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Volume 13, Issue 4, 132444 (1-10)
International Journal of Recycling Organic Waste in Agriculture (IJROWA)
https://dx.doi.org/10.57647/ijrowa-3h80-t656
Jose´ Matheus Oliveira1
, Jefferson Campos Silva1 
, Andreza Jayane Nunes Siqueira1
, Ramom Rachide Nunes2,∗ 
1Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Serra Talhada, Brazil.
2Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Recife, Brazil.
∗Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received:
30 June 2023 Revised:
15 September 2023 Accepted:
07 February 2024 Published online: 23 May 2024
© The Author(s) 2024
Method: The vermicomposts were prepared by mixing corn waste in an organic substrate. The experiment was divided into two parts: sowing in trays and growing seedlings in pots. In both steps, the following biometric attributes were evaluated: plant size, root length, root weight, aboveground biomass, leaf weight, and leaf area. Three vermicompost concentrations were assessed: 1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0% (m/m). As a control, a soil sample without vermicompost was also evaluated.
Results: In general, plants that grew in a substrate containing vermicompost developed more when compared to the sample control (19.2 − 22.0 vs 15 cm). Furthermore, in general, plants cultivated with higher vermi- compost concentrations presented better results in all evaluated parameters. In addition, a sample composed
of a mixture of corn straw and cob showed the best results, indicating that joint management of both residues is advantageous for all assessed attributes.
Numerous challenges have been faced by small farmers lo- cated in the tropics for many decades, resulting in low food and energy productivity, generally associated with soil fer- tility (low levels of nutrients, inadequate management, and exacerbated land use, in addition to edaphoclimatic factors) (Mittler and Blumwald, 2010; Lima et al., 2016). Many studies have demonstrated how organic matter (OM) is im- portant for modernizing agricultural practices, influencing
soil quality, and being an important factor in the devel- opment of sustainable agriculture (Mittler and Blumwald, 2010; Campos-Silva et al., 2021).
Despite these problems, corn (Zea mays L.) is a culture well adapted to the semiarid climate and is one of the main sources of income for small farmers. Despite climatic con- ditions and unfavorable soil quality, maize is distributed throughout the Brazilian semiarid region and has great cul- tural, economic, and social importance, intended for human consumption and animal feed (Carvalho et al., 2000; Lopes
et al., 2019; Tiammee and Likasiri, 2020). In addition to corn production, a large amount of waste is also generated, which includes mainly corn straw and cob. Normally, these residues are reused by rural farmers as animal feed or just burned or discarded on the ground, which can cause serious consequences for the environment, such as soil contamina- tion and eutrophication of water bodies (Dores-Silva et al., 2013; Rajkhowa et al., 2019; Vieira-Ju´nior et al., 2020; Chaves et al., 2021). In this sense, vermicomposting has been consolidated as a viable alternative in the recycling of agricultural waste for the production of organic inputs, adding value to the residues (Bhat et al., 2018; Campos- Silva et al., 2021). Vermicomposting is an environmental technology that transforms fresh OM into stabilized OM based on the combined action of earthworms and microor- ganisms that live in their digestive tracts, treating and alter- ing the organic structures of waste. During the process of OM stabilization, the feedstock is transformed into a more stable material with greater agronomic potential for plant production. During vermicompost production, chemical compounds are released in the form of organic and mineral nutrients, which are easily assimilated by plants (Dores- Silva et al., 2011; Cotta et al., 2015; Nunes et al., 2016; Scaglia et al., 2016; Devi and Khwairakpam, 2020).
The use of vermicompost is recommended for different crops, with emphasis on the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, e.g., tomatoes and their varieties. The cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), from the Solanaceae family, is a plant well adapted and resistant to diseases and climate change. However, special care is required throughout its cultivation, especially during ger- mination, flowering, and fruit growth periods (Munir et al., 2013; Widjajanto et al., 2023; Mart´ınez-Cuenca et al., 2020).
Many studies have shown the benefits of vermicompost in the seedling cultivation of vegetable and fruit plants (Truong
et al., 2018; Silva et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2022; Wako and Muleta, 2023). Vermicomposts supply a balanced dose of essential nutrients, providing significant benefits to seedling development and favoring healthy growth (Hashemimajd et al., 2004; Manh and Wang, 2014; Oliveira et al., 2015). This work aimed to study the application of vermicom- posted corn waste in the organic cultivation of cherry tomato seedlings, in addition to evaluating its effects on the soil- plant system.
