Vermicompost leachate in organic and conventional wheat production
Soils and plant nutrition, INIFAP, Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, km 12 Norman E. Borlaug between 800 and 900 Yaqui Valley, Cd. Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Science and Technology, 2025; 15(02), 163-171.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjst.2025.15.2.0147
Publication history:
Received 08 November 2025; revised on 15 December 2025; accepted on 17 December 2025
Abstract:
Agriculture faces the challenge of increasing crop productivity while reducing the environmental impact associated with the intensive use of chemical fertilizers. This has driven interest in organic inputs and biostimulants in both organic and conventional production systems. Among these inputs, vermicompost leachate stands out as a derivative of vermicomposting containing soluble nutrients, humic substances, and beneficial microorganisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vermicompost leachate on wheat yield under organic and conventional production conditions in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico. The assessment was conducted over three cropping cycles: 2016–2017, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025. The first two cycles were managed organically, while the third cycle was managed conventionally. Two treatments were compared: control and vermicompost leachate application, using a randomized complete block design with four to six replicates, depending on the cycle. The evaluated variable was grain yield adjusted to 12% moisture. In all three cycles, leachate application showed a positive trend in grain yield compared to the control; however, no statistically significant differences were detected. The highest yields were recorded in the 2023–2024 cycle, which was associated with previous soil resting and prior compost application. In conclusion, vermicompost leachate can be considered a complementary input within an integrated soil management approach, with its effect on yield depending on management history, soil conditions, and production system.
Keywords:
Vermicompost leachate; Wheat; Yield; Organic; Conventional
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0