Effects of Liquid Vermicompost and Cinnamon Application on Morpho-Agronomic Traits, Biomass Accumulation, and Macro Nutrient Content in Radish (Raphanus Sativus L.)

Abstract

This study was conducted in the unheated glass greenhouses of Van Yuzuncu Yil University to evaluate the effects of liquid vermicompost (LWF) and cinnamon applications on the yield and associated parameters of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The experiment was designed in a randomized block design with three replications and included six treatment groups: control (K), 1% LWF (LWF1), 2% LWF (LWF2), 3 g cinnamon (CIN3), and their combinations (LWF1+CIN3 and LWF2+CIN3). Plant height, stem diameter, root length, leaf number, radish size, and biomass values were measured and statistically analyzed. According to the results, the LWF2 treatment significantly increased plant height (20.27 cm) and total fresh weight (59.87 g) compared to the control. Cinnamon alone yielded the highest stem diameter (6.07 mm) and radish diameter (17.83 mm). Furthermore, it achieved the highest dry matter accumulation (15.10 g), representing a 5.4% increase relative to the control. Although the combined applications of LWF and cinnamon, particularly LWF2+CIN3, led to notable reductions in plant height (15,2%), fresh weight (37,3%), and dry weight (27.4%), this treatment also maximized the uptake of potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium, while reducing sodium accumulation by approximately 21.3% compared to the control. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between plant height and fresh weight (r = 0.93), and between stem diameter and radish diameter (r = 0.90). The findings indicate that LWF alone promotes plant growth, whereas its combination with cinnamon may exert antagonistic interactions that suppress yield. These results suggest that organic inputs influence not only yield-related traits but also nutrient uptake dynamics, highlighting the need for further research into dosage and combination optimization.