Comparison of Municipal Solid Waste Compost, Vermicompost and Leaf Mold on Growth and Development of Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida ‘Star Wars’)

Abstract

A research was conducted to determine the effect of municipal solid waste compost, vermicompost and plane (Platanus
orintalis) leaf mold on growth and flowering of Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida Willd. ‘Star Wars’). These organic materials were
added to a soil mixture containg farm soil and sand with the ratios of 1:1:1, 1:0:1, 2:1:1, 2:0:1 and 0:0:1 soil, sand and compost,
respectively. The Cineraria seedlings with four leaves were planted pots (15 cm diameter) containing these media. When the plants
were in flowering stage, the parameters such as leaf and flower number, fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots were measured.
The results showed that the highest shoot fresh and dry weights and flower numbers were observed in soil mixture amended with
vermicompost in ratio of 2:0:1. However, the highest number of leaves was obtained in mixture containing municipal solid waste
compost in ratio of 1:1:1 and the highest root fresh and dry weights were observed in soil mixture amended with leaf mold with
2:0:1 ratio.