Articles
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DOUBLE-PROCESSED PINE BARK: EFFECTS ON ROOTING
Article number
401_8
Pages
77 – 84
Language
Abstract
Double Processed Pine Bark (DPPB) is a screened and finely ground hammermilled pine bark with minimal amounts of wood or cambium.
The appearance and texture of DPPB suggested that it could be used as a propagation medium and would not require preparation by mixing with other components.
To determine the usefulness of this product in propagation, a study was designed to physically characterize DPPB compared with seven other substrates commonly used for propagation of nursery crops.
Double Processed Pine Bark (DPPB) had a more uniform distribution of particles collected on sieves between 6.3 and 0.5 mm than other substrates studied.
The DPPB particle size range was most similar to other single component pine bark substrates, but had fewer particles < 0.4 mm than other pine bark substrates.
The effect of the uniform particle size distribution was that the resultant physical properties yielded the greatest total porosity and volume of water held after drainage.
Pine bark:sand (equal volumes) had the least total porosity and air space and the greatest bulk density.
Regression and correlation analyses indicated no relationship between percent volume of air space or container capacity with rooting responses measured for any of the three species propagated.
Analysis of variance and mean separation analyses indicated differences in rooting responses for Illicium parviflorum which had lower rooting percentage in the Fafard 3 medium.
Root mass diameters for ‘Sunglow’ azalea were smallest in peat:sand, Metro-Mix 360 and Fafard 3. Illicium parviflorum had largest root mass diameter and greatest root dry weight when rooted in DPPB and 6.4 mm (¼ inch) pine bark and least root dry weight in peat:sand (equal volumes) and Metro-Mix 360. Photinia x ‘fraseri’ cuttings had the greatest number of roots in perlite:peat (80:20 by vol) and the least number of roots in Fafard 3.
The appearance and texture of DPPB suggested that it could be used as a propagation medium and would not require preparation by mixing with other components.
To determine the usefulness of this product in propagation, a study was designed to physically characterize DPPB compared with seven other substrates commonly used for propagation of nursery crops.
Double Processed Pine Bark (DPPB) had a more uniform distribution of particles collected on sieves between 6.3 and 0.5 mm than other substrates studied.
The DPPB particle size range was most similar to other single component pine bark substrates, but had fewer particles < 0.4 mm than other pine bark substrates.
The effect of the uniform particle size distribution was that the resultant physical properties yielded the greatest total porosity and volume of water held after drainage.
Pine bark:sand (equal volumes) had the least total porosity and air space and the greatest bulk density.
Regression and correlation analyses indicated no relationship between percent volume of air space or container capacity with rooting responses measured for any of the three species propagated.
Analysis of variance and mean separation analyses indicated differences in rooting responses for Illicium parviflorum which had lower rooting percentage in the Fafard 3 medium.
Root mass diameters for ‘Sunglow’ azalea were smallest in peat:sand, Metro-Mix 360 and Fafard 3. Illicium parviflorum had largest root mass diameter and greatest root dry weight when rooted in DPPB and 6.4 mm (¼ inch) pine bark and least root dry weight in peat:sand (equal volumes) and Metro-Mix 360. Photinia x ‘fraseri’ cuttings had the greatest number of roots in perlite:peat (80:20 by vol) and the least number of roots in Fafard 3.
Authors
T.E. Bilderback, M.R. Lorscheider
Keywords
Air space, container capacity, available water, unavailable water content
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