The effect of different sizes and amounts of vermicompost on seedlings characteristics of grain maize (SC704)

In recent years، the use of organic fertilizers like vermicompost has extensively been considered in agriculture. To evaluate the effect of different sizes and amounts of vermicompost on seedlings characteristics of grain maize، a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications was conducted، in a controlled conditions greenhouse for 90 days at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman، Iran، in 2014. In this study، vermicompost at four amounts، 0، 1، 2 and 4 percent and three sizes، 0. 5، 1 and 2 mm were used and root and shoot fresh weight، root and shoot dry weight، stem height، leaf number، root volume، percentage of colonization and microbial respiration were measured. Results showed that different vermicompost amounts had significant effect than the control treatment on shoot fresh and dry weight، stem height، root volume، leaf number and root fresh and dry weight of maize plant at 1% of probability. Also، results showed significant differences between vermicompost sizes of 0. 5 and 2 mm at 1% probability level on the stem height، leaf number and root colonization. Based on the results، it can be concluded that not only incorporating soil with different vermicompost amounts can improve maize morphologic and biologic characteristics، but also the sizes of vermicompost via improving the soil qualitative characteristics could affects the maize morphologic and yield characteristics.