Influence of using different percentages decomposed rice straw as alternative substrate on celery plants

This paper focused on evaluating the effect of using different decomposed percentages of rice straw as alternative substrate on growth, yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of celery plants. The experimental layout was in the experimental farm of Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate and the design was randomized complete block with three replications. Celery seedlings (cv. Green giant) were transplanted in 1st of December, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Four ages (levels of decomposed) of rice straw were used (new rice straw, old rice straw 3 months, old rice straw 6 months and old rice straw 9 months) as a substrate in this investigation compared to clay soil. Results indicated that using the old rice straw, 6 months substrate recorded a moderate substrate temperature. Plant length, N, P, soluble sugar content and yield were not affected by cultivated celery plants in clay soil or old rice straw 6 months as substrate. whereas, plant diameter, chlorophyll reading, K and vitamin C content were affected negatively by using different percentages decomposed rice straw as alternative grown substrate. On the other hand, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) enhanced by cultivated celery plants in clay soil and old rice straw 6 months substrate.