The effects of different levels of vermicompost on the growth and physiology of cabbage seedlings

ABSTRACT: Cabbage belongs to the Brassicaceae family. The present experiment was undertaken to evaluate the possible effects of different concentrations of vermicompost on the growth and physiology of cabbage seedling, Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Vermicompost were used at five different levels (0, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80%). The seeds were planted in five different prepared soil mixtures with vermicompost and grouped in five different treatment groups including control (C), vermicompost of 10% (V10), vermicompost of 20% (V20), vermicompost of 40% (V40) and vermicompost of 80% (V80). The utilization of different levels of vermicompost had significantly enhancing effects on the Zn and auxin contents in leaf tissues. The results indicated that there were significantly positive correlations between the Zn and auxin contents. The applied vermicompost affected the leaf characteristics including the number of produced leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry mass. These findings indicated that the effects of vermicompost on plant growth and development not only were nutritional but also hormonal and biochemical and the utilization of high levels of vermicompost, especially at seedling stage, neither is not only economic but also may have adverse effects on the plant growth and development.