Vermicompost efficacy in improvement of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) productivity, soil nutrients, and bacterial population under greenhouse condition
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Abstract
Vermicompost is an organic residue derived from the aerobic and bio-oxidative process of wastes by the action of earthworms. Vermicompost has been known as a good material to boost soil nutrients, increases the availability of nutrients to plants, improves soil structure, promotes plant growth, and suppresses plant disease. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of vermicompost on the productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) planted in poor soil and its improvement of soil fertility. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design with 5 treatments: soil control, soil with chemical fertilizer application, and soil mixed with 10%, 20% and 30% vermicompost. The results clearly revealed that application of vermicompost had significant effect on promoting plant height, number of leaves, leave area, fruit yields, and suppression of disease incidence (p ≤ 0.05). From the chemical analysis, mixing soil with vermicompost improved soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, total potassium, and available potassium. Analysis of bacterial populations demonstrated that vermicompost significantly increased the population of bacteria in the soil (p ≤ 0.05). Based on the results, the application of 30% vermicompost showed the best positive effect on improving soil fertility, promoting cucumber growth, and improving yields in the poor soil. Therefore, application of vermicompost can be a vital choice in cucumber production for sustainable agriculture.
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