The vermicomposters were set up in 25 L plastic barrels con- taining different proportions of fresh wastes (based on dry volume). The proportion of the substrates was determined by a combination of their C:N ratio. The following samples were analyzed: i. Corn straw mix (S); ii. Corn cob mix (C); and iii. Corn straw + cob mix (CS). For comparison, a vermicomposter with no corn waste was also prepared (standard sample-STD) (Campos-Silva et al., 2021).
After the mixtures were made, the material rested for 1 week; then, all of the contents were turned manually once a week. For vermicompost production, 250 newborn earth- worms (Eisenia fetida L.) were added to each vermicom- poster. Each vermicomposting treatment was performed in triplicate. In addition, vermicomposters were covered with dry leaves of Tabebuia impetigosa, favoring earthworm acclimatization (Campos-Silva et al., 2021).
After vermicomposting (120 days), the following chemical and fertility attributes were determined in the vermicom- posts: total solids (ST), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), or- ganic matter (OM), and total organic carbon (TOC) (Ta- ble 1), in addition to the contents of macro- and micronutri- ents (Table 2) (EMBRAPA, 2017).
Samples of Ferric Lixisol (USDA: Oxic Paleustalf) were collected on the campus of the Federal Rural University of
Sample | TS | pH | EC | CEC | BS | OM | TOC | N | C:N ratio |
% | — | µ S cm−1 | cmolc kg−1 | % | % | % | % | — | |
STD | 92.79a | 7.11b | 136.45b | 410.47a | 99.58a | 62.87d | 31.45b | 2.11a | 4.99a |
S | 91.42a | 6.86a | 133.93a | 495.05b | 99.72a | 59.13cd | 31.05b | 2.25a | 5.53ab |
C | 96.95b | 6.82a | 133.60a | 564.76c | 99.68a | 49.88a | 27.6a | 2.37ab | 5.90b |
CS | 92.48a | 6.86a | 137.78b | 648.48d | 99.72a | 53.66b | 30.07ab | 2.49b | 4.59a |
Mean followed by one-way ANOVA bootstrap and Duncan’s test, n = 3, p < 0.05, on dry matter basis. STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw. TS Total solids, EC Electrical conductivity, CEC Cation exchange capacity, BS Base saturation, OM Organic matter, TOC Total organic carbon.Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not statistically different at p < 0.05 from each other, according to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test.
Pernambuco (UFRPE) in the municipality of Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil (7◦57′11.4′′S 38◦17′41.0′′W). The ma- terial was sieved to 2.0 mm and air-dried. Soil collection and preparation were conducted in June 2021 under an av-
erage temperature of 26◦ C and precipitation of 21 mm. To characterize the soil, the following attributes were deter- mined: total solids (ST), pH, electrical conductivity (EC),
exchangeable acidity (A), sum of bases (SB), cation ex- change capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), micro- and macronutri- ents, particle-size distribution, and soil texture (Table 3) (EMBRAPA, 2017).
The agronomic tests were divided into two stages: seedlings (in trays) and seedling cultivation (transplanted in pots). Tests were carried out using cherry tomato seeds (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) (Feltrin R, Farroupilha, Brazil).
For seedling cultivation, three substrates were prepared from a mixture of soil and vermicomposts at three con- centrations: 1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0% (m/m). In addition, a control sample was also prepared, which used only soil (without the addition of vermicompost).
Each tray contained 36 culture cells of 25 mL. The cells were filled with the substrate, and 1 seed was placed per cell. The trays were watered daily with 5 mL of water per cell.
Germination was monitored daily, and the number of ger- minated cells was recorded. The germination rate (%GR) was calculated based on the percentage of germinated seeds in relation to the total number of cultivated seeds.
After 14 days of cultivation, the seedlings were removed, washed, and air-dried. Thus, the following morphomet- ric and biomass attributes were recorded: plant size (h), root length (RL), aboveground biomass weight (AW), root weight (RW), and leaf weight (LW).
The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, municipality of
Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil (7◦ 57′ 09.4′′S 38◦ 17′ 42.9′′W). According to Koppen-Geiger, the local climate is of the BSwh’ type (semiarid and hot climate, with dry
winter), with an average annual rainfall of 642 mm (Alvares et al., 2013). During the experiments, air temperature and relative air humidity were measured as 24.8◦ C and 62%, respectively.
