Investigation of use of banana wastes as seedling growing media

In this study, it is aimed to determine the possibilities of using banana wastes and biochar obtained from banana wastes as a seedling growing medium. For this purpose, 10 different seedling growing media were prepared by mixing peat, perlite, vermiculite, banana waste and biochar (obtained from banana waste) in different proportions. In the study, besides some physicochemical properties of seedling growing media, changes in seedling quality parameters of Caipira variety lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were determined. No nutrients were added to the mediums, only water was given to each medium according to the plant's request. At the end of the 63-day trial period; The amount of water held by the media at different tension values (0 kPa, -2 kPa, -4 kPa, -6 kPa, -8 kPa, -10 kPa, -33 kPa and -1500 kPa), pH and EC values, bulk density, total porosity, macro- pore, micro- pore, seed germination percentage (%), seedling height (cm), seedling root length (cm), seedling stem diameter (mm), seedling fresh and dry weight (gr), seedling fresh root and dry root weight (gr), and seedling chlorophyll content were examined. According to the results, the best germination percentage and seedling root length were realized in O1(60% Peat + 20% Perlite + 20% Vermiculite) environment. The best seedling height, seedling stem diameter, seedling fresh and dry weight, seedling fresh root weight and seedling dry root weight were obtained in O6 (80% Peat + 15% Banana waste + 5% Banana biochar) medium. The highest seedling chlorophyll value was measured in O8 (65% Peat + 30% Banana waste + 5% Banana biochar) medium. The highest pH value was determined in O2 medium (60% Banana waste + 20% Perlite + 20% Vermiculite), while the highest EC value was determined in O4 medium (80% Banana waste + 10% Perlite + 10% Banana biochar). At the saturation level (0 kPa), the highest % moisture was obtained in O1 and the lowest % moisture was obtained in O8 medium. In the study, it was seen that the use of 15% banana waste and 5% biochar together with peat as a seedling growing medium can provide positive improvement in many seedling quality parameters. It has been understood that increasing the percentage of banana waste and banana biochar in the environment due to high EC and pH values may cause negative effects on many seedling quality parameters, especially seedling germination percentage.