresh leaf weight, shoot and dry leaf weight, and dry leaf weight were not significant. With respect to the high EC in media of 40% vermicompost and high cost of peat for potting media, application of 20% vermicompost could be economical.