After reaching 3 cm in the trays, the cherry tomato seedlings were transplanted into pots. Ten pots (replicates) were pre- pared for each sample at concentrations of 1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0% (m/m). The plants were watered daily with approx- imately 50 mL of water. Irrigation was carried out using the Hargreaves and Samani (1982) model, estimating evap- otranspiration and daily temperatures.
For the organization of the experiment, the pots were dis- tributed randomly on benches, with 10 pots distributed on two benches, with a size of 6.0 × 0.6 m. In total, 10 pots
were arranged in a 2 × 5 system (column × row). Each
column corresponded to one board. The distance between
the pots was 10.0 cm, and positions were changed weekly at random. Positions were modified to minimize possible external influences, e.g., shade and wind.
During cultivation, the size of the seedlings was measured every three days. After 30 days, the seedlings were re- moved, and the following morphometric parameters were determined: plant size (h), root length (RL), above-ground biomass weight (AW), root weight (RW), and leaf weight (LW). The leaf area was determined using Im-age-Pro ® PLUS software.
Macro- (N, P, K, Ca, S, and Mg) and micronutrient (B, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Fe) contents were determined in the leaves of seedlings grown in pots. The leaves were dried in a ventilated oven for 24 h and then crushed in a ball mill.
Nutrients | STD | S | C | CS |
N (%) | 2.01a | 2.19b | 2.17b | 2.19b |
P (%) | 0.55a | 0.57a | 0.60a | 0.65a |
K (%) | 2.82b | 2.22a | 2.31a | 3.17c |
Ca (%) | 1.64a | 1.62a | 1.70b | 2.10c |
Mg (%) | 0.61ab | 0.57a | 0.66b | 0.69b |
S (%) | 0.37a | 0.44a | 0.42a | 0.48a |
B (mg kg−1) | 4.31a | 4.29a | 4.33a | 3.76a |
Cu (mg kg−1) | 7.92b | 6.55a | 6.21a | 7.83b |
Mn (mg kg−1) | 0.99a | 0.89a | 0.89a | 1.03a |
Zn (mg kg−1) | 0.12a | 0.14a | 0.09a | 0.16a |
Fe (g kg−1) | 1.89a | 2.01ab | 2.22b | 2.18b |
Mean followed by one-way ANOVA bootstrap and Duncan’s test, n = 3, p < 0.05, on dry matter basis. STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw. Values in the same row followed by the same letter are not statistically different at p < 0.05 from each other, according to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test.
Samples were prepared in digester tubes using H2SO4 9.0 mol L−1 and HNO3 2.0 mol L−1 at 180 − 200◦ C for 3 h. The determination of macro- and micronutrient contents was performed using an ICP OES Optima 8000 Dual View, Perkin Elmer (Waltham, USA) (EMBRAPA, 2017).
Initially, data were tested for normality (Shapiro-Wilk test) and homoscedasticity (Bartellet test) at p < 0.05 and dif- ferent values of n, depending on the test. Parametric and homoscedastic data were compared by one-way bootstrap ANOVA, and differences between means were evaluated using Duncan’s multiple amplitude test (MRT).
Nonparametric and heteroscedastic data were compared us- ing one-way ANOVA, and differences between medians were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. IBM SPSS
v.20 was used for data analysis (licensed software).
Laboratory procedures, analytical or not, including agro- nomic tries, were carried out following the requirements, when applicable, of the ISO/IEC 17025 — General Re- quirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories — and with the principles of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) to guarantee data traceability and quality management, adding value and credibility to the obtained
results.
Data of S. lycopersicum sown in trays are shown in Fig. 1 and Table 4 (germination rate, %GR); and Table 5 (morpho- metric indices).
Initially, seeds that received vermicomposts (samples STD, S, C, or SC) germinated and developed more in compari- son with the sample control (only soil) during the first 14 days of cultivation. In addition, plants that received higher doses of vermicompost developed more, presenting higher average growth (doses 6.0 > 3.0 > 1.5 m/m). In the com- parison between the types of vermicompost, the addition of corn waste positively affected the %GR, since the sample STD (only vermicomposted organic substrate, without the addition of corn waste) presented results below the other vermicompost samples. The best results were obtained in samples C/6.0% and CS/6% (%GR = 74.4% and 73.3%, respectively) (Table 4).
