The Effect of Sawdust Vermicompost Extract on Growth of Dracaena marginata

This study investigated the effects of the sawdust vermicompost extract (aqueous extract) on yield and chemical quality of Dracaena marginata var.‘Tricolor’ grown under four sawdust vermicompost extract solutions (0, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm). The sawdust vermicompost extract was prepared using non-aerated extraction methods with 1:10 (v/v) of sawdust vermicompost to water and was sprayed three times two weeks on the D. marginata plants. Sawdust vermicompost extract improved mineral nutrients of plants such as nitrogen (2.36%), phosphorus (0.42%), potassium (2.31%), calcium (2.76%), and magnesium (0.23%) compared to controls. When the sawdust vermicompost extract was sprayed on the D. marginata plants, it showed a significant growth of plants. The three-time spray of 1000 ppm vermicompost extract also reflected too great influence over the yield of D. marginata. Plants grown in pots sprayed with 1000 ppm vermicompost extract exhibited higher height (15.33 cm), leaf number (53.00), shoot and leaf fresh weight (66.00g), and shoot and leaf dry weight (13.90 g) than control treatments (P < 0.05). This practice should be adopted for obtaining a higher yield from D. marginata. This study confirmed that the sawdust vermicompost extract can positively influence plant yield.