NITROGEN DYNAMICS IN BARK COMPOSTS AS DEPENDENT ON PRODUCTION METHODS – II. POT TRIALS WITH RYEGRASS AND SPRAY CARNATIONS

In pot trials with ryegrass and spray carnations, the effect of different production methods of bark composts (long – and short – term fermentation) on N-dynamics was tested.
In mixtures of peat/bark composts (40/60 vol.%), long-term composts and peat substrate showed higher yields and N-uptake on base of same amounts of soluble nutrients

• base fertilizing with N, P and K corresponding to substrate analysis

• than short-term composts (3 cuts of ryegrass). Liquid feeding to each cut (0.6 g N/pot for 4^th– 6^th cut) decreased these differences, nevertheless two short-term composts gave lower effects.

After 11 months the decomposition of organic matter in bark composts was 7 – 30 %.

Spray carnations were tested with three different rates of liquid feeding as supplement to the same base fertilizing (N, P, K). Fresh weight increased with rising liquid feeding.
The differences in yield between bark composts decreased with increasing intensity of liquid feeding.
Therefore difficulties in N-dynamics of bark composts will partly be corrected by high rates of liquid feeding.

International Symposium on Substrates in Horticulture other than Soils In Situ

K. Teicher, R. Gutser, P. Fischer

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.150.20