scholarly journals Growth of Two Tropical Foliage Plants Using Coir Dust as a Container Medium Amendment

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan W. Meerow
Keyword(s):  
Growth Index ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Organic Component ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Foliage Plants ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Coir Dust ◽  
Water Holding

Growth of Ravenea rivularis Jumelle and Perrier (majesty palm) and `Lady Jane' Anthurium Schott was compared in container media, using as a primary organic component sphagnum peat, sedge peat, or coir dust. Growth index and shoot and root dry weights of majesty palm were significantly higher in the coir than the sedge peat medium. Growth index and shoot dry weight were only marginally higher for the anthurium in the coir vs. sedge peat medium, and root dry weights were comparable. Both crops grew equally well in the coir and the sphagnum peat medium. The sedge peat medium had the most air porosity and the least water-holding capacity of the three media at the initiation of the trials, but at termination showed a reversal of these parameters. The coir medium showed the least change in these parameters over 8 months. High-quality coir dust appears to be an acceptable substitute for sphagnum or sedge peat in soilless container media.

scholarly journals Growth of Two Subtropical Ornamentals Using Coir (Coconut Mesocarp Pith) as a Peat Substitute

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1484-1486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan W. Meerow
Keyword(s):  
Growth Index ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Coir Dust ◽  
Top Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Ixora Coccinea ◽  
Coconut Mesocarp ◽  
Over Time

Growth of Pentas lanecolata (Forssk.) Deflers `Starburst Pink' and Ixora coccinea L. `Maui' was compared in container media using sphagnum peat, sedge peat, or coir dust as their peat components. Growth index and top and root dry weights of both crops were significantly better in coir-based medium than sedge peat-based medium. Pentas grew equally well in coir- and sphagnum peat-based medium. Growth index and top dry weight of Ixora were significantly lower in the coir-based than the sphagnum peat-based medium, although root dry weights were equal. This difference was not apparent and may have been caused by N drawdown in the coir-based mix. The sedge peat-based medium had the highest air porosity and the lowest water-holding capacity of the three media at the initiation of the trials, but at the termination of the study, it showed a reversal of these characteristics. The coir-based medium showed the least change in these attributes over time. Coir dust seems to be an acceptable substitute for sphagnum or sedge peat in soilless container media, although nutritional regimes may need to be adjusted on a crop-by-crop basis.

scholarly journals Commercial Greenhouse Growers Can Produce High-quality Bedding Plants in Bioplastic-based Biocontainers

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Flax ◽  
Christopher J. Currey ◽  
James A. Schrader ◽  
David Grewell ◽  
William R. Graves
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Bedding Plants ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Greenhouse Growers ◽  
Container Type

Our objectives were to quantify the growth and quality of herbaceous annuals grown in different types of bioplastic-based biocontainers in commercial greenhouses and quantify producer interest in using these types of biocontainers in their production systems. Seedlings of ‘Serena White’ angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) and ‘Maverick Red’ zonal geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum) that had been transplanted into nine different (4.5-inch diameter) container types [eight bioplastic-based biocontainers and a petroleum-based plastic (PP) (control)] were grown at six commercial greenhouses in the upper midwestern United States. Plants were grown alongside other bedding annuals in each commercial greenhouse, and producers employed their standard crop culture practices. Data were collected to characterize growth when most plants were flowering. Questionnaires to quantify producer perceptions and interest in using bioplastic-based biocontainers, interest in different container attributes, and satisfaction were administered at select times during the experiment. Container type interacted with greenhouse to affect angelonia growth index (GI) and shoot dry weight (SDW), as well as shoot, root, and container ratings. Container type or greenhouse affected geranium GI and shoot rating, and their interaction affected SDW, and root and container ratings. These results indicate that commercial producers can grow herbaceous annuals in a range of bioplastic-based biocontainers with few or no changes to their crop culture practices.

scholarly journals Earthworm Castings as a Substrate Amendment for Chrysanthemum Production

HortScience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 1035-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo R. Hidalgo ◽  
Richard L. Harkess
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Dendranthema Grandiflora ◽  
Substrate Amendment ◽  
Sheep Manure ◽  
Air Space ◽  
Water Holding

Earthworm castings (vermicompost) were evaluated as a substrate amendment for chrysanthemum [Dendranthema ×grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitam.] `Miramar' production. Vermicompost produced from sheep, cattle, and horse manures were mixed at different ratios with 70 peatmoss: 30 perlite (v/v) to create 12 substrates. The 70 peatmoss: 30 perlite mix at 100% and Sunshine® Mix 1 were used as control substrates. The bulk density, percentage of pore space, and water holding capacity increased as vermicompost content increased while the percentage of air space decreased. At 100% vermicompost, water holding capacity and bulk density were greatest in vermicompost from sheep manure. Plants grown in mixtures of 50% vermicompost from sheep had a greater growth index at harvest, foliar area, number of flowers per pot, and dry weight and fewer days for flower development than plants grown in other substrates. Vermicompost from sheep manure added at 50% by volume was most effective as a substrate amendment for chrysanthemum production.

