Effect of Vermicompost Application on Some Plant Characteristics in Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.)

Abstract

Vermicompost, an organic material, has a positive effect on plant growth and can be applied to all areas where organic farming is conducted. This study was carried out as a pot experiment in greenhouse conditions in order to determine the effects of vermicompost application on plant growth in lettuce cultivation. Lettuce seeds were sown in the vials containing 2: 1 mixture of peat and perlite. After the cotyledon leaves emerged, the seedlings were transferred into the 2 liters pots. Then, the control plants grown in peat (1/2 volume) + perlite (1/2 volume) media were irrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution until the end of the experiment, whereas the vermicompost applied plants grown in peat (1/3 volume)+perlite (1/3 volume) + vermicompost (1/3 volume) media were irrigated with only tap water. Twenty-seven days from the planting, the differences in seedling fresh and dry weights, shoot weights, stem diameters, root fresh and dry weights, leaf numbers, leaf temperatures, leaf areas, chlorophyll contents, total phenolic contents, total antioxidant values and antioxidative enzymes were determined. Considering these parameters, it can be said that vermicompost application has positive effects on lettuce growth.