Abstract:

Through feeding earthworms with municipal sewage sludge, the vermicompost was produced. Then four proportions of vermicompost to vermiculite (4:6, 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, namely W1, W2, W3 and W4, respectively) were designed to formulate the growth substrate used in plug nursery bed for capsicum seedling. During seedling development, the growth status and characters of seedling were observed and measured. Results showed that the biomass of both overground and underground parts and seedling index higher in vermicompost substrate than those in a commercial substrate (CK). The biomass and root vigor of capsicum seedlings in W3 treatment was the highest, with the order of W3>W2>W4>W1. With the increase of vermicompost proportion, plant height and SPAD value of the seedlings tended to increase, while stem diameter and root characters increased firstly then decreased, which indicated that the quality of capsicum seedling could be improved by properly formulated substrate with vermicompost derived from municipal sewage sludge. In this study, higher seedling index was observed in W2, W3 and W4 treatments, while that in CK and W1 treatment was lower.