EVALUATION OF DIVERSE MEDIUMS AS AN ECO-FRIENDLY PEAT ALTERNATIVE

Abstract

The excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers in regions of high agricultural productivity has well-documented detrimental impacts on both environmental quality and human health. Fertigation has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce chemical fertilizer usage while sustaining crop performance. This study aimed to identify alternative Rhizobium carrier materials that are free from hazardous metals and organic contaminants, while offering greater convenience, stability, and suitability for the long-term survival and practical application of Rhizobium in agriculture. The survivability of Rhizobium was assessed in a range of carrier substrates, including peat, perlite, pumice, mushroom compost, sawdust, barley powder, sewage sludge, coal, K-humate, perlite + K-humate, pumice + K-humate, and sawdust + K-humate. The results indicated that K-humate, coal, barley powder, and sawdust can effectively support Rhizobium survival, presenting viable alternatives to the conventional peat medium. Moreover, Rhizobium isolated from different carrier materials exhibited significantly different effects on selected yield components of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants, with the differences being statistically significant (p < 0.01). These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of alternative carrier materials for maintaining Rhizobium viability and functionality, thereby enhancing the feasibility of environmentally sustainable legume production systems and reducing dependence on conventional chemical fertilization.