Effects of vermicomposting and compost tea on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium yield and uptake of Mentha aquatic L. inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi Glomus moseae

In order to evaluate the effect of compost tea, vermicomposting (as organic fertilizers), and mycorrhizal symbiosis on Mentha aquatica yield and its components, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications in 2015 in Sari. The factors examined included mycorrhizal Glomus moseae (0 and 10% of the pot volume), vermicomposting (0 and 10% of the pot volume), and compost tea (at 0 and 1.5 liter). Some characteristics such as growth indices, amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in shoots were examined. The results of the study showed that organic fertilizers and mycorrhizal fungi had a significant impact on all measured characteristics and increased dry and fresh weight and flower diameter characteristics when compared with those of the control group so that the highest leaf area, flower diameter, and nitrogen and phosphorus contents were obtained from the mycorrhizal fungi compost tea vermicomposting treatment. The triple interaction effects showed that the absence of compost tea, vermicomposting and mycorrhizae symbiosis treatments increased the leaf area compared to the control. The results indicated that using vermicomposting, compost tea, and mycorrhizal symbiosis through the availability of nutrients increases the yield and improves the quantity and quality of Mentha aquatica harvest.