Influence of Compost from Post-Consumer Wood on Development, Nutrition State of Plants, Microbiological and Biochemical Parameters of Substrates in Zonal Pelargonium (Pelargonium zonale)

The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of using compost made from post-consumer wood in zonal pelargonium (Pelargonium zonale) cv. ‘Tex Mex’ cultivation. The influence of compost on the plant’s development and nutritional state, as well as the microbiological and enzymatic activity of the substrate was examined. Two variants of compost marked with the following letters: OPA and OPB were used. Both variants consisted of post-consumer wood waste (OP) (70% of weight) mixed with powdery waste from processing MDF boards (6%), mature compost from fiberboard waste (19%), high peat (4%), water and a biological inoculum “Activit Las”. Thirty kilograms of urea in two portions per prism were added to the OPA variant while ammonium nitrate (1.5 kg per prism), magnesium sulphate (0.4 kg per prism), potassium phosphate (0.8kg per prism) and calcium phosphate (0.9 kg per prism) were added to the OPB variant. The plants were cultivated into pots 12 cm in diameter and a capacity of 659 dm3 in the substrates consisting of peat with the addition of compost at different volume ratios. It was found that the medium type had a significant influence on the growth and flowering of the zonal pelargonium. The type of compost used was the determinant for microbiological total counts and activity. The chemical composition of the substrates significantly modified the plants’ nutritional state in terms of macro- and microelements. In summary, the study demonstrated that good quality ornamental plants can be successfully grown in peat substrate containing 25% or 50% of post-consumer wood compost.

The use of plants on balconies in the city

As a popular and excellent place for plants, balconies enable people easy access to and close contact with nature, thus forming an integral part of the urban green infrastructure. The aim of the study was to assess the use of plants on balconies of detached houses and blocks of flats in the small Polish town of Sieraków. Plants were grown on about 33% of the balconies of detached houses and on 51% of the balconies of blocks of flats. Most of the balconies were decorated with one plant species only and the plants were most frequently placed on the railing. The most popular plant species were Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L’Hér., Pelargonium zonale (L.) L’Hér. and Petunia × atkinsiana D. Don. There were no large differences between both the building types as regards to the balcony decoration.

Comparative Study of Three Low-Tech Soilless Systems for the Cultivation of Geranium (Pelargonium zonale): A Commercial Quality Assessment

The study evaluated the feasibility of simplified hydroponics for the growth of rooted cuttings of geranium (Pelargonium zonale) for commercial purposes in local farms in Northern Italy. Tested systems included a control where soilless system on substrate (peat) (T-1), usually adopted by local farmers, was compared against an open-cycle drip system on substrate (peat) (T-2), and a Nutrient Film Technique system (T-3). For commercial features, assessed parameters included flowering degree (flowering timing, numbers of inflorescences plant−1, and number of flowers inflorescence−1), numbers of leaves plant−1, number of branches plant−1, final height of plant, and the aesthetic-commercial assessment index. Assessed parameters also included fresh and dry weight, SPAD Index, the water consumption, and the water use efficiency (WUE). The soilless systems typology significantly affected rooted cuttings growth, commercial features, and WUE. The adoption of an open-cycle drip system (T-2) resulted in a significant improvement of all the crop commercial characteristics as compared with other treatments, making plants more attractive for the market. The water consumption was higher in T-2 as compared with T-1 and T-3, but it allowed for the highest fresh weight, and therefore also the highest WUE. The results indicate that the typology of soilless system significantly enhances the commercial characteristics of geranium.

Uzgoj, mjere njege i održavanja pelargonija

Pelargonije (Pelargonium zonale i P. peltatum) spadaju među najomiljenije balkonske lončanice. Postoji velik broj kultivara različitih boja cvatova, a izvrsno podnose osunčane položaje. Cilj ovog rada je prikazati taksonomsku pripadnost i porijeklo dviju komercijalno najvažnijih vrsta, način njihovog uzgoja te mjere njege i održavanja u primjeni. Rod Pelargonium pripada porodici Geraniaceae, a potječe iz Južne Afrike. Vrste uobičajene u komercijalnom uzgoju najčešće se razmnožavaju vegetativno iz reznica, premda mogu i generativno iz sjemena. U uzgoju i primjeni traži osunčano mjesto, blago kiseo supstrat, redovitu prihranu i umjereno zalijevanje. Najčešće se koriste kao balkonske lončanice, a predstavnici roda su među najprodavanijim za primjenu na otvorenom.

Evaluation of three different green fabrication methods for the synthesis of crystalline ZnO nanoparticles using Pelargonium zonale leaf extract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were green synthesized using Pelargonum zonale leaf extract under three different heating methods, and their characteristics were evaluated using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and antibacterial well diffusion method. The FT-IR analysis indicated that the Pelargonium leaf extract contained hydroxyl and amide I groups which were related to the proteins, carbohydrate, tannins and phenolic compounds of the extract and had an essential role in the reduction of the zinc ions and synthesis of the ZnO NPs. The obtained results revealed that the synthesized spherical individual ZnO NPs as well as the number of aggregates using microwave irradiation, autoclave and conventional heating (heater-stirrer) methods had average crystalline size of 51, 60 and 61 nm. Furthermore, antioxidant activities of the fabricated ZnO NPs were 7.8, 4.1 and 5.5% by using conventional heating, autoclave and microwave irradiation, respectively. The obtained results indicated that all the formed ZnO NPs had bactericidal effects against to the both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria strains. However, the synthesized ZnO NPs using conventional heating method had the highest antibacterial activities toward both studied bacteria strains.