Influence of Rose Oil Processing Waste Compost Media on Tomato Seedling Quality

Abstract

The seedling growing media play an important role in the production of high quality and healthy seedlings. Seedlings are grown in different growth media. The most commonly used medium in seedling growing is peat. Depletion of peat resources and high peat cost increase interest to cheap and local materials that easily supplied. Therefore, studies on the use of composts prepared from different wastes in seedling cultivation are being carried out. This study was carried out to determine usability of compost prepared from rose oil processing wastes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Şencan 9) seedling cultivation and the most suitable seedling growing medium. With this aim, peat (control) and 6 growing media prepared from the mixtures of the rose oil processing waste compost (RC) with vermicompost (V), soil (S) and peat (P) at the different ratios (100%P, 50%RC+50%P, 25%RC+75%P, 50%RC+25%P+25%V, 50%RC+25%5P+25%S, 50%RC+25%S+25%V and 25%RC+50%P+25%S) were compared. Significant differences were found among the growing media. The highest stomatal conductance (410.94 mmol m-2 s-1), root dry weight (0.31 g), leaf dry weight (0.58 g) and total seedling dry weight (1.17 g) were obtained from 25%RC+75%P medium. The highest seedling length (13.27 cm) and leaf area (15.42 cm2) were determined in 50%RC+25%S+25%P medium. The highest stem dry weight (0.3 g) was obtained from 50%RC+50%P, while the highest chlorophyll content (20.16 CCI) was determined in 100%P medium. It was determined that the mixture of 25%RC+75%P had a significant effect on seedling quality.

Keywords: Compost, rose oil processing waste, seedling, tomato, vermicompost