The effect of cow manure vermicompost as the planting medium on the growth of Marigold

The use of appropriate, cheap and available plantin g beds is a priority in ornamental plant production. Eleven treatments and three replicates per treatment with different rates of soil, sand and cow manure compost and vermicompost, perlite an d peat were evaluated as growth media of Marigold (erecta tagetes), Tiashan variety (as test plant). After filling the pots (three liter volume) with substrates prepared in accordance with the test treatments, Marigold seeds were planted in pots. At the time of flowering, plants o f the crown were cut and plant height, stem diameter, flower size, flower height, shoot fresh a nd dry weight were determined. The extracts were prepared from shoot dry matter and in the extr acts, concentration of nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnes ium were measured. Results showed that the largest stem diameter, flower size, shoot fresh and dry weight were related to mixture of 60% v/v vermicompost with 30% v/v sand plus 10% v/v soi l, but the highest plant height obtained at 60% peat plus 40% perlite. Cow manure vermicompost was better than peat in many attributes of plant growth and compost effect also was better than peat. The use of vermicompost tends to increase in nitrogen, potassium and calcium concent ration of plant as compared with peat and perlite.