Abstract
In this study, experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different compost teas on plant growth reponses and yield of leaf lettuce. Compost tea is a liquid extract of compost obtained by mixing compost and water for a defined period of time. The pig manure and spent mushroom compost were made by steeping compost in water. Compost tea was aerated from 24 hours and molasses and kelp were added as supplements. The four types of compost were tested growth of lettuce. EC of animal manure compost tea was higher than that of spent mushroom compost tea. Mineral nutrients were significantly higher in animal manure compost tea compared with spent mushroom compost tea. Compost tea contains nutrient and a ranges of different organisms. The beneficial fungi and actinomycetes were prominent in a spent mushroom compost tea. Compost tea from animal manure had the higher numbers of total bacteria. The actinomycetes densities were high in spent mushroom compost tea. But actinomycetes were not founded in animal manure compost tea. The growth characteristics of lettuce in animal manure compost tea were higher than those of spent mushroom compost tea. And also SPAD value in leaf was high in plot treated with animal manure compost tea. The fresh yield of lettuce in animal compost tea was higher by 181% that of control plot. The effect of compost tea on growth of lettuce was largely attributable to mineral nutrient.
