Articles
EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE AND NUTRIENT SOLUTION REUSE ON RANUNCULUS AND ANEMONE PLANT PRODUCTION IN A CLOSED SOILLESS SYSTEM
Article number
779_69
Pages
541 – 546
Language
English
Abstract
Anemone (Anemone cv.
Monnalisa) and ranunculus (Ranunculus cv.
White elegance) plants were grown in a soilless closed system.
Sprouted bulbs were transplanted in pots containing perlite and peat in a ratio 3:1 (v/v). The substrate was used in a previous cycle of chrysanthemum plants.
Two nutrient solutions, (A and B) with different nutrient content were used.
Solution A and solution B (more and less concentrated respectively) were obtained from two previous cycles, performed in succession, of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) and chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × morifolium cv.
Euro). A growing cycle of about 150 days in autumn-spring seasons was realized, with a total of 14 harvests.
In both species, the leaves N, P and K content was higher in treatment A compared with B, and an equal level for all other elements was determined, particularly a low Mn concentration resulted.
Moreover, in anemone some flowers with small corollas and thin stems were harvested.
Marketable production of both species of treatment A was in agreement with standard ones (484 and 682 flowers for ranunculus and anