EFFECT OF THE USE OF VERMICOMPOST, ORGANIC PADDING AND PLASTIC COVERING ON SOME SOIL PROPERTIES AND BROCOLI (Brassica oleracea L.) CROP IN PERU

Abstract

The global demand for healthy vegetables is steadily growing due to changes in consumer preferences for healthy, fresh, and nutritious foods. In this context, there is a need for new techniques to optimize yields of vegetable crops, such as broccoli, based on the use of organic matter sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the use of vermicompost, organic mulch and plastic cover on the sustainable production of broccoli and on some soil properties.  Broccoli plants cv. ‘Legacy’ were used, and the trial was conducted on an agricultural area located in the Tucos ravine of La Tomilla, Cayma district, Arequipa Province, Arequipa Region, Peru. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design in a split-plot factorial arrangement. The type of cover (organic mulch, plastic cover, and no cover) was established in large plots, and the doses of vermicompost (4 and 8 t ha^-1) in small plots; the interaction of the factors resulted in 6 treatments with three replicates. The results showed that plastic mulching along with the incorporation of 8 t ha^-1 of vermicompost improved broccoli yield (16666.66 kg ha^-1), with a 98% of the production corresponding No.1 grade and 2% to No. 2 grade. In addition, the same treatment maintained organic matter (4.27%), pH (7.1), salinity (1.22 dS m^-1), and soil temperature (13.3 ^oC) at acceptable values for the crop. The highest broccoli crop profitability was 96.8%, with the use of plastic mulch and 4 t ha^-1 of vermicompost.