Effects of Vermicompost and Water Fern (Azolla pinnata) on Growth of Green Oak Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
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Abstract
Recently, smart farmers focus on safety vegetable production and consumers give more priority to product quality. Then, the aim of this research is to study and compare the growth of green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa) on soil with different fertilizers which included 7 treatments: 1) vermicompost, 2) water fern,
3) vermicompost with water fern, 4) vermicompost water extracts, 5) vermicompost with vermicompost water extracts, 6) chemical fertilizer and 7) without fertilizer (control). The results showed that the soil with vermicompost and water fern added had the highest growth rate of green oak lettuce. This treatment had the least nitrate accumulation level of 0.68 mg/g of dry weight. Also, the rate of contamination of bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens, Escherichia coli, was less than 100 CFU/g. In addition, nitrogen fixing bacteria, isolate ME02, in the vermicompost showed higher ammonia concentration at OD560 of 1.0±0.0, compared to well-known nitrogen fixing bacteria, Azotobacter vinelandii (controlled bacteria). Based on morphological and physiological characteristics and biochemical taxonomy, there was a high possibility that isolate ME02 was classified as a member of the genus Azotobacter which was plant growth-promoting bacteria. Therefore, green oak growing in soil with vermicompost and water fern not only produces good quality of salad vegetable but also reduce bacteria contamination that caused gastrointestinal infection and reduce low level of nitrate accumulation. In conclusion, it is recommended to use vermicompost mixed with water fern to grow salad vegetable and others of soil-based crops.
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