Peppermint productivity as affected by Vermicompost and calcium silicate under saline conditions

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the most important a biotic stresses among the harmful environmental factors on the agricultural land sector. Field experiment was conducted at the Central laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Agricultural Research Center, Giza to study the effect of vermicompost fish fertilizer and calcium silicate treatments on mint grown under sandy soil during the two seasons of 2108 and 2019. Sandy soils were conducted from El Alamein, Western Sahara, worm fish fertilizer was added in a single dose; at rates of 0, 3.5, 4.5, and 7.5 ton/acre, it was incorporated into potted plants to a depth of 5-10 cm two weeks before the date of planting. Calcium silicate (CaSiO3) treatments at 0, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 mlM were added in a single dose, it was incorporated into the soil at a depth of 5-10 cm two weeks before planting the seedlings. The vegetative growth parameters were recorded: plant length (cm), number of branches/plant, green yield and dry weight (g) / plant. Chemical parameters: essential oils, carbohydrates percentage, proline, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and sodium was determined in dry leaves. Soil temperature was determined in10cm depth. the results suggest that using 4.5 ton/ acre vermicompost with Calcium silicates concentration was 4.5 mlM was the best treatment gave significant effect on plant length, number of branches/plant, green yield and dry weight, also gave highest total carbohydrates, nitrogen phosphorous, potassium and essential oil content. These results indicated that the vermicompost, reduce the effects of salinity by improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Calcium silicates which might directly enhance the plant's tolerance to deal with salt stress.