Effect of vermicompost and spent mushroom compost on growth and micronutrients content in Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.)

Organic fertilizer, such as vermicompost and spent mushroom compost (SMC) have a large nutrient value, mainly as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) (Elliot and Dempsey, 1991). These compounds could therefore be used in the production of vegetables and medicinal plants to reduce the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and increase soil fertility (Benton and Wester, 1998). Summer savory has many biological active ingredients in its essential oil, which are widely used today in the pharmaceutical and food industries (Hadian, 2008). The main objective of this research was to study the effect of vermicompost and SMC on the growth indices, micronutrient content and essential oil in savory shoots (Satureja hortensis L.).
A pot experiment was conducted on savory (Satureja hortensis L.) in a completely randomized design in the research field of Mohaghegh Ardabili University. Treatments included volume ratios of zero (control), 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of vermicompost and SMC in washed and unwashed conditions. At the end of the growth season, the growth traits measured included plant height, shoot and root fresh and dry weight, number of leaves, number of main stems, number of lateral branches, leaf area and chlorophyll. Essential oil of savory was extracted using Clevenger's hydro-distillation apparatus. In order to measure essential oils and their constituents, a gas chromatograph (GC) and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry instrument (GC/MS) were used. Quantities of copper, iron, manganese and zinc were measured through an atomic absorption spectrometer, GBC Avanta P (Emami, 1996).
The results showed that an application of vermicompost in the substrate had a significant effect on the growth characteristics of savory (p
In general, this study showed that the use of proper proportions of vermicompost and SMC in the soil can have a positive impact on the growth index, essential oil percentage and the content of the micronutrients of savory. The use of high ratios of organic fertilizer to the soil, however, could reduce most of the traits in savory.