Volume of Vermicompost-Based Potting Mix for Vegetable Transplants Determined Using Fuzzy Biomass Growth Index

Abstract

Good quality transplants are necessary so that plants will survive and produce at acceptable levels. The efficacy of vermicompost for vegetable transplant development needs to be clarified. An investigation was conducted to identify the mix and volume of vermicompost-based potting mixes required for production of good quality transplants of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), eggplant (S. melongena L.), and chili pepper (Capsicum frutenscens L.) in paper pots. Five levels of potting mix made of vermicompost:sand:topsoil with the vermicompost proportion ranging from 20% to 50% were used. Paper pots made of 50 g·m⁻² recycled newspaper with volumes of 51, 65, 81 and 100 cc were tested. Transplant quality was evaluated using a fuzzy logic based biomass growth index (BGI). The performance of the BGI and root:shoot ratio representing morphology of seedlings just prior to transplanting was compared. Seedlings could be better categorized using BGI than the root:shoot ratio. Paper pots of 65 cc in volume filled with a mix of 25% vermicompost, 100 cc in volume filled with a mix of 50% vermicompost, and 81 cc in volume filled with a mix of 33% vermicompost, in combination with equal parts of sand and top soil were most suitable for production of good quality transplants of tomato, eggplant, and chili pepper, respectively.

Keywords:

• Biomass growth
• Fuzzy logic
• Potting mix
• Root:shoot ratio
• Vegetable transplanter
• Vermicompost