Utilization of Date Palm Waste Compost as Substitute For Peat Moss

Abstract

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the utilization of compost production using finely grinded date palm wastes and residues (particle size 0.5 cm), to examine its performance a substitute of potting media in comparison with commercial peat moss. Factors influence the rate of composting efficiency such as moisture content; aeration and temperature were treatments (culture substrates) with four replications were arranged in a completely randomized design. The treatments were commercial peat moss used as control; un-composted date palm residues (DP-0); composted date palm residues for 15 weeks (DP-15) and composted date palm residues for 30 weeks (DP-30). The physicochemical properties of substrates were measured before plant cultivation. During the duration of plant growth irrigation rate, temperature, humidity and pest control for all treatments were similar. Some growth and fruit quality parameters for strawberry plants were measured at the end of growth period. The results revealed that bulk density (BD), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and essential mineral nutrients (N, P and K) were increased, while organic matter (OM), organic carbon (Oc) and C/N ratio were decreased gradually by the end of composting time. DP-30 showed the most appropriate physicochemical properties compared with the other treatments, including peat moss. This could be attributed to improve the physicochemical properties of this substrate due to satisfactory enhanced compost maturity which would have been achieved by the end of 30 weeks’ incubation time, since the source, particle size (0.5cm) and composting process were the same for all date palm substrates. Therefore, the average rate of increase in plant growth characteristics and the improvement of fruit quality parameters were differed significantly depending on composting duration and connected to preference of suitable physicochemical properties enhanced in DP-30. The general trend observed in this investigation strongly suggestes the importance of potential benefits of the economically appropriate uses of the composted date palm materials (DP-30) for full substitution for peat moss in horticulture.