Higher yield of cherry tomato grown in culture medium with microbially inoculated feather compost without fertilizer application

Summary

Abstract Arthrobacter ureafaciensK10, with multiple functions, such as feather degradation, phosphate solubilization, and IAA formation, andStreptomycessp. CP3, with pitaya cladode‐degrading ability, were co‐inoculated in compost composed of pitaya‐pruning waste (PPW), spent mushroom waste (SMW), and duck feathers (DF) in order to produce a compost called Sapf‐M. Another compost, called Sapf, was manufacturedviathe same composting procedure but without inoculation. The two compost products were slightly acidic and had a bulk density less than 0.25 g cm−3, a water‐holding capacity (WHC) greater than 85%, a C : N ratio of nearly 10, and a germination index higher than 85%. Higher IAA concentration, EC, phosphate‐solubilizing bacterial numbers, actinobacterial numbers, and water‐soluble nutri