The effects of cow manure vermicompost and municipal solid waste compost on peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) in Torbat-e-Jam and Rasht regions of Iran

Abstract

Background The utilization of organic fertilizer is an effective method in organic culture of medicinal plants because of its beneficial effects on soil structure, reduction of environmental problem and improvement in plant growth. The experiments were conducted in a research field at the University of Guilan at the Rasht and Torbat-e-Jam Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of 7 Mt ha-1 of cow manure vermicompost, vermiwash prepared from 7 Mt ha-1 of vermicompost, leachate vermicompost ? vermiwash, 50 Mt ha-1 municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), chemical fertilizer (50, 0, 300 NPK) and no fertilization as a control on peppermint yield and quality. Results Organic fertilizers significantly affected all the measured characters except total phenols and antioxidant capacity compared to chemical fertilizers and the control. Plants treated with vermicompost, vermiwash or vermicompost leachate ? vermiwash were the tallest and had the highest levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids. Plants treated with vermicompost had the highest essential oil yield (24.21 ml m-2). Plant growth in the Rasht region had the highest number of lateral branches (18), fresh (10.51 g) and dry weight (4.64 g) of plant, fresh (2,102.9 kg ha-1) and dry (928.67 kg ha-1) yield, leaf area index (0.17) and carotenoids (531.82 mg 100 g-1), while the highest oil per plant (0.24 ml plant-1) and oil yield (18.49 ml m-2), chlorophyll a (7.37 mg 100 g-1), b (4.07 mg 100 g-1) and total chlorophyll (11.44 mg 100 g-1), total phenol (7.48 mg gallic acid equivalent 100 g-1) and antioxidant capacity (71.89 (% of inhibition) were obtained from plants grown in the Torbat-e-Jam region. Conclusion Organic fertilizers beneficially affect soil structure and nutrient availability. The use of sustainable organic materials can increase fertility without negative effects on human health and environment. We counsel farmers to use leachate vermicompost and vermiwash in organic cultivation of peppermint separately or mixed together.

Effect of wastewater and compost on leaching nutrients of soil column under basil cultivation

“…Similarly residual effect of sewage sludge increased the P content of leaves by 83%. Ayyobi et al (2014) concluded that organic fertilizers beneficially affect soil structure and nutrient availability. The use of sustainable organic materials can increase fertility without negative effects on human health and environment.…”

Effect of Vermicompost Amendment on Nutritional Status of Sandy Loam Soil, Growth Performance, and Yield of Pineapple (Ananas comosus var. MD2) under Field Conditions

“…Vermicompost can retain nutrients for a long time, and has a high water-holding capacity and high porosity compared to conventional compost due to its humus content [3]. At present, vermicompost has been widely used in the cultivation field, and its ability to produce good crop yields is well-known, as reported for maize [8], wheat [9], peppermint [10], and tomatoes [11]. The application of vermicompost yielded the same effect as in the case of inorganic fertilizers administration [12,13], therefore rendering vermicompost as a good alternative to replace the application of chemical fertilizer.…”

Effect of Vermicompost Supplemented by Foliar Application of Silicate on Marjoram Plants Grown in Saline Soil

“…Due to the high cost and the harmful impact of inorganic fertilizers, using organic material is developing. The use of organic sources ameliorates soil structure and increase nutrient availability by sustaining the balance of organic matter, thereby helping to improve physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil [8], [9] Vermicompost, which is organic wastes digested by earthworms, contains nutrients in a form that is easily absorbed by the plant.…”

“…Vermicompost has a very positive influence on soil and plant [7]. Previous reports have shown that vermicompost moderates the detrimental effects of salinity stress on several crops [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in soils; it is mostly inert and only slightly soluble.…”