Resumo

ACOSTA-DURAN, Carlos et al. Vermicompost as a substrate component in Ageratum houstonianum Mill. and Petunia hybrida E.Vilm in container culture. Bioagro [online]. 2014, vol.26, n.2, pp.107-114. ISSN 1316-3361.

The search for alternative substrates with low impact on the environment is essential to maintain the production of economically important ornamental crops. In this study, the effect of vermicompost as a growing media component on Ageratum hustonianum and Petunia hybrida container production was evaluated. Treatments consisted of different doses of vermicompost combined with a substrate prepared with equal volumes of forest soil, pine sawdust and coconut fiber. Significant differences as a result of the treatments applied in both crops were observed. In both species, the treatment which showed the best results in most of the variables was the highest doses of vermicompost (100 %). This treatment was superior in most growth and flowering variables to chemical treatment, and similar to it in root growth variables. In both species, the less favorable treatments were 50 and 25 % vermicompost and the control treatment, and they were statistically equal to each other in most variables. The results showed that it is possible to grow these ornamental species in containers, replacing chemical fertilizers by vermicompost, maintaining the quality of produced plants. It was concluded that addition of high doses of vermicompost, or using only vermicompost as growing media, can provide adequate conditions for container growing of both species.

Palavras-chave : Compost; growing media; ornamental plants.

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