https://doi.org/10.37229/fsa.fjb.2026.08.22

The long growth period and slow development of seedlings of Loquat before reaching the appropriate size for budding are among the production obstacles in nurseries. Hence, the importance of implementing a fertilization program as an effective tool to improve growth rates, accelerate the increase in stem diameter, and ultimately lead to shortening the production cycle of seedlings. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of soil fertilization with organic fertilizer (Vermicompost) at two levels (0 and 250 g seedling⁻¹) and foliar feeding with three concentrations of garlic extract (0, 15, 30 ml L⁻¹) and coconut liquid (0, 150, 300 ml L⁻¹), in addition to the interaction between them, in promoting some vegetative growth characteristics of seedlings of Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was applied for the factorial experiments with three factors and three replications. With 5 seedlings per experimental unit, bringing the total number of seedlings used in the experiment to 270 (3 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5), the results showed that adding 250 g of vermicompost led to a clear improvement in vegetative growth parameters. Similarly, foliar spray treatments with garlic extract (30 ml L⁻¹) and coconut oil (300 ml L⁻¹) resulted in a significant improvement in the same parameters, including an increase in the number of leaves and an increase in the fresh and dry weight values ​​of the leaves.