The effect of leonardite, vermicompost, farmyard manure on yield and leaf quality of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.)

This study was carried out under greenhouse conditions and investigates the effects of different combinations of fertilizer and soil proportion, (v/v) of leonardite (1:3, 1:4, 1:8), vermicompost (1:3, 1:4, 1:8) farmyard manure (1:3) and control (soil) application on growth and leaf quality of two cultivars of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L. 'Zeybek' and 'Bahargulu'). The garden cress was harvested on the 50^th day after seeding. Yield, scapus length, (cm), leaf width (cm), leaf length (cm), chlorophyll a (mg g^‑1 leaf), chlorophyll b (mg g^‑1 leaf), the total chlorophyll content (mg g^‑1 leaf), colour, dry weight were determined in the harvested plants. At the end of the study it was determined that garden cress seeds did not germinate in leonardit applications (1:3, 1:4). The highest yield and leaf quality was in vermicompost and farmyard applications, respectively. The increasing vermicompost rates caused an increase in colour. Furthermore, colour of farmyard manure is higher than vermicompost (1:4, 1:8).