Vermicompost as an Important Component in Substrate: Effects on Seedling Quality and Growth of Muskmelon (Cucumis Melo L.)

This study was conducted in National Pingtung University of Science and Technology during winter season to determine the effect of vermicompost on productivity of muskmelon seedling (Cucumis melo L.). Vermicompost produced from rice waste, were mixed at rate of different concentration into rice hulls ash and coconut husk. The pH, electrolytic conductivity (EC), water holding capacity (WHC), concentration of macro-micronutrient in substrates, vegetative growth, plant biomass, concentration of total macro-micronutrient in shoot were recorded. The result showed that using substrate that mixture of vermicompost with rice hulls ash and coconut husk following rate 1:1:1 respectively gave highest value of germination rate, plant height, leaf area, plant biomass and the concentration of P, K, Ca and Fe. Factors contributed to the in increasing of muskmelon seedling growth may be result of an improvement of physical and chemical properties of the substrate when combination between vermicompost, rice hull ash and coconut husk.