Articles
Morpho-physiological response of bedding plants quality to unconventional agro-industrial organic matrices to peat replacing: preliminary outcomes
Article number
1417_15
Pages
125 – 132
Language
English
Abstract
Product quality and agro-environmental sustainability are essential for the long-term sustainability of the floriculture industry.
Reducing or replacing the use of peat (P) and establishing circular waste flows are crucial steps towards sustainable production of potted plants.
Recycling agro-industry by-products represents an important challenge for a circular economy.
In this study, ten substrates were investigated for the production of potted French marigold (Tagetes patula) and nasturtium (Tropaeolum minus) bedding plants, and two different plant development stages were considered: transplants and marketable plants.
P (85% v:v) was proportionally substituted with stabilized wood fibre (SWF), coffee silverskin (CS) and brewer spent grain (BSG) in ratios of 0, 10, 20, and 40% (v:v). In the ten growing media pumice was always at 15% (v:v). The first results showed that in the case of transplants both SWF and BSG are valid matrices at up to 10 or 20% rate of P replacement in nasturtium and marigold respectively.
In marketable plants, both SWF and CS can be used at up to 40% rate; on the contrary BSG, in the mixtures, had a depressive effect on the marigold quality; in nasturtium, SWF at up to 40% gave a higher plant quality than the control.
CS and BSG provided a quality performance similar to the control (peat).
Reducing or replacing the use of peat (P) and establishing circular waste flows are crucial steps towards sustainable production of potted plants.
Recycling agro-industry by-products represents an important challenge for a circular economy.
In this study, ten substrates were investigated for the production of potted French marigold (Tagetes patula) and nasturtium (Tropaeolum minus) bedding plants, and two different plant development stages were considered: transplants and marketable plants.
P (85% v:v) was proportionally substituted with stabilized wood fibre (SWF), coffee silverskin (CS) and brewer spent grain (BSG) in ratios of 0, 10, 20, and 40% (v:v). In the ten growing media pumice was always at 15% (v:v). The first results showed that in the case of transplants both SWF and BSG are valid matrices at up to 10 or 20% rate of P replacement in nasturtium and marigold respectively.
In marketable plants, both SWF and CS can be used at up to 40% rate; on the contrary BSG, in the mixtures, had a depressive effect on the marigold quality; in nasturtium, SWF at up to 40% gave a higher plant quality than the control.
CS and BSG provided a quality performance similar to the control (peat).
Authors
A.E. Sdao, D. Mondelli, L. Piscitelli, E. Scaltrito, B. Leoni, G. Cristiano, B. De Lucia
Keywords
agro-industrial waste, circular economy, renewable raw materials, substrate, Tagetes patula, Tropaeolum minus
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
Online Articles (35)