This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different plant growth media on the growth of tomato(Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) seedlings during growth stages. The media were commercial plant growth medium 100%, earthworm cast(that was pr...
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different plant growth media on the growth of tomato(Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) seedlings during growth stages. The media were commercial plant growth medium 100%, earthworm cast(that was produced by vermicomposting of food waste and cattle manure) 100%, earthworm cast 50%, vermiculite 50%, earthworm cast 50% + perlite 50%, earthworm cast 40% + vermiculite 30% + perlite 30%. Plant length(㎜), number of leaves, leaf area(㎠), stem diameter(㎜), plant dry mater were greatest till the 2nd week growth stages in the commercial plant growth medium plots, but those were higher in the earthworm cast than those in the other plant growth media at the later stages of this study(p<0.05). And relative growth rate of biological yield, relative growth rate of shoot and relative growth rate of root were highest in the earthworm cast till the 4th week growth stage.
Therefore it can be implied that there is the possibility of potential utilization of earthworm cast, which was produced by vermicomposting of food waste and cattle manure, as vegetable growth medium.