Analyzing the growth (h), plants that received vermicom- posts at 6.0% developed more concerning the sample control
(soil) in addition to the vermicomposts at 1.5% (1.8 − 2.3 against 3.3 − 3.6 cm), with values significantly different be- tween groups (bootstrap ANOVA, p < 0.05) (Table 5). The
Attributes | Soil |
ST (%) | 99.12 ± 0.03 |
pH | 5.08 ± 0.04 |
CE (µS m−1) | 89.83 ± 4.23 |
OM (%) | 2.12 ± 0.17 |
TOC (%) | 0.43 ± 0.02 |
A (cmolc kg−1) | 32.07 ± 0.13 |
SB (cmolc kg−1) | 29.11 ± 0.26 |
CEC (cmolc kg−1) | 61.18 ± 0.33 |
BS (%) | 47.58 ± 0.22 |
Nutrients: | |
N (%) | 1.23 ± 0.01 |
P (%) | 0.42 ± 0.03 |
K (%) | 1.42 ± 0.10 |
Mg (mg kg−1) | 26.42 ± 0.04 |
Ca (mg kg−1) | 12.44 ± 0.26 |
Na (mg kg−1) | < LOQ |
B (mg kg−1) | < LOQ |
Cu (mg kg−1) | 189.24 ± 23.62 |
Mn (mg kg−1) | 276.75 ± 19.33 |
Zn (mg kg−1) | 127.81 ± 6.37 |
Fe (g kg−1) | 73.73 ± 12.92 |
Particle-size distribution: | |
Sand (%) | 58.32 ± 4.28 |
Silt (%) | 11.07 ± 1.07 |
Clay (%) | 30.61 ± 4.91 |
Soil texture | Sandy clay loam |
Mean followed by standard deviation, n = 3, p < 0.05, on dry matter basis. TS Total solids, EC Electrical conductivity, OM Organic matter, TOC Total organic carbon, A Exchangeable acidity, SB Sum of bases, CEC Cation exchange capacity, BS Base saturation. LOQ Limit of quantitation.
Figure 1. Germination rate (%GR) of cherry tomato (S. lycopersicum) sown in trays.
plant sizes (h) were also proportional to the vermicompost concentration: higher vermicompost concentrations led to higher plant heights (6.0 > 3.0 > 1.5 m/m). Higher values of h were reported at a dose of 6% of each vermicompost. Samples C/6.0% and CS/6.0% reached 3.3 and 3.6 cm, respectively, without significant differences (ANOVA boot- strap, p < 0.05). The smallest growth was obtained in the sample control (1.8 cm) and in the plants that received 1.5% vermicompost (2.3 − 2.7 cm) (Table 2).
Regarding the influence of vermicompost on root length
(RL) (Table 5), plants that received vermicomposts S, C, and CS at doses of 3.0 and 6.0% presented the smallest root (1.5 − 1.8 cm) compared to the samples control, STD/1.5%,
and STD/3.0% that presented the longest (3.9 − 4.1 cm),
with data significantly different between these groups (boot-
strap ANOVA, p < 0.05). These results indicated that the S, C, and CS vermicomposts provided better nutrition for the plants, not requiring greater root growth in the search for water and nutrients, as observed in the other samples.
Therefore, sowing with smaller roots is associated with a greater nutritional potential of the vermicompost produced from corn residues.
Plants that received vermicomposts S, C, and CS presented higher contents of aboveground biomass (AW) compared to the sample control and STD/1.5%. Values of AW also in- creased according to the vermicompost concentration. The best results were obtained in CS/6.0% (0.0189 g), whereas the lowest results were obtained in samples STD/1.5% and control (0.002 and 0.003 g, respectively), with significant differences between groups and no differences between in- dividual values per group (bootstrap ANOVA, p < 0.05). Data on leaf weight (LW) (Table 5) also indicated that plants cultivated with vermicompost presented higher leaf weight when compared to the control. In addition, at higher ver- micompost concentrations, a more stimulating effect on leaf production was observed, which is also associated with
Table 4. Germination rate (%GR) of cherry tomato (S. lycopersicum) sown in trays using soil and vermicomposted corn waste at different concentrations (1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0%) (n = 36; n◦ of cells).
