Abstract

Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) is used in agriculture as a fertilizer, organic soil additive and crop substrate. MSWC was examined as an alternative for peat in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., cv. Radian) transplant production. An experiment was conducted in 2008 at the University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran with the treatments 100% peat+0% MSWC (control); 95% peat+5% MSWC, 90% peat+10% MSWC, 85% peat+15% MSWC and 80% peat+20% MSWC. Seedlings grown in the only peat and peat+MSWC (5%) mixture had better quality and suitability for transplanting. There were differences due to substrate with a general reduction in values as MSWC rate increased. Use of MSWC is not recommended at levels above 5% in cucumber transplant production.

Key words: Growing medium, nutrient, porosity, seedling