Author/Authors :
Shirani Bidabadi، Siamak نويسنده Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, IUT, 84156-83111 Isfahan, Iran , , Afazel، Marzieh نويسنده Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, IUT, 84156-83111 Isfahan, Iran , , Dehghani Poodeh، Safoora نويسنده Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran ,
Abstract :
Purpose A comparative study was carried out to assess the
impact of vermicompost leachate (VCL) and inorganic
fertilizer either alone or in combination on growth and
biochemical parameters in Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)
through a soilless culture system.
Methods The cattle manure-based vermicompost was
processed by earthworms and the resulting leachate was
brewed for 48 h and then collected in the system reservoir
for use in soilless culture. An inorganic fertilizer was also
prepared by dissolving a water soluble fertilizer in distilled
water.
Results Most of the parameters measured were influenced
by fertilizer type and growth media. The results indicated
that VCL could increase some growth attributes like biomass production, plant height and leaf area, but not as
much as what observed in the combined treatment of
inorganic fertilizer and VCL. Whereas the carbohydrate
content of the leaves did not significantly change in all
fertilizer type treated plants, the photosynthetic efficiency
and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), (proxidase) POX and (catalase) CAT markedly increased in VCL
treated plants.
Conclusion Due to the equivalent effects of both VCL and
inorganic fertilizer in the current investigation, it could be
suggested that replacing inorganic fertilizer with VCL or
developing an equilibrated fertilization strategy that combines the proper ratios of inorganic fertilizer and VCL
could be justified for sustainable Stevia cultivation.
