Growth Characteristics of Cabbage Due to the Use of Spent Coffee Ground Compost with Different Mixing Ratios

• Published in: Weon'ye gwahag gi'sulji pp. 505 - 514
• Main Authors: 안진희, 유명화, 최기영, 조호상, 이예진, 최은영
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국원예학회 01.08.2025
• Subjects: 농학
• ISSN: 1226-8763; 2465-8588
• DOI: 10.7235/HORT.20250017

In this study, we attempted to determine the appropriate fertilization rate of spent coffee ground compost (SCGC) to reach a suitable state for cultivating cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ‘Gosomibomdong’) by measuring certain growth characteristics. The heavy metal and microbial contents of SCGC were found to comply with fertilizer management enforcement regulations. A chemical analysis of the SCGC showed that total nitrogen, organic phosphoric acid, organic matter, and inorganic ions (K, Mg) exceeded the levels in control samples correspondingly by 7.0, 5.1, 3.3, 3.8, and 4.8 times. The growth, length, and width of the leaves; the leaf number; and the chlorophyll content were measured when commercial horticultural media (CHM, control) was mixed with SCGC at the ratios of 10, 20, 30, or 40% (v/v) (CHM+SCGC10, CHM+SCGC20, CHM+SCGC30, or CHM+SCGC40) and 1, 3, 5, or 7% (CHM+SCGC1, CHM+SCGC3, CHM+SCGC5, or CHM+SCGC7). For comparison, the CHM was mixed with 10% of earthworm cast (EC10) and 1% of commercial coffee ground compost (CG1). Before plant growth, a SCGC quality test (seed germination) showed a safety fertilizer germination rate exceeding 98%. The coffee bean compost’s EC (electrical conductivity) was 4.53 ds·m-1, 9.2 times more than the control. The shoot fresh weights after the CHM+SCGC10 and CHM+SCGC40 treatments were lower by approximately 19.6 and 90.7%, respectively, compared to those of the CHM. When SCGC was mixed at 1, 3, 5, or 7% by volume, the shoot fresh weight grown on the CHM+SCGC1 was higher about 24.2% than that on the CHM, while it was lower about 3.9% on the CHM+SCGC3. The shoot dry weight grown on the CHM+SCGC1 was also lower than that on the CHM+SCGC3, while there is no difference of it between CHM and CHM+SCGC1. Although it may vary depending on the content of the coffee ground, or other ingredients, the appropriate mixing ratio with commercial horticultural media is lower than 3%. KCI Citation Count: 0