Substrate-Dependent Effect of Vermicompost on Yield and Physiological Indices of Container-Grown Dracocephalum moldavica Plants

Abstract

The development of sustainable plant production systems involves a search for different alternatives to chemical fertilizers. The aim of the present study is to compare growth and physiological effects of vermicompost on Dracocephalum moldavica plants in controlled conditions, using two types of commercially available substrates. The intention is to determine whether nondestructively measured photosynthesis-related parameters are useful for monitoring the physiological status of plants. The plants were cultivated in two base substrates without or with the addition of mineral fertilizer, as well as an amendment with vermicompost at a 20% or 30% rate in the conditions of an automated greenhouse. The biomass accumulation for control plants of D. moldavica was identical in peat substrate and commercial garden soil. The average growth increase by mineral fertilizer was 25% for D. moldavica plants grown in peat and 15% for plants grown in soil. Substrate amendment with 20% vermicompost resulted in an 114% average increase in biomass for plants grown in peat and a 98% average increase for plants grown in soil, but for plants at 30% the amendment rate increase was 148% and 68%, for peat and soil, respectively. Consequently, the addition of an identical amount of vermicompost resulted in a poorer growth response of plants in commercial garden soil as a substrate in comparison to peat, but an increase in the amendment rate from 20% to 30% resulted in some growth inhibition for these plants. Chlorophyll concentration was positively affected by the vermicompost amendment in a concentration-dependent manner, but this effect during a cultivation period appeared relatively late. Large differences were found between the three groups of fluorescence-derived parameters, with variable levels of predictability with respect to the differences in plant yield due to the pronounced variation in correlation through time. It is concluded that the incorporation of vermicompost for the cultivation of D. moldavica, even in substrate mixes with relatively high and balanced composition of plant-available nutrients, benefits plant growth, physiological status and biomass yield, but it is necessary to explore interactions between vermicompost and other substrates leading to possible changes in quality-related characteristics of vermicompost in substrate mixes.

Effect of Vermicompost-Tea and Plant Extracts on Growth, Physiological, and Biochemical Traits of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.)

“…In turn, it reduces the contents and activities of photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle enzymes, including the key enzyme, ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase. The study's present results agree with those obtained by Ose et al (2021), who found that vermicompost increased photosynthetic pigments synthesis and CO 2 assimilation rates due to reduced stomatal conductance. In addition, vermicompost contains available elements causing a reduction in the activities of photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle enzymes, including the key enzyme, ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Ievinsh, 2020).…”

“…Vermicompost-tea application maximized active photosynthetic leaves and leaf area, maintaining the chlorophyll in higher concentrations. In this respect, Ose et al (2021) reported that chlorophyll concentration was positively affected by the vermicompost amendment in a concentration-dependent manner, however, this effect during a cultivation period appeared relatively late. (Hawkins and Lewis, 1993).…”

Ecophysiology of Endangered Plant Species Saussurea esthonica: Effect of Mineral Nutrient Availability and Soil Moisture

“…While all chlorophyll fluorescence-derived parameters obtained through fast induction kinetics are interlinked, each of them shows effects at specific points in the electron transport chain [ 30 ]. F v /F 0 is mostly affected by photochemical reactions at the donor side of photosystem II, including water-splitting activity [ 30 ], and changes in this parameter have been shown to be an important determinant of biomass accumulation of Dracocephalum moldavica plants at various fertilization regimes [ 32 ]. However, F v /F 0 did not show a direct relationship with growth at different mineral regimes in S. esthonica ( Figure 8 E) or biomass accumulation in plants at different soil moisture regimes ( Figure 11 ).…”

Do Vermicompost Applications Improve Growth Performance, Pharmaceutically Important Alkaloids, Phenolic Content, Free Radical Scavenging Potency and Defense Enzyme Activities in Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.)?

“…Moreover, VC aids in the greater completion of root formation in plants, resulting in plants that take nutrients from the soil more readily and perform better in terms of growth [21] . Due to the presence of humic acid, which is a chemical similar to plant growth hormone, VC treatments have been proven in several studies to be able to improve plant growth parameters such as height, fruit yield, stem width, water content, flower width, leaf length, leaf number, and leaf area [22–30] . Balmori et al.…”

“…[21] Due to the presence of humic acid, which is a chemical similar to plant growth hormone, VC treatments have been proven in several studies to be able to improve plant growth parameters such as height, fruit yield, stem width, water content, flower width, leaf length, leaf number, and leaf area. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Balmori et al explained that the foliar application of humic extract from VC at a 1 : 40 (v:v) on Allium sativum was the best treatment for growth parameters. They found that the humic substance increased the fruit quality and improved the bulb diameter.…”