Determination of Appropriate Compost Based Nursery Media Preparation for Pineapple (<i>Annanas comosus MERR L.</i>) Seedling Growth at South Ethiopia

The experiment was conducted at Awada Agricultural Research Center found at south Ethiopia to determine a proper ratio of compost to top soil ratio that enhanced growth of pineapple at seedling stage. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication. Seedlings were raised from ground slip and planted in plastic pots with width to height (16x22cm) containing compost to topsoil in 0:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:0 ratios as treatments. Seedlings were watered as required and grown for 6 months. determination of pineapple seedling height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, root number, root dry weight and total plant dry biomass. Data were analyzed using SAS software and means were separated using LSD at 5% probability. The results revealed significant variation among the treatments. All the recorded growth parameters showed progressive increase with increase in the proportion of compost. The compost based nursery media preparation from compost (1:0) and or compost to top soil in one to one (1:1) ratio mixture is performed the best growth of pineapple seedling in terms of plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, root number, root dry weight and total plant dry biomass. Therefore, it is recommendable that compost and or compost to top soil in one to one (1:1) ratio mixture media could be used to grow the best performed pineapple seedling in south ecological zone at nursery level via promoting production and utilization of compost from cheaper locally available materials before transplanting to its production field.