Effects of Seedling Substrate on Germination and Growth of Butterhead Lettuce in an Organic Farming System
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different seedling substrates on the germination and growth of Butterhead lettuce as an alternative to peat in organic farming systems. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments were as follows: T1 (Peat moss (control), T2 (compost, coconut coir dust and azolla in a ratio of 1:1:1) T3 (compost, vermicompost, coconut coir dust and azolla in a ratio of 1:1:1:1), T4 (compost, vermicompost, coconut coir dust and azolla in a ratio of 1:2:1:1), T5 (compost, vermicompost, coconut coir dust, and azolla in a ratio of 1:1:2:1), T6 (compost, vermicompost, coconut coir dust, and azolla in a ratio of 1:1:1:2) and T7 (compost, vermicompost, coconut dust, and azolla in a ratio of 2:1:1:1). The experimental results revealed that T1 (peat moss) achieved the highest germination percentage (98.39%) and germination index (50.89); however, it also required the longest average germination time (3.94 days). Following this, T4 exhibited a germination percentage of 83.65% and a germination index of 43.05. Conversely, T3 demonstrated the lowest germination percentage (55.44%) and the shortest germination duration (2.18 days). In terms of seedling growth, T4 produced the tallest seedlings (7.27 cm), while T6 achieved the highest fresh weight (28.42 g) and leaf width (3.37 cm). T7 resulted in the widest canopy spread (8.18 cm). By comparison, the control treatment (T1) consistently recorded the lowest values across all growth parameters. Overall, while peat moss (T1) yielded superior germination performance, the seedling substrate in T4 demonstrated considerable potential as a viable peat moss alternative, offering competitive germination efficiency and improved seedling growth quality. These results highlight the feasibility of utilizing locally sourced materials as seedling substrates, particularly for organic farming systems.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
King Mongkut's Agricultural Journal
References
Abad, M., Noguera, P., & Bures, S. (2001). National inventory of organic wastes for use as growing media for ornamental potted plant production: case study in Spain. Bioresource Technology, 77(2), 197-200.
Angelova, V. R., Akova, V. I., Artinova, N. S., & Ivanov, K. I. (2013). The effect of organic amendments on soil chemical characteristics. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 19(5), 958-971.
Bustamante, M. A., Paredes, C., Moral, R., Agulló, E., Pérez-Murcia, M. D., & Abad, M. (2008). Composts from distillery wastes as peat substitutes for transplant production. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52(5), 792-799.
Carlile, W. R., Cattivello, C., & Zaccheo, P. (2015). Organic growing media: Constituents and properties. Vadose Zone Journal, 14(6), vzj2014-09.
Chittawanij, A., Pornsuriya, P., & Yemor, T. (2020). Mixed medias for growing red oak lettuce. Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal, 48(Suppl 1), 1093-1100. (in Thai).
Edwards, C. A., & Bater, J. E. (1992). The use of earthworms in environmental management. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 24(12), 1683-1689.
Edwards, C. A., & Neuhauser, E. F. (1988). Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management. SPB Academic Publ. Retrieved from: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19891352736.
Harenda, K. M., Lamentowicz, M., Samson, M., & Chojnicki, B. H. (2017). The role of peatlands and their carbon storage function in the context of climate change. In Interdisciplinary approaches for Sustainable Development Goals: Economic Growth, Social Inclusion and Environmental Protection, pp. 169-187. Springer International Publishing.
Intana, W., Khomphet, T., Srichai, N., Bundit, N., & Islam, S. S. (2023). Application of azolla spp. as a growing medium component for melon grown in a soilless culture system. Applied Sciences, 13(18), 10288.
Kaewsuralikhit, S., Namwong, P., Thongra-ar, P., Thaweenut, N., & Chatchaisiri, K. (2020). Mineralization and chemical properties changes in soil amended with azolla. Thai Agricultural Research Journal, 38(2), 139-149. (In Thai).
Lorio, J., & Asis, G. (2021). Effects of organic soil amendments for growth, yield, and fruit contents of hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). Agrikultura Cri Journal, 1(1), 1-11.
Netrphakdee, M. (2021). My Little Farm VOL. 8: Easy-to-Grow Salad Greens. Baan Lae Suan. (in Thai).
Office of Agricultural Economics Region 9. (2018). Consumer Behavior towards Organic Agricultural Products. Retrieved from: https://www.tcijthai.com/news/2018/09/scoop/8477. (in Thai).
Office of the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (OPSMOAC). (2021). How to Practice Organic Agriculture and How It Differs from Conventional Agriculture. Retrieved from: https://www.opsmoac.go.th/ datacenter-wb-topic-402791791793. (in Thai).
Olaria, M., Nebot, J. F., Molina, H., Troncho, P., Lapeña, L., & Llorens, E. (2016). Effect of different substrates for organic agriculture in seedling development of traditional species of Solanaceae. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 14(1), e0801.
Orozco, F. H., Cegarra, J., Trujillo, L. M., & Roig, A. (1996). Vermicomposting of coffee pulp using the earthworm Eisenia fetida: effects on C and N contents and the availability of nutrients. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 22(1), 162-166.
Phimsuwan, S. (2012). Effect of Various Types of Growing Media on the Growth of Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). Research Project, Plant Production Technology and Landscape Department, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. (in Thai).
Rojanapornphithip, J. (2024). Method for Producing the Organic Fertilizer "Maejo Engineering 1" Formula in only 60 days - No Need to Turn the Pile, but with Five Precautions to Watch Out for. Retrieved from: https://www.khaosod.co.th/technologychaoban/featured/article_127626. (in Thai).
Sakornwas, S., & Nathewaet, P. (2016). Developing Method for Using Physiological Index for Evaluating Heat Tolerance in Plant. Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University. (in Thai).
Singh, P. K., & Subudhi, B. P. R. (1978). Utilize azolla in poultry feed. Indian Farming, 27(10), 37-39. Retrieved from: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19781470074.
Sornsawan, K., & Tawinteung, N. (2019). Influenced of composting time to chemical properties changes of municipal solid waste by earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae. Thai Journal of Soils and Fertilizers, 41(1), 59-68. (in Thai).
Sterrett, S. B. (2001). Compost as horticultural substrates for vegetable transplant production. In StoVella, P. J., & Kahn, B. A. (Eds.), Compost Utilization in Horticultural Cropping Systems, pp. 227-240. Lewis Publication.
Tangsombatvichit, P., Suksaard, P., Buranasaksee, U., & Boonlerthirun, K. (2020). Effects of vermicompost and water fern (Azolla pinnata) on growth of green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya Research Journal, 13(2), 343-356. (in Thai).
Wannakroirot, P., Julka, P., Noonang, W., & Samokorn, J. (2019). Peat moss-substituted media for nursing stage of potted Nepenthes ampullaria plants production. Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal, 47(1), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.14456/kaj.2019.15 (in Thai).
Wimoonchart, P. (2020). Azolla Microphylla Production for Agriculture. Master’s Thesis. Thammasat University.
