Yield and vitamin C content of tomatoes grown in vermicomposted wastes

Summary

Abstract Increasing quantities of earthworm digested materials (vermicompost) are being marketed as a peat‐free growth medium for amateur and professional food producers. Several studies indicate that growing tomatoes in peat mixed with low concentrations of vermicompost (10–20% by volume) produced by the earthworm Eisenea fetida increases yield of plants and marketability of fruits. Here we examined the effect of substituting commercial peat‐based compost with four different vermicomposts produced by the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta. Vermicompost was added to peat‐based compost at rates of 0%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 100% (v/v) and the following characteristics of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Money maker) assessed: germination, yield, marketability, fruit weight and ascorbic acid concen