scholarly journals Nitrogen Nutrition of Spathiphyllum 'Sensation' Grown in Sphagnum Peat- and Coir-based Media with Two Irrigation Methods

HortScience ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert T.Y. Mak ◽  
D.M. Yeh
Keyword(s):  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
Nitrogen Deficiency ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Coir Dust ◽  
Total Dry Weight ◽  
Leaf N Content

Effects of nitrogen application on growth, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and chlorophyll content were studied in Spathiphyllum Schott 'Sensation' grown in sphagnum peat (SP)- and coir dust (CD)-based media with top-irrigation or subirrigation. Maximum shoot dry weight occurred at 8 mM N in plants grown in SP-based medium under top-irrigation and subirrigation, and in CD-based medium under subirrigation. For plants in CD-based medium under top-irrigation, maximum shoot dry weight was obtained at 16 mm N. In SP- or CD-based medium, shoot dry weight was greater at 4 and 8 mm N under subirrigation than under top-irrigation. Stomatal conductance and transpiration were reduced by nitrogen deficiency (0 N), greatly enhanced by 4 mm N, and decreased gradually at higher N levels. Chlorophyll content increased with increasing N concentration up to 8 mm. The percentage of maximum total dry weight increased quadratically as leaf N content increased from 1.5% to 3.5%. Nitrogen at 16 and 32 mm increased the number of leaves with marginal necrosis. Reduced growth and more leaves with marginal necrosis occurred in SP- or CD-based media with EC > 1.25 dS·m-1 in the middle and bottom layers.

scholarly journals Water holding capacity of substrates containing zeolite and its effect on growth, biomass production and chlorophyll content of Solanum lycopersicum Mill

Nova Scientia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 45-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bulmaro Méndez Argüello ◽  
Ileana Vera Reyes ◽  
Antonio Cárdenas Flores ◽  
Gladys De los Santos Villarreal ◽  
Luis Ibarra Jiménez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solanum Lycopersicum ◽  
Particle Density ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Peat Moss ◽  
Volcanic Origin ◽  
Tomato Seedlings ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding

Zeolite-clinoptilolite is a hydrated aluminosilicate, which belongs to a group of minerals of volcanic origin and possesses interesting agricultural properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of zeolite-clinoptilolite on Solanum lycopersicum Mill. seedling growth, when supplied to substrate in pot culture. An assay was set to test and compare the physical properties of three substrates: peat moss (pm), perlite (per) and zeolite (zeo), and their mixtures (pm:per:zeo) at different proportions: T1 or control = 100:0:0; T2 = 70:30:0; T3 = 70:20:10; T4 = 70:10:20 and T5 = 70:0:30 (v/v). Compared to control plants, substrates containing 30% zeolite increased their water holding capacity (260%), total porosity (8.47%), bulk density (212%) and particle density (230%). Related to control plants grown with 100% peat moss, tomato seedlings cultured in a substrate mixture with 30% zeolite significantly improved shoot length (24.2%), leaf area (64.5%), root length (63.2%), shoot dry weight (62.5%), root dry biomass (208.9%), stem diameter (28.5%) and leaves number (92%), however, the chlorophyll index had no significant effects. The overall outcomes indicated that substrates amendment with zeolite could effectively improve tomato plants growth.

scholarly journals Reproducibility of suppression of Pythium wilt of cucumber by compost

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauritz Vilhelm Vestberg ◽  
Sanna Kukkonen ◽  
Päivi Parikka ◽  
Dan Yu ◽  
Martin Romantschuk
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Shoot Height ◽  
Bacterial Diseases ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Suppressive Capacity ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Set Up

There is increasing global interest in using compost to suppress soil-borne fungal and bacterial diseases and nematodes. We studied the reproducibility of compost suppressive capacity (SC) against Pythium wilt of cucumber using nine composts produced by the same composting plant in 2008 and 2009. A bioassay was set up in a greenhouse using cucumber inoculated with two strains of Pythium. The composts were used as 20% mixtures (v:v) of a basic steam-sterilized light Sphagnum peat and sand (3:1, v:v). Shoot height was measured weekly during the 5-week experiment. At harvest, the SC was calculated as the % difference in shoot dry weight (DW) between non-inoculated and inoculated cucumbers. The SC was not affected by year of production (2008 or 2009), indicating reproducibility of SC when the raw materials and the composting method are not changed. Differences in shoot height were not as pronounced as those for shoot DW. The results were encouraging, but further studies are still needed for producing compost with guaranteed suppressiveness properties.

scholarly journals Seedling Developmental Stage at Transplanting Affects Growth and Flowering of Medallion Flower and Globe Amaranth

