Articles
INVESTIGATION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WOOD FIBER SUBSTRATES UNDER PRESS POT CONDITIONS
Article number
554_3
Pages
51 – 58
Language
English
Abstract
In Germany, vegetable seedlings are most frequently produced in press pots made from peat based growing media.
The use of pure wood fiber substrates still causes problems with press pot cultivation method.
The particle size distribution and the maximum water capacity of wood fiber substrates were measured and their relationship analyzed.
The separability of the pots was studied by measuring the thickness of the layer to be cut by the press pot machine.
Also an Instron material testing system was used to determine the stability of the pots.
Finally, two tests were conducted for further cultivation of lettuce in the greenhouse.
According to the presented results, wood fiber substrates in a mixture of up to 30 % by vol. could replace a portion of peat used for the production of press pots.
The use of pure wood fiber substrates still causes problems with press pot cultivation method.
The particle size distribution and the maximum water capacity of wood fiber substrates were measured and their relationship analyzed.
The separability of the pots was studied by measuring the thickness of the layer to be cut by the press pot machine.
Also an Instron material testing system was used to determine the stability of the pots.
Finally, two tests were conducted for further cultivation of lettuce in the greenhouse.
According to the presented results, wood fiber substrates in a mixture of up to 30 % by vol. could replace a portion of peat used for the production of press pots.
Authors
N. Gruda, CH. Sippel, W.H. Schnitzler
Keywords
press pot, organic substrate, vegetable seedling, lettuce, Lactuca sativa, chlorophyll fluorescence.
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