Abstract
Vermicompost was produced from a green waste compost feedstock and assessed for its potential use in a high value horticultural
market. Replicated plant growth trials were undertaken with lettuce using pure worm cast (vermicompost), green wastederived
compost and mixtures of the two, i.e. 50/50 (v/v) and 20/80 (v/v) of worm casts and green waste feedstock. Results showed
that plant biomass production was optimal with a 20/80 (v/v) compost blend, whilst pure worm cast and green waste compost
yielded poor growth. Leaf chlorophyll content indicated that pure worm cast inhibited plant growth and depressed N content,
whereas plant grown with the other treatments contained similar amounts of chlorophyll. In general, the vermicomposting process
did not result in an increased availability of nutrients or potentially toxic elements, the only exception being Zn.
2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.