Effects of Vermicompost Application on Plant Growth Stimulation in Technogenic Soils †

Abstract

The aim of this study was to support the use of waste materials formed from a mixture of technogenic soils for growing plants through adding vermicompost leachates. The effect on the growth of underground and above-ground biomass was evaluated on plants of the bush variety of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Three different types of biodegradable waste (apple pomace, matolin, and horse manure) were used in the experiments, from which individual vermicomposts were subsequently produced. The effect of the addition of vermicompost leachates to the soil was manifested in all the statistically evaluated parameters of the bush tomato plants. It was found that the highest values were achieved for the root weight (+2.91 g; p < 0.01) and for the stem (+1.92 g, p < 0.01). The lowest values were observed in the control plants without application of the vermicompost leachates.