Sample | 5 days | 10 days | 15 days | 20 days | |
(%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | ||
Soil (control) | 8.3 | 13.9 | 19.4 | 22.2 | |
STD/1.5% | 0.0 | 44.4 | 47.2 | 47.2 | |
STD/3.0% | 13.9 | 38.9 | 41.7 | 44.4 | |
STD/6.0% | 19.4 | 52.8 | 69.4 | 69.4 | |
S/1.5% | 5.6 | 16.7 | 25.0 | 25.0 | |
S/3.0% | 8.3 | 19.4 | 33.3 | 36.1 | |
S/6.0% | 2.8 | 30.6 | 46.1 | 61.7 | |
C/1.5% | 0.1 | 16.7 | 36.1 | 36.1 | |
C/3.0% | 5.6 | 19.4 | 41.7 | 47.2 | |
C/6.0% | 2.8 | 30.6 | 64.4 | 74.4 | |
CS/1.5% | 5.6 | 19.4 | 27.8 | 30.6 | |
CS/3.0% | 5.6 | 25.0 | 60.6 | 66.1 | |
CS/6.0% | 0.5 | 26.7 | 65.0 | 73.3 |
STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw.
greater plant development. Sample STD/6% presented the highest LW (0.0124 g). In general, sample control and vermicomposts at a dose of 1.5% presented the smallest re- sults, with no significant differences in LW values (bootstrap ANOVA, p < 0.05). Other values of LW varied randomly.
Table 6 presents the results obtained in the seedling cultiva- tion of cherry tomato (S. lycopersicum) in pots. In general, the trend observed during sowing in trays was also reported in seedling cultivation in pots. The treatments containing vermicomposts presented a better result concerning the sam- ple control, in addition to the plant growth that increased proportionally to the vermicompost doses in the substrates (6.0% > 3.0% > 1.5% m/m) (Fig. 2).
Seedlings with the highest sizes (h) were obtained in the S/6,0% and CS/6,0% samples (21.6 and 22.0 cm, respec- tively). On the other hand, the smallest growth was ob- tained in the sample control (15.0 cm) and in the treatments that received vermicomposts at a concentration of 1.5% (15.5 − 16.8 cm), except for the S/1.5% sample (20.5). The
samples that received vermicompost at concentrations of
3.0% and 6.0% did not show significant differences in their results, nor did the control sample and the plants that re- ceived vermicompost at a dose of 1.5% (ANOVA bootstrap, p < 0.05).
Regarding the root lengths (RL), the seedlings that received vermicomposts at higher doses presented smaller roots (12.5 − 14.4 cm), except for the vermicomposts STD. Sam-
ples control and STD presented longer roots (21.0 − 29.2
cm) (Table 6). The results of the elements in each group
did not show significant differences between them, but the data were significantly different when comparing groups (bootstrap ANOVA, p < 0.05). This finding reinforces that vermicomposted corn waste provides a greater amount of nutrients for plant nutrition, reducing the need for root
growth to supply water and nutrients, as observed in the other samples.
Values of root weight (RW) varied randomly (Table 6). Re- garding the aboveground biomass (AW), seedlings culti- vated with vermicomposts S, C, and CS presented higher weights when compared to the soil and STD samples. The sample with the highest AW was CS/6.0% (3.5 g). On the other hand, the sample that presented the lowest AW was C/1.5% (1.4 g).
Concerning the leaves, the weight (LW) varied randomly, and area (A) followed a trend: the control and samples that received 1.5% of vermicompost presented leaves with smaller areas (2.1 − 2.8 cm2), which were significantly dif- ferent from the others. Higher vermicompost doses induced
higher leaf areas (6.0% > 3.0% > 1.5% m/m). Better re- sults were obtained in the C/6.0% and CS/6.0% samples (4.9 and 4.8 cm2, respectively).
The following tables present the contents of macro- (Ta- ble 7) and micronutrients (Table 8) determined in the leaves of S. lycopersicum seedlings.
In general, samples control and STD presented the high- est levels of macronutrients, followed by the treatments that received 1.5% of vermicompost, with emphasis on S (1.21 − 1.10%), N (2.34 − 1.37%), and K (6.61 − 5.21%).
