How liquid and solid vermicompost affected Liatris spicata in a two-year field study
A two-year field experiment in Romania compared liquid vermicompost, solid vermicompost and an unfertilized treatment in Liatris spicata. The published results favored the liquid treatment for flower-stem and inflorescence length, while the solid treatment did not show a significant response in those measurements.
What the study did and found
The 2018 paper, “Technology sequences in Liatris spicata upon vermicompost use,” examined plant growth and flowering in Buziaș, Romania, during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Corms were planted 10 cm apart at a depth of 5 cm and remained in place for both years.
Researchers compared liquid vermicompost, solid granules and an unfertilized control. Liquid vermicompost was diluted at a ratio of 1:5 with water, and both treatments were applied at 0.1 litre per plant across four fertilizations. Analysis of variance was used to assess the results. Liquid vermicompost improved flower-stem and inflorescence length, while solid granules showed no significant improvement in those measurements.
Why it is cited
The study provides crop-specific evidence comparing liquid and solid vermicompost in ornamental horticulture. Its two-year field measurements distinguish the effects of different fertilizer forms on Liatris spicata growth and flowering. Liquid vermicompost was associated with longer flower stems and inflorescences, whereas solid granules produced no significant improvement in those measurements. The findings demonstrate why fertilizer formulation matters when interpreting plant responses under specific growing conditions.
Other ornamental-horticulture studies provide context for these findings. A 2019 gladiolus experiment investigated vermicompost combined with plant-growth-promoting bacteria. Research from 2023 examined Liatris spicata under different planting dates and fertilizer treatments, while another study investigated vermicompost effects on pansy growth and flowering. These studies broaden the evidence but do not replace the crop-specific findings of the 2018 field experiment.
The topic today
Vermicompost remains relevant to ornamental crop management, although its effects depend on plant species, fertilizer form, application rate and growing conditions. Recent research has also investigated combinations with microbial amendments and other cultivation practices. The 2018 Liatris study contributes evidence for selecting fertilizer treatments according to production goals. Stem length, inflorescence development and flowering performance remain useful measures of treatment effectiveness.