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J. Keever ◽  
J.R. Kessler ◽  
G.B. Fain ◽  
D.C. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Seedling Development ◽  
Bedding Plants ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Flower Growth ◽  
Root Restriction ◽  
Experimental Runs

A study was conducted to determine how seedling development stage at transplanting from plug flats into small pots affected growth and flowering of two commonly grown bedding plants. Seeds of Showstar® medallion flower and ‘Las Vegas Pink’ globe amaranth were sown in 392-cell flats on five dates for each of two experimental runs before transplanting into 8.9 cm (3.5 in) cubic pots. At transplanting of both species, plant height, node count and shoot dry weight increased as days from sowing to transplanting increased and there was no visible cessation in shoot growth due to root restriction. Time to first flower from transplanting decreased linearly with both species in both runs, except with medallion flower in the second run, as time from sowing to transplanting increased. In contrast, time to flower of both species from sowing increased linearly as time from sowing to transplanting increased. However, the magnitude of the increase or decrease in time to flower differed between the two runs indicating that other factors, most likely light intensity and duration, besides node counts were affecting time to flower. Globe amaranth height and growth index and medallion flower growth index at first flower decreased as time from sowing to transplanting increased, whereas medallion flower height was not affected by time from sowing to transplanting.

Pig Meat Quality as Affected by Genetics and Production Systems

1995 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ellis ◽  
F.K. Mckeith
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Pig Production ◽  
Pig Meat ◽  
On Farm ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Water Holding

The efficiency of pig production has increased considerably in recent years, but the improvement of meat quality has only recently begun to receive attention. Closer links between the producers and marketers of pigs are now resulting in a clearer understanding of the factors that lead to meat of high quality. Here, some of the major on-farm influences on meat quality are described, focussing on meat colour, water-holding capacity and eating quality.

scholarly journals Optimal LED Wavelength Composition for the Production of High-Quality Watermelon and Interspecific Squash Seedlings Used for Grafting

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippos Bantis ◽  
Athanasios Koukounaras ◽  
Anastasios S. Siomos ◽  
Kalliopi Radoglou ◽  
Christodoulos Dangitsis
Keyword(s):  
Blue Emission ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Photon Flux Density ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight

Watermelon is cultivated worldwide and is mainly grafted onto interspecific squash rootstocks. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be implemented as light sources during indoor production of both species and their spectral quality is of great importance. The objective of the present study was to determine the optimal emission of LEDs with wide wavelength for the production of watermelon and interspecific squash seedlings in a growth chamber. Conditions were set at 22/20 °C temperature (day/night), 16 h photoperiod, and 85 ± 5 μmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density. Illumination was provided by fluorescent (FL, T0) lamps or four LEDs (T1, T2, T3, and T4) emitting varying wide spectra. Watermelon seedlings had greater shoot length, stem diameter, cotyledon area, shoot dry weight-to-length (DW/L) ratio, and Dickson’s quality index (DQI) under T1 and T3, while leaf area and shoot dry weight (DW) had higher values under T1. Interspecific squash seedlings had greater stem diameter, and shoot and root DW under T1 and T3, while leaf and cotyledon areas were favored under T1. In both species, T0 showed inferior development. It could be concluded that a light source with high red emission, relatively low blue emission, and a red:far-red ratio of about 3 units seems ideal for the production of high-quality watermelon (scion) and interspecific squash (rootstock) seedlings.

scholarly journals Biomechanics of Atlas Cedar Roots in response to the Medium Hydromechanical Characteristics

Scientifica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Belkacem EL Amrani ◽  
Mohammed Bendriss Amraoui
Keyword(s):  
Root Architecture ◽  
Aerial Part ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Main Root ◽  
Short Root ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Stimulation Of

The biomechanical root flexibility in response to hydromechanical soil heterogeneity is the most determining factor of the root architecture which plays a paramount role in mycorrhizal infection and allows the seedlings to adapt to the environmental constraint. We examined the impact of five different hydromechanical medium properties (hydroponics, vermiculite, vermiculite-gravel, sawdust, and sand) on the morphology, physiology, and anatomy of Cedrus atlantica seedlings at a controlled growth chamber. The growth of the seedling is strongly stimulated by the hydroponic medium through the stimulation of the aerial part dry weight and the main root length. However, the sand medium increases the main root dry weight by the radial expanse stimulation at the level of the epidermis, vascular cylinder, and cortex and compensates the less root architecture by the stimulation of the xylem and phloem areas. In contrast to sand and hydroponic media, the sawdust medium stimulates the phloem/xylem ratio, the root architecture, and the short roots. The Pearson bilateral correlation shows that the aerial part dry weight is positively correlated with the permeability, porosity, and water-holding capacity and negatively with the bulk density and density at saturation, whereas the short root production is negatively correlated with the permeability and water-holding capacity. Hence, the hydromechanical characteristics of the soils must be taken into account in the reforestation and mycorrhization attempts.

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