Articles
THE STORAGE PROPERTIES OF WOOD-BASED PEAT-FREE GROWING MEDIA
Article number
401_10
Pages
89 – 96
Language
Abstract
Pine bark, chipboard waste and a blend of spruce bark and paper waste were mixed to produce three peat-free growing media.
A peat-based medium was also prepared.
Inorganic nutrients were added to the mixes which were then stored for twelve months, half at 10 °C and half at 22 °C. Nutrient analyses were performed on water extracts of the media at monthly intervals for 4 months and then bi-monthly for 8 months.
Concurrent growth trials were carried out using lettuce and tomatoes to assess percentage germination and tomato plant fresh weights after 3 weeks growth.
In the standard peat-based medium pH remained constant and lettuce and tomatoes germinated well at both storage temperatures.
There was very little variability in nutrient levels in this medium.
A substantial fall in pH was noted in the media containing chipboard waste and germination and growth were erratic in these mixes.
There were also higher concentrations of ammonium-N and nitrate-N in these media, possibly due to the breakdown of ureaformaldehyde in this substrate.
Lettuce and tomatoes germinated well in the mix which did not contain chipboard waste but further growth was retarded by the lack of nitrogen.
This was probably caused by a physical lock up of nitrogen by the media itself or uptake by micro-organisms.
A peat-based medium was also prepared.
Inorganic nutrients were added to the mixes which were then stored for twelve months, half at 10 °C and half at 22 °C. Nutrient analyses were performed on water extracts of the media at monthly intervals for 4 months and then bi-monthly for 8 months.
Concurrent growth trials were carried out using lettuce and tomatoes to assess percentage germination and tomato plant fresh weights after 3 weeks growth.
In the standard peat-based medium pH remained constant and lettuce and tomatoes germinated well at both storage temperatures.
There was very little variability in nutrient levels in this medium.
A substantial fall in pH was noted in the media containing chipboard waste and germination and growth were erratic in these mixes.
There were also higher concentrations of ammonium-N and nitrate-N in these media, possibly due to the breakdown of ureaformaldehyde in this substrate.
Lettuce and tomatoes germinated well in the mix which did not contain chipboard waste but further growth was retarded by the lack of nitrogen.
This was probably caused by a physical lock up of nitrogen by the media itself or uptake by micro-organisms.
Authors
K. Dickinson, W.R. Carlile
Keywords
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