In addition, some nutrients were determined in lower con-
centrations, indicating a nutritional deficiency of plants with smaller development, e.g., Mg (0.12%) and Ca (1.31%) in the sample control.
Regarding micronutrients, sample control showed interme- diate nutrient levels when compared to treatments contain- ing vermicompost. However, the visual analysis of their leaves indicated a yellowing characteristic of nutritional deficiency associated with the chlorosis of plant tissues (Malavolta et al., 1997; Malavolta, 2006; Faquin, 2005).
Table 5. Morphometric indices of cherry tomato (S. lycopersicum) sown in trays using soil and vermicomposted corn waste at different concentrations (1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0%).
Sample | h | RL | RW | AW | LW | |
cm | cm | g | g | g | ||
Soil (control) | 1.8a | 3.9cd | 0.0009ab | 0.0030ab | 0.0019ab | |
STD/1.5% | 2.7abc | 4.1d | 0.0011ab | 0.0020a | 0.0051cde | |
STD/3.0% | 2.9abc | 4.1d | 0.0036f | 0.0066de | 0.0065de | |
STD/6.0% | 3.4c | 2.8bc | 0.0016bc | 0.0068bcd | 0.0124g | |
S/1.5% | 2.4abc | 2.6abc | 0.0017de | 0.0036abc | 0.0026abc | |
S/3.0% | 2.4abc | 1.8abc | 0.0032ef | 0.0062cde | 0.0041cd | |
S/6.0% | 3.1bc | 2.1abc | 0.0036bc | 0.0067de | 0.0078f | |
C/1.5% | 2.3ab | 1.4abc | 0.0007a | 0.0052cde | 0.0025abc | |
C/3.0% | 3.4bc | 1.3a | 0.0011ab | 0.0080e | 0.0027abc | |
C/6.0% | 3.6c | 1.6abc | 0.0023cd | 0.0116g | 0.0057bcd | |
CS/1.5% | 2.3ab | 1.6ab | 0.0017bc | 0.0063cd | 0.0012a | |
CS/3.0% | 2.3ab | 1.6abc | 0.0016bc | 0.0070de | 0.0052de | |
CS/6.0% | 3.3c | 1.5abc | 0.0016bc | 0.0189g | 0.0067bcd |
Mean followed by ANOVA one-way bootstrap and Duncan’s test, n = 36, p < 0.05, on dry matter. STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw. h Plant size, RL Root length, AW Aboveground biomass weight, RW Root weight, and LW Leaf weight. Values in the same row followed by the same letter are not statistically different at p < 0.05 from each other, according to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test.
Treatments with higher vermicompost concentrations pre- sented lower levels of micronutrients. Sample STD/6.0%
presented the highest levels of B (132.32 mg kg−1) and Zn (125.34 mg kg−1). In the S/6.0% sample, the highest
Table 6. Morphometric indices of cherry tomato seedlings (S. lycopersicum) cultivated in pots using soil and vermicom-posted corn waste at different concentrations (1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0%).
Sample | h | RL | RW | AW | LW | A | |
cm | cm | g | g | g | cm2 | ||
Soil (control) | 15.0a | 21.0bc | 0.3c | 2.5ab | 1.0ab | 2.2a | |
STD/1.5% | 15.9a | 26.1bc | 0.3bc | 2.4ab | 1.2ab | 2.1a | |
STD/3.0% | 19.9bc | 29.2c | 0.4c | 3.5b | 1.4b | 3.2b | |
STD/6.0% | 21.4c | 20.3bc | 0.1a | 3.1ab | 1.3ab | 4.0b | |
S/1.5% | 20.5bc | 19.4bc | 0.1a | 3.2ab | 1.5b | 2.8a | |
S/3.0% | 20.0bc | 17.4b | 0.1a | 3.0ab | 1.7b | 3.5b | |
S/6.0% | 21.6c | 12.5a | 0.2ab | 3.7b | 1.3ab | 3.5b | |
C/1.5% | 16.7a | 17.5ab | 0.1a | 1.4a | 1.0ab | 2.9ab | |
C/3.0% | 18.8b | 13.1a | 0.1a | 2,2ab | 0.6ab | 4.4bc | |
C/6.0% | 19.2bc | 13.2a | 0.2ab | 3.2ab | 1.9a | 4.9c | |
CS/1.5% | 16.8a | 20.9bc | 0.1a | 2.7ab | 1.2ab | 2.7a | |
CS/3.0% | 19.0bc | 18.5bc | 0.2ab | 3.4b | 1.4b | 4.1b | |
CS/6.0% | 22.0c | 14.4abc | 0.2ab | 3.5ab | 1.7ab | 4.8c |
Mean followed by ANOVA one-way bootstrap and Duncan’s test, n = 10, p < 0.05, on dry matter basis. Time = 30 days. STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw. h Plant size, RL Root length, AW Aboveground biomass weight, RW Root weight, LW Leaf weight, and A Leaf area. Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not statistically different at p < 0.05 from each other, according to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test.
