Articles
Effect of substrate temperature on plant growth and transpiration rates, determined by means of soil moisture sensors
Article number
1327_14
Pages
111 – 120
Language
English
Abstract
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a warm climate plant.
The optimal ambient growth temperature for cultivation is 25°C, but commercial cultivation in temperate climate regions often happens at lower temperature.
Therefore, the effect of substrate temperature on plant morphology and quality was evaluated.
Three different substrate temperatures were studied: 19, 23 and 25°C. Fresh and dry weight of leaves and shoots were significantly higher for higher substrate temperatures.
This was accompanied by stem elongation (12.7±0.8 cm at 25°C and 10.4±0.8 cm at 19°C). The results obtained indicate that substrate temperature can affect both morphology and quality of basil plants offering in addition a better plant shelf life in the market chain.
The evolution of the volumetric water content (VWC) in the substrate was monitored using Soil Moisture Sensors, which also measured substrate temperature.
This allows to calculate the evapotranspiration during the cultivation period and provides an effective tool for irrigation control.
Total evapotranspiration was highest in plants from treatment 25°C (i.e. 692 mL container‑1), followed by 23°C (i.e. 472 mL container‑1) and 19°C (i.e. 239 mL container‑1), which indicates that a higher substrate temperature stimulates evapotranspiration significantly in line with the increased growth under higher substrate temperatures.
The optimal ambient growth temperature for cultivation is 25°C, but commercial cultivation in temperate climate regions often happens at lower temperature.
Therefore, the effect of substrate temperature on plant morphology and quality was evaluated.
Three different substrate temperatures were studied: 19, 23 and 25°C. Fresh and dry weight of leaves and shoots were significantly higher for higher substrate temperatures.
This was accompanied by stem elongation (12.7±0.8 cm at 25°C and 10.4±0.8 cm at 19°C). The results obtained indicate that substrate temperature can affect both morphology and quality of basil plants offering in addition a better plant shelf life in the market chain.
The evolution of the volumetric water content (VWC) in the substrate was monitored using Soil Moisture Sensors, which also measured substrate temperature.
This allows to calculate the evapotranspiration during the cultivation period and provides an effective tool for irrigation control.
Total evapotranspiration was highest in plants from treatment 25°C (i.e. 692 mL container‑1), followed by 23°C (i.e. 472 mL container‑1) and 19°C (i.e. 239 mL container‑1), which indicates that a higher substrate temperature stimulates evapotranspiration significantly in line with the increased growth under higher substrate temperatures.
Authors
E. Driesen, M.P. De Proft, A. Lauwers, W. Saeys
Keywords
basil, greenhouse cultivation, indoor farming, evapotranspiration, irrigation management, irrigation efficiency
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World
- Working Group Humulus and Other Cannabaceae
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