Effect of different forms of organic matter on tomato seedlings in the greenhouse

Abstract

The objective of this work was to compare the effects of two sources of organic matter (cotton gin compost and poultry manure) with a commercial peat-based substrate on germination, growth and N, P and K content of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum cv. Momotaro) under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the poultry manure-based substrate had the highest values of tomato seedling height, stem diameter, number of leaves per seedling as well as N, P and K contents, followed by the cotton gin compost and peat. These results suggested that the chemical composition of organic matter influenced differently seed emergence, growth and N, P and K contents in tomato plants. These parameters were higher when a source of organic matter easily degradable with a higher content of fulvic acid and a higher content of low molecular weight proteins, was applied. On the other hand, these results support previous studies showing that composts can be used with very good results as alternative growth media to peat-based substrates.