Researches on Preparation of Vegetable Seedling Substrate Using Pig Bedding of Microbial Fermentation Bed

A new type of substrates for vegetable seed germination and seedling development was experimented using the fermentation bed wastes from pig farms.The physical and chemical properties of the tested substrate met all the basic requirements for the cultivation of seedlings.To optimize the formulation of such substrates,a rapid method was explored.The bedding materials after being used in pig barns for about one or half a year were extracted and diluted with water into a series of solutions of varied concentrations.The solutions were applied on the seeds of melon,cucumber,cabbage,kale,tomato and chili pepper to determine the performances on the seed germination and seedling development.Concurrently,seeds of the same vegetables were planted in the same fermented bedding waste mixed with powdered coconut shell.By comparing the effects of the two sets of cultivation media,a correlation between them was obtained.The highest seed germination rate of greater than 97% was found when the30% extracted solution was used,while on the solid substrate,higher than 85% germination was observed when30% bedding material was mixed in the substrate.A correlation analysis showed that the extracted solution significantly correlated with the solid substrate with respect to the seed germination percentage,germination indices,vigor index,germination rate and seedling rate of the vegetables.Thus,it appeared that the extracted solution method could be applied for effective formula optimization in the utilization of the bedding waste from pig farms.