Evaluating the growth characteristics of lettuce in vermicompost and green waste compost

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  • Muhammad Ali
    Cardiff University
  • Anthony J. Griffiths
    Cardiff University
  • Keith P. Williams
    Cardiff University
  • Davey L. Jones
Vermicompost was produced from a green waste compost feedstock and assessed for its potential use in a high value horticultural market. Replicated plant growth trials were undertaken with lettuce using pure worm cast (vermicompost), green waste-derived compost and mixtures of the two, i.e. 50/50 (v/v) and 20/80 (v/v) of worm casts and green waste feedstock. Results showed that plant biomass production was optimal with a 20/80 (v/v) compost blend, whilst pure worm cast and green waste compost yielded poor growth. Leaf chlorophyll content indicated that pure worm cast inhibited plant growth and depressed N content, whereas plant grown with the other treatments contained similar amounts of chlorophyll. In general, the vermicomposting process did not result in an increased availability of nutrients or potentially toxic elements, the only exception being Zn.

Keywords

  • vermicomposting, green waste-derived compost, cast material, lettuce, nutrients
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S316-S319
JournalEuropean Journal of Soil Biology
Volume43
Early online date1 Oct 2007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2007
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