Evaluation of worm castings-based growing media for high value crops production in greenhouse

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worm castings are the excreta of earthworms, which is rich in nutrients. Greenscience Technologies is a producer of worm castings. The source separated organic wastes from a variety of businesses are being used as raw material for feeding worms. The company is planning to expand its production with marketing its products for production of high value greenhouse crops. Furthermore, they are interested in producing high value plants using worm castings-based growing media at each production facility. Exploring new markets for the worm castings and in house production of high value greenhouse crops (i.e. raised beds at the facility or rooftop gardens) can significantly increase the revenue of the company and add to its resilience. Their main concern is selection of the right growing media blend for the targeted plant species to achieve maximum yield and growth rate; while minimize root diseases. There are evidences that both worm casting and biochar have the capacity to be used as a nutrient rich growing media, improve soil biology and increase plant resistance to root diseases. The objectives of this study are to study (i) the most appropriate worm casting, biochar and peat blend for growing targeted greenhouse plants, and (ii) the effect of inoculation with mycorrhiza fungi on efficiency of targeted plants production.