Effect of ecophysiological characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) in response to organic fertilizers (compost and vermicompost)

Abstract

The organic fertilizers such as urban wet-waste compost and vermicompost can improve the physicochemical properties of soil and have a favourite effect on plants growth due to the high nutrient content, high water holding capacity, plant growth regulators, and beneficial microorganisms. In this regard, this study was conducted to evaluate the organic fertilizer mixture on the physiological and morphological indices of tomato seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was done as factorial in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The evaluated factors included the vermicompost fertilizer (0, 10, 20, 30 wt %), and the urban wet-waste compost (0, 10, 20, 30 wt %). In evaluation of the simple-effects of vermicompost and urban wet-waste compost the results showed that the 30 wt % level compared to the control sample increased the leaf area (+12.28% and +9.33%). It also increased the number of leaves (+17.5% and +22.9%), dry weight of root (+17.3% and +16.9%), chlorophyll-b content (+4.9% and +12.3 %), carotenoids (+2.9% and +7.9 %), and the total chlorophyll content (+23.7% and +13.8%). Results of evaluating the treatments showed that the vermicompost and urban wet-waste compost mixture in 30 wt % level (V4C4) caused significant increase in the plant height, leaf dry weight, root length, relative water content, cell membrane stability coefficient, efficiency of photochemical performance of PSII and the chlorophyll-a content (compared to other treatments especially low levels of organic fertilizer consumption). According to the final results of this study, using the vermicompost and urban wet waste compost mixture in 30 wt % level is recommended to improve the morphological and physiological traits of tomato in greenhouse conditions.

Morphological and Physiological Response of Tomato to Sole and Combined Application of Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizers

“…In another experiment, Ref. [65] stated that the simultaneous application of compost and vermicompost enhanced the MSI under salinity stress and attributed this increase to the regulation of membrane integrity, as well as the prevention of plasma membrane damage [66]. Aslam et al [67] also reported similar results where they explained that the application of vermicompost increased membrane stability in tomatoes, as evidenced by increased MSI percentage in the treated plants.…”

Effect of vermicompost and biostarter on the growth and photosynthetic rate of Echinacea purpurea

“…This can be attributed to plant growth regulators such as auxin. Ahmadpour and Armand (2020) stated that Zinc (Zn) is an important element from vermicompost and plays an important role in the structure of Tryptophan Amino Acid (the main precursor to the auxin synthesis). Auxin can increase cell walls that lead to an increase in the longitudinal growth of the plant.…”

“…According to Ahmadpour and Armand (2020), increasing the leaf area shows more photosynthetic capacity. There is a direct relationship between the photosynthetic system to dry matter yield.…”

“…Mu and Chen (2021) stated that the decreasing photosynthesis rate might be the physiological response to N deficiency and allocation in leaf structure. Ahmadpour and Armand (2020) reported that adding biofertilizers like vermicompost increases the microorganism's activity in soil and has a main role in nitrogen fixation. This terrestrial microorganism's activity leads to releasing the plants' required elements (zinc, iron, manganese, and magnesium) that have the main role in chlorophyll structure.…”