Table 7. Macronutrients quantified in leaves of cherry tomato seedlings (S. lycopersicum) cultivated in pots using soil and vermicomposted corn waste at different concentrations (1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0%).
Sample | N | P | K | Ca | Mg | S | |
% | |||||||
Soil (control) | 1.87ab | 0.31a | 5.21b | 1.31a | 0.12a | 1.10b | |
STD/1.5% | 2.34b | 0.43a | 6.61b | 2.13ab | 0.49ab | 0.69ab | |
STD/3.0% | 1.94ab | 0.51ab | 6.60b | 2.09a | 0.41a | 1.01ab | |
STD/6.0% | 2.21b | 0.21a | 5.37b | 2.27c | 0.69ab | 1.21b | |
S/1.5% | 1.73ab | 0.35a | 4.99b | 3.01c | 0.68ab | 1.19bc | |
S/3.0% | 1.81ab | 0.49ab | 5.12b | 2.89c | 0.61ab | 0.79b | |
S/6.0% | 1.36a | 0.57b | 5.88b | 2.00ab | 0.49a | 0.81ab | |
C/1.5% | 1.61a | 0.41a | 5.79b | 2.03ab | 0.69ab | 0.73ab | |
C/3.0% | 1.88ab | 0.52a | 5.42b | 2.33b | 0.66ab | 1.00ab | |
C/6.0% | 1.91ab | 0.61b | 5.70b | 2.07ab | 0.69ab | 0.94a | |
CS/1.5% | 1.54a | 0.21a | 2.59a | 2.18ab | 0.55ab | 0.81a | |
CS/3.0% | 1.72a | 0.20a | 2.46a | 1.98ab | 0.61ab | 0.73a | |
CS/6.0% | 1.44ab | 0.21a | 1.99a | 1.88ab | 0.60ab | 0.67a |
Mean followed by ANOVA one-way bootstrap and Duncan’s test, n = 3, p < 0.05, on dry matter basis. STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw. Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not statistically different at p < 0.05 from each other, according to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test.
Table 8. Macronutrients quantified in leaves of cherry tomato seedlings (S. lycopersicum) cultivated in pots using soil and vermicomposted corn waste at different concentrations (1.5%, 3.0%, and 6.0%).
Sample | B | Cu | Mn | Zn | Fe | |
mg kg−1 | ||||||
Soil (control) | 79.21b | 1.13a | 214.11bc | 101.28ab | 1123.46c | |
STD/1.5% | 82.36b | 0.21a | 137.54a | 100.48 ab | 632.39a | |
STD/3.0% | 71.45ab | 0.32ab | 113.49a | 81.99a | 543.34a | |
STD/6.0% | 132.32c | 1.24d | 348.12c | 125.34b | 1266.24d | |
S/1.5% | 126.46c | 0.45b | 201.41b | 100.15a | 1579.96e | |
S/3.0% | 114.12c | 0.61bc | 201.52b | 101.38ab | 1321.47c | |
S/6.0% | 56.16a | 2.07e | 117.00 to | 101.35ab | 863.52b | |
C/1.5% | 81.48b | 1.99e | 272.42b | 100.92ab | 641.34a | |
C/3.0% | 75.17ab | 0.94c | 99.24a | 100.37ab | 826.41ab | |
C/6.0% | 51.44a | 0.18a | 235.07b | 101.86ab | 853.52b | |
CS/1.5% | 81.22ab | 0.57b | 387.37d | 121.47b | 1126.48c | |
CS/3.0% | 55.41a | 0.31ab | 301.25c | 94.71a | 802.25b | |
CS/6.0% | 66.83a | 0.91c | 303.12c | 104.23b | 578.16 to |
Mean followed by ANOVA one-way bootstrap and Duncan’s test, n = 3, p < 0.05, on dry matter basis. STD Vermicompost control (only organic substrate), S Vermicomposted corn straw, C Vermicomposted corn cob, CS Vermicomposted corn cob and straw. Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not statistically different at p < 0.05 from each other, according to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test.
levels of Fe (1579.96 mg kg−1) and S (2.07 mg kg−1) were quantified. On the other hand, sample C/6.0% presented the lowest contents of B (51.44 mg kg−1), Cu (0.18 mg kg−1), and Mn (99.24 mg kg−1).
