Effects of Vermicompost as Turf-Bed Substrate Modifier on Creeping Bentgrass

Influence on the properties of turf-bed and growth of creeping bentgrass based on cow-manure-vermicompost as the basic materials were studied to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of cow-manure-vermicompost as substrate modifier of the turf-bed. The results show that pH value of the turf-bed decreased with an increasing addition of vermicompost while conductivity (σ) value remarkably increased. Conductivity value in 100 g•kg^-1 vermicompost treatment was about 16 times of that in CK. But after the turf establishment stage, conductivity values decreased to the level close to that of CK. Compared with addition of 40 g•kg^-1 peat, the addition of 40, 60, 80 and 100 g•kg^-1 vermicompost can significantly shorten the time of the formation process of the lawn, considerably increase the regeneration speed, and remarkably improve the chlorophyll content and the clipping content. The growth of grass in vermicompost treatments was better than that in peat treatment. During actual performance, it should be considered that the growth of grass may be too fast at the later stage due to the higher content of phosphorus in vermicompost.