THE EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZATION ON OLIVE SAPLING CULTIVATION: VERMICOMPOST AS AN EXAMPLE

Abstract

Olive sapling nursery is a growing agicultural activity in our country in the recent years. There is not an easily accessible resource about the most suitable fertilizer in sustainable agriculture of these saplings. Moreover, studies on effects of the applied fertilizers on leaves, stem and root development of olive saplings will guide the farmers who handle nursery. In this study Gemlik olive variety saplings were grown using different doses of vermicompost (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40%) as the organic fertilizer added to the production material used in traditional olive sapling nursery, and one dose of chemical fertilizer (100% production material + chemical fertilizer) that has been used commonly by the producers. The nutritional elements in the leaves, stem and root of the grown saplings were analyzed. The results of the analysis of leaves, stem and roots of saplings at the 3rd and 6th months of the research were found to statistically significant. The results of totally 6 months of experiment revealed significant effects of different production materials on the analyzed parameters. In general, vermicompost usage can be avowable in terms of both to increase production material quality and development of saplings in olive sapling nursery.