USE OF FUNCTIONAL BIOSOLIDS-DERIVED COMPOSTS AS GROWING MEDIA FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LAVENDER (LAVANDULA DENTATE) AND ROSEMARY (ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS)

This work studies the use of compost from sewage sludge and vine shoot pruning, inoculated at the composting maturity phase with beneficial microorganisms (Trichoderma harzianum T78, Aspergillus niger, Azotobacter vinelandii, L512 Penicilium chrysogenum and RSU231 Bacillus pumilis), to produce five functional composts and a compost without inoculation. The mature-inoculated composts were used as substrate components for lavender (Lavandula dentate) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) production, using the total (100% v/v) or partial substitution (50% v/v) of the commercial substrate peat-coconut coir dust (TFC), as a control treatment. Each treatment was established with three replicates, developing a cultivation cycle from the seedling stage to commercial size in a commercial nursery. Physicochemical, chemical and physical analyses of the different growing media were carried out. Also, plant height, fresh and dry weight of the aerial and root mass, plant and root quality were evaluated. In general, the compost-amended growing media showed suitable physicochemical and physical properties and similar results in the production of lavender and rosemary plants compared to the commercial substrate, especially the growing media amended with 50% compost inoculated with beneficial microorganisms. The inoculation of different microorganisms apparently did not influence the physical properties of the substrates, but induced several differences in parameters related to plant yield and quality.