USE OF WINERY-DISTILLERY COMPOSTS IN PROPAGATION OF TWO AROMATIC CROPS

In this study, three different winery-distillery composts were used as binary components with peat-perlite mix (PP) in growing media for the propagation of two aromatic crops, thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and oregano (Origanum vulgare). These composts were elaborated using exhausted grape marc as principal component combined with several co-composting wastes, such as citrus juice waste (WDC1), tomato soup waste (WDC2) and cattle manure (WDC3). Three treatments were established for each compost type, based on the addition of increasing quantities of the compost to the traditional mix of peat-perlite (PP) (0, 25 and 50%, v/v). Physical and physico-chemical analyses of the different mixtures of winery-distillery composts and PP were carried out.
Parameters such as biomass production and macronutrient (N, P, K) and micronutrient (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn) contents were determined.
All the growing media showed, in general, suitable physical and physico-chemical parameters.
Root quality was only affected in the thyme plants for the compost WDC2 at the proportions 25 and 50%. Fresh weights of the aerial parts were significantly increased by compost compared with PP control substrate.
Winery-distillery composts induced higher concentration of N, P and K in both crops, but did not affect the micronutrient contents, except for Zn with the substrates 25-50% WDC2 and 50% WDC1.

V International Symposium on Seed, Transplant and Stand Establishment of Horticultural Crops

E. Agulló, R. Moral, J. Bartual, M. Ortiz, M.A. Bustamante, M.D. Pérez-Murcia, A. Pérez-Espinosa, J.A. Cecilia, C. Paredes

composting, winery and distillery wastes, perlite, growing media, thyme, oregano

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.898.15