Nutrient profiling of diverse growing media and their efficacy incontainerized vegetable cultivation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24154/jhs.v21i1.2412Keywords:
Compost media, container gardening, organic substrate culture, soillessAbstract
Due to heavy urbanization, the arable land has shrunk to its edge that results in search of substrate culture that continuously supply nutrient during crops growing period. Thus, a study was planned to identify best growing media based on nutrient profiling, media properties and crop performance. Nine growing media were formed using soil and composts (on volume basis) along with check control. Result revealed that macro nutrients were found higher in all the media combination except soil (check), however, micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, B and Zn was higher in soil. All the heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb) were within the critical limits in all the media composition. The maximum bulk density was in soil medium (1.23 mg m-3), while, lowest in cocopeat + perlite + vermiculite (CPV) medium (0.25 mg m-3) and have negative relationship (y = -221.91x+287.83; R2=0.61) with water holding capacity. The total carbon was higher in all the media except soil media (1.33%). The maximum yield in all the studied crops (tomato, cucumber, onion, radish and spinach) was observed in farm yard manure + pressmud (FP) medium while lowest in CPV followed by soil medium. Though the B : C ratio of SP and SFP was found higher than FP, the soil may act as inoculums source for various soil borne diseases. The FP media can be reused and could provide alternative in sustainable vegetable cultivation in urban area.
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