Vermicomposting leachate as liquid fertilizer for the cultivation of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.)

In vermicomposting, the main product is the worm casts, but a leachate is generated that contains large amounts of plant nutrients. This leachate is normally diluted to avoid plant damage. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of nitrogen (N) -...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant nutrition 2017-01, Vol.40 (1), p.40-49
Main Authors: Gutiérrez-Miceli, Federico Antonio, García-Gómez, Roberto Carlos, Oliva-Llaven, María Angela, Montes-Molina, Joaquin Adolfo, Dendooven, Luc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
NPK triple 17 fertilizer
plant development and plant characteristics
polyethylene nonylphenol adherent
polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol dispersant
Saccharum
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Summary:In vermicomposting, the main product is the worm casts, but a leachate is generated that contains large amounts of plant nutrients. This leachate is normally diluted to avoid plant damage. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of nitrogen (N) - phosphorus (P) - potassium (K) triple 17 fertilizer, and polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol as dispersant and polyethylene nonylphenol as adherent to increase efficiency of fertilizer uptake, affected sugarcane plant development. The vermicomposting leachate with pH 7.8 and electrolytic conductivity 2.6 dS m −1 , contained 834 mg potassium (K) l −1 , 247 mg nitrate (NO 3 − ) l −1 and 168 mg phosphate (PO 4 3− ) l −1 , was free of pathogens and resulted in a 65% germination index. Vermicompost leachate did not inhibit sugarcane growth and mixed with 170 g l −1 NPK triple 17 fertilizer resulted in the best plant development. No dispersant or adherent was required to improve plant height and stem development.
ISSN:0190-4167
1532-4087
DOI:10.1080/01904167.2016.1193610