title: The influence of earthworm-processed pig manure on the growth and productivity of marigolds.
abstract: The effects of additions of earthworm-processed pig manure (vermicompost) on the growth and productivity of French marigold (Tagetes patula) plants were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. Marigolds were germinated and grown in a standard commercial greenhouse container medium (Metro-Mix 360), substituted with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% (by volume) pig manure vermicompost. The control consisted of Metro-Mix 360 alone without vermicompost. Plants were supplied regularly with a complete mineral nutrient solution for 121 days. The greatest vegetative growth resulted from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 30% and 40% pig manure vermicompost, and the lowest growth was in the potting mixtures containing 90% and 100% vermicompost. Most flower buds occurred in the potting mixtures containing 40% pig manure vermicompost (19.4 buds), and fewest in the potting mixtures containing 100% vermicompost. Marigolds grown in Metro-Mix 360 substituted with 90% and 100% pig manure vermicompost had the fewest and smallest flowers. After substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% vermicompost, the marigold roots were larger than those of plants grown in the Metro-Mix 360 controls. Substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with any concentration of pig manure vermicompost, with all needed nutrients provided, increased the overall nitrate-nitrogen concentrations of the marigold leaf tissues at flowering stage. Some of the marigold growth and productivity enhancement, resulting from substitution of Metro-Mix 360 with pig manure vermicompost, may be explained by nutritional factors; However, other, factors, such as plant-growth regulators and humates, might have also been involved since all plants were supplied regularly with all required nutrients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1220, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Atiyeh
authors.forename: N Q
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Arancon
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Metzger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D008372:Manure; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D008372:Manure