THE EFFECTS OF AFRIKELP® LG-1, VERMICOMPOST LEACHATE, EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISM AND

COMPOST TEA ON TOMATO SEEDLING HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

B, Nzanza1, Deborah Robertson-Andersson2 and Diana Marais3

INTRODUCTIONCompost tea (CT), Effective Microorganism (EM), Vermicompost leachate (VL) and Afrikelp (AK) are natural products that have been used either as a crop protection tool or as liquid fertilizer. VL and CT contain nutrients which are in a readily available form for the crops. Like EM, they both contain a huge range of microorganisms that are believed to play a vital role during nutrient mineralization and uptake. Afrikelp and the CT contain a high cytokinin low auxin ratio which helps to stimulate root growth, susceptible to establish a strong healthy plant capable of resisting diseases.

OBJECTIVEThis study was conducted to determine the effects of these crop protection tools on the germination and seedling growth of Nemo-Netta tomato seedlings following a seed application.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe experiment was conducted at Hishtill Nursery SA , Mooketsi Station, Limpopo •Province during Spring 2008Tomato“Nemo-Netta”weresownintocellplugtraysfilledwithvermiculiteandpeatmoss•Treatments consisted of pre-soaking tomato seeds in solution corresponding to a •particular treatment. This were: CT, VL , EM (1:100 dilution), three AK dilutions . AK1 (1:100), AK2 ( 1:500) & AK3 (1:1000) and the control (C).

The data showed that all seed applications increased seedling size over the control (see •figures3-4).Allthetreatmentsweresignificantlylargerinshootlengthcomparedtothecontrolwiththe•MediumAfrikelp®LG-1treatmenthavingthegreatesteffect(seefigure5).TheAfriKelp®LG-11:500dilutionproducedasignificantlylargerstem(datanotshown)•andproducedthelargestseedlingofthe3AfriKelp®dilutions(seefigure5).Both the AfriKelp® LG-1 medium (1:500 dilution) and the Vermicompost application •producedsignificantlylongerrootsthanthecontrol(seefigure6).Therewerenosignificantdifferencesdryroottoshootratio(datanotshown)•

Poster 1

Fig 5 Fig6

CONTROL

AFRIKELP (1:500)

Poster 1

Fig 1 Fig 2

Poster 1

Fig 3 Fig4

FIGURE 1Hishtill SA Greenhouse view

FIGURE 2Measuring of Plant height

Poster 1

Fig 5 Fig6

CONTROL

COMPOST TEA

FIGURE 4Plant biomass comparison between Compost tea and Control

FIGURE 3Plant biomass comparison between Afrikelp 2 and Control

1. Natuurboedery Research Center, ZZ2 Farms, P. O Box 19 Mooketsi, 08252. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535

3. Department of Plant production and Soil Science, University of PretoriaEmailfirstauthor:bombiti@zz2.biz

Seedling emergence was monitored on average every third day •Afterfourweeks,fiveplantswereselectedatrandomfromeachtreatmentand•destructively harvested. The rooting material was washed away to expose the roots.The plant height (shoot length), root length and stem diameter (ø) were measured (Fig. 2)•Plants were then separated between shoots and roots and then dried at 50 ºC for 70 hours •to obtain a dry root: shoot ratio.ResultswereanalysedstatisticallyusingSTATISTICAV6,ANOVAfollowedbyaTurkey•LSD post hoc test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

TABLE 1 Table illustrating percentage germination over experimental period

FIGURE 5Boxandwhiskerplotofnumberofplantheightincmafter4weeksineachtreatment.Plotshowsmean,maximumandminimumaswellas95%confidenceintervals.ANOVAshowedsignificantdifferences:df=31;f=12.54;p=0.0001.

FIGURE 6Boxandwhiskerplotofnumberofrootlengthincmafter4weeksineachtreatment.Plotshowsmean,maximumandminimumaswellas95%confidenceintervals.ANOVAshowedsignificantdifferences:df=31;f=1.99;p=0.03.

CONCLUSIONAll seeds benefited from a seed treatment, however the greatest benefit occurred with a medium (1: 500 dilutions) Afrikelp® LG-1 application. This indicates that germination and seedling health can be improved through the use of crop protection tools.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe authors wish to thank Hishtill SA, ZZ2 and Afrikelp for providing products and funding for this research. Special thanks to Shlomo Zuker, Rone Strauss, Noman, Philemon Mogale and the Natuurboedery staff.