Physiological and Morphological Implications of Using Composts with Different Compositions in the Production of Cucumber Seedlings

Abstract

Compost has a broad application in terms of the improvement of the soil properties. This research work was conducted to present the molecular implications of using compost obtained from different substrates to improve soil parameters for cucumber seedlings cultivation. In the experiment, the following compost mixtures were used: sewage sludge (80%) + sawdust (20%); sewage sludge (40%) + sawdust (10%) + biodegradable garden and park waste (50%); biodegradable garden and park waste (90%) + sawdust (10%); sewage sludge (80%) + sawdust (20%) + Eisenia fetida; sewage sludge (40%) + sawdust (10%) + biodegradable garden and park waste (50%) + Eisenia fetida; biodegradable garden and park waste (90%) + sawdust (10%) + Eisenia fetida. The final substrate compositions consisted of compost mixtures and deacidified peat(O) (pH 6.97; Corg content—55%, N content—2.3%), serving as a structural additive, in different mass ratios (mass %). The produced plants underwent biometric and physiological measurements as well as enzymatic analyses of stress markers. Based on the conducted studies, it has been found that the substrate productivity depends not only on the content of nutrient components but also on their structure, which is moderated by the proportion of peat in the substrate. The most effective and promising substrate for cucumber seedling production was variant 2 (I), which consisted of 25% compost from sewage sludge (40%) + sawdust (10%) + biodegradable garden and park waste (50%) and 75% deacidified peat. Despite the richness of the other substrates, inferior parameters of the produced seedlings were observed. The analysis of the enzymatic activity of stress markers showed that these substrates caused stress in the plants produced. The study’s results showed that this stress was caused by the presence of Eisenia fetida, which damaged the developing root system of plants in the limited volume of substrate (production containers). The adverse influence of Eisenia fetida on the plants produced could possibly be eliminated by thermal treatment of the compost, although this could lead to significant changes in composition.