Vermicompost substrate for Belen (Impatiens walleriana Hook. f.) culture

Abstract

The current trend of change from soil cultivation to growing media cultivation involves generating materials having properties for optimal crop development in container. Vermicompost is a material produced for the action of earthworms in the decomposition of organic waste materials, which provides physical-chemical properties for the plants culture in pot, with the advantage of not polluting the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal level of inclusion of vermicompost as a component of growing media for the production of Impatiens walleriana in container. Treatments of different inclusion percentages of vermicompost (100, 75, 50, 25, 0), mixed with a substrate prepared with equal parts of forest soil, coconut fiber and wood sawdust, were tested and compared with vermicompost alone and with chemical fertilization (200 ppm of 20-20-20 formula with microelements). The results showed that doses of vermicompost in the range of 75 % to 100 % allowed a good vegetative development presenting the highest averages in all measured variables. Treatment of 100 % of vermicompost obtained averages statistically similar with respect to Chemical treatment, in eight of twelve studied variables, and in remaining four treatments it was higher; so it was concluded that the dose of 100 % of vermicompost is the best treatment and can replace chemical fertilization in Impatiens walleriana potting. The characteristics of vermicompost as a substrate were porosity of 65.2 %, moisture retention of 53.4 %, electric conductivity of 4.12 dS·m^-1 and pH of 6.9; the latter gave better results in growth of Impatiens walleriana in container.