Abstract
Peat-moss (Sphagnum spp.), is currently an expensive material and a nonrenewable resource with variable properties. Therefore, its use should be gradually reduced. Hence, there are numerous attempts aiming to reduce the use of peat-moss as a bulk substrate and to search for high-quality, locally available and low-cost alternatives to peat-moss. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of partial replacing of peat-moss with tomato waste compost (TWC) on plant growth, productivity, fruit quality, and morphological features of two types of economic cucurbits species under greenhouse conditions. The plants were planted into pots containing different proportions of TWC (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30%) with peat-moss, sand and clay as growing substrates. The results indicated that the plant height and the leaves number of both plants were significantly influenced by different substrate treatments. TWC ratios of 15% and 20% increased the amount of cucumber and summer squash fruit yield more than the commercial peat media but they had insignificant differences. Also, they were significantly improved fruit quality characteristics, particularly total soluble solid (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) of crop fruits more than commercial peat-moss treatment.
Implications: Because of the high price of peat-moss and that it is a non-renewable material, farmers resorted to using other alternatives, including green residue compost. Thus, the aim of this work is to reduce the use of peat-moss by replacing it with the use of lokw percentages of TWC. When tomato plant residues return to the soil by converting them into compost, this is a valuable agricultural practice to improve soil fertility and increase the organic matter of the soil as well as increase the source of nitrogen (N) that supports the growth of beneficial microorganisms.