When comparing the results of leaf areas (Table 6) with the
data of leaf analysis (Table 7 and Table 8), samples with the highest levels of macro- and micronutrients presented the smallest leaves, and vice versa. This occurred due to the nutrient dilution in plant tissues, making more devel- oped plants present lower concentrations of some metals and nutrients. Generally, nutrient dilution in the leaf occurs when the plant presents rapid growth, and the nutrients are absorbed at a slow rate. When the growth rate is zero or negative, nutrients will continue to be absorbed and become concentrated in the vegetal tissue (Malavolta et al., 1997; Faquin, 2005; Nunes et al., 2018).
Comparing the data reported with other studies, Costa et al. (2018) investigated the effect of different combinations of cattle manure, vermicomposted slaughterhouse waste (e.g., viscera, rumen, blood), and vermiculite in the cultiva- tion of cherry tomato seedlings. The authors used different combinations of substrates and demonstrated how the plants cultivated with higher amounts of vermicompost presented better development, as reported in this study.
Ers¸ahin et al. (2017) evaluated the effect of vermicompost produced from a mixture of cattle manure and kitchen scraps on the germination and growth of cherry tomato seedlings. The data reported in this study are different from ours in terms of germination rate (%GR) and seedling height (h). First, vermicompost addition reduced the %GR compared to the control. In addition, the size of the plants decreased under the application of larger amounts of vermicompost. Both results were the opposite of those reported in this study. According to the authors, high pH (8.3) inhibited nutrient absorption, reducing plant development. Moreover, in our study, sowing reached a maximum size of 3.6 cm in the CS/6% sample, while Ers¸ahin et al. (2017) reached plants
of 2.4 cm (40% difference). The authors also determined the nutrient content in the leaves of cherry tomato seedlings. In general, the contents of N, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and B were lower than those in this study, while the contents of K and Cu were higher.
In general, when comparing our results with other studies, the data reported in this work are equivalent or superior in many aspects in the evaluated attributes, indicating that ver- micomposted corn waste supplies the nutritional demands of cherry tomato seedlings, in addition to supporting the expected adequate plant development.
Our findings confirmed the expectation that it is possible to apply vermicomposts from corn waste in the organic cultivation of cherry tomato seedlings. The approach of sowing seeds in trays followed by transplanting in pots presented a positive effect on seedling development. In general, the addition of vermicompost positively influenced the development of seedlings, which grew and developed more - in all evaluated aspects - when compared to the control sample (seedlings grown only in soil). In addition, higher doses of vermicompost presented better results (6.0% > 3.0% > 1.5%). Sample CS/6.0% was the best substrate evaluated, indicating that the joint processing of corn wastes (straw and cob) is more advantageous since the effect of the combined sample was more beneficial to the plants than each one of the residues separately. Levels of macro- and micronutrients showed that more developed plants were better nourished, indicating a high nutritional potential of the vermicomposts, favoring the growth of stronger, healthier, and more resistant plants. When compared to other studies, the climatic and edaphoclimatic conditions experienced in this work did not interfere with plant development since the seedlings presented good development in all evaluated parameters.
The authors thank FACEPE (Pernambuco Science Foundation, State of Pernambuco, Brazil) for providing grants to JC Silva (Processes BIC-1450-1.06/19 and BIC-0645-1.06/20).
Jose´ Matheus Oliveira: Conceptualization, Vi- sualization, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing-original draft, Writing-review & editing. Jefferson Campos Silva: Conceptualization, Visualization, Formal analysis, Data curation. Andreza Jayane Nunes Siqueira: Conceptualization, Visualization, Formal analysis, Data curation. Ramom Rachide Nunes: Project administration, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Conceptualiza- tion, Methodology.
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
The authors declare that they have no known com- peting financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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