A Master’s Thesis at the College of Agriculture.

The College of Agriculture at the University of Diyala has examined a Master’s thesis entitled
“The Effect of Vermicompost and Perlite Enriched with Nano NPK on the Availability and Uptake of NPK and the Growth and Yield of Potato Plants.”

The study, conducted by the student Nasser Kaoud Rahman Mukhaylif, aimed to assess the effect of vermicompost application on selected soil properties and the availability and uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Additionally, it investigated the effect of applying perlite enriched with nano-formulated NPK fertilizer on similar soil parameters, nutrient availability, and nutrient uptake. The study also explored the interaction between vermicompost and nano NPK-enriched perlite on nutrient dynamics and plant growth.

The study reached several key conclusions, including the following:

• Application of vermicompost, particularly at 2% of soil volume, resulted in the highest increases across all vegetative growth indicators, total yield, and N, P, and K concentrations in the soil, leaves, and tubers.

• The use of perlite at 2% of soil volume, when fortified with nano NPK fertilizer, also achieved significant improvements in most vegetative growth traits, total yield, and concentrations of N, P, and K in the soil, leaves, and tubers.

• The interaction between vermicompost and nano NPK-enriched perlite yielded synergistic effects. The treatment combination (V2P3)—which involved 2% vermicompost and 2% perlite enriched with 4 g·m⁻² nano NPK—resulted in the highest recorded values for vegetative growth traits, total yield, and nutrient concentrations in soil, foliage, and tubers.

The study offers the following recommendations:

• Vermicompost should be applied at a rate of 2% of soil volume for vegetable cultivation under similar agroecological conditions.

• Perlite enriched with nano NPK fertilizer is recommended for vegetable production in the same context.

• The use of nano fertilizers is advised as an alternative to conventional fertilizers, given their favorable performance and efficiency observed in this study.

• A similar study should be conducted for the spring potato cropping season to further evaluate the effects of vermicompost and nano NPK-enriched perlite on plant growth and yield characteristics.