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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Innovative Substrate Design for Sustainable
Agriculture: Kitchen Compost and Organic
Waste in Cucumber Seedling Cultivation
1
Shandong Agricultural Technology Extension Centre, Jinan, 250013, China
2
College of Economics, Southwest University of Economics, Chengdu,611130, China
3
Agricultural Comprehensive Service Centre of Longjiahui sub-district of Yishui County in Shandong Province, Yishui,
276405, China
4
Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, 110161, China
Submission date: 2024-12-30
Final revision date: 2025-02-15
Acceptance date: 2025-03-30
Online publication date: 2025-05-23
KEYWORDS
cucumber seedlingskitchen compostseedling substratephysicochemical propertiessustainable agriculture
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study explores the effects of various seedling substrates on cucumber growth, focusing on
their physical, chemical, and nutrient properties. Substrates were formulated with different ratios of
kitchen compost, peat, rice husk, and straw. Key growth indicators, including germination rate, plant
height, leaf area, root development, and biomass, were analyzed using a seedling index and fuzzy
membership function. Results showed that moderate bulk density, high porosity, and optimal moisture
content significantly enhanced seedling growth. Chemical properties, such as pH (5.5-7.5), low EC,
and reduced chloride ion concentration, were crucial for healthy development. While alkali-hydrolyzed
nitrogen, available phosphorus, and potassium were beneficial, excessive levels inhibited growth. The
T2 treatment (15% kitchen compost, 45% peat, 40% rice husk) showed the best performance, offering
balanced physical structure, nutrient availability, and salinity control. It promoted superior growth in
leaf area, root length, and biomass while meeting local agricultural standards. This study demonstrates
the potential of combining kitchen compost with agricultural waste for sustainable seedling substrates,
providing insights for optimizing vegetable seedling production and enhancing the use of organic waste
in agriculture. Future research should examine broader applications across various crops.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
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