The Role of Vermicompost and Composted Organic Residues in Sustainable Soil Management

Experimental pot study assessing the effects of organic amendments derived from local residues — vermicompost from spent coffee grounds and composts from vine prunings — on substrate properties, water retention, and lettuce growth under Mediterranean conditions. The results showed that vermicompost produced the most consistent improvements in substrate volumetric water content and aboveground plant growth, highlighting its potential as a sustainable amendment to increase the resilience of Mediterranean cropping systems facing water scarcity.