Effects of Vermicompost Application on Growth and Heavy Metal Uptake of Barley Grown in Mudflat Salt-Affected Soils

China is facing a shortage of arable land resources, and the mudflat salt-affected soil along east coast an important reserve resource. In this study, we conducted randomized field trial to investigate effects vermicompost application rate (0, 25, 50, 125, 250 t ha−1) on barley growth heavy metal accumulation in soil. We found that decreased bulk density, electrical conductivity (EC), pH while increasing its organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus contents. With increase rate, yield grain total biomass plants increased. The treatments ha−1 increased by 66.0%, 226.0%, 340.0%, 512.0%, respectively, relative control. addition, concentrations metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn) plant as