Articles
EFFECTS OF CONTAINER SIZE AND GROWING MEDIA ON THE GROWTH OF LANDSCAPE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
The species Cupressocyparis leylandii, which was used as control plant, is a very useful conifer in hedges and fences because of its great handling facility.
Besides, it is very well adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of the study area.
In this trial five container sizes (C12, C14, C17, C21 and C24), and two growing substrates (mixtures of Sphagnum peat (P) and Pinus radiata composed bark (C), in different proportions in volume) were used.
A drip irrigation system was used and fertilizers were applied by fertirrigation.
Both for the dry weight and height of the plant, the mixture P75%:C25% showed the greatest plant growth.
Nevertheless, the plants cultivated in C12 and C14 container sizes were the smallest and they had the smallest dry weight too.
When the plant growth was measured through the other parameters (dry weight/container volume and root weight:total dry weight ratios), the results were not clear and they appear to be affected by other parameters like irrigation handling or the position of plants in the greenhouse.
One year of Cupressocyparis leylandii culture may be not enough time to estimate clearly the differences between the different container sizes.
For this reason, the next trials will last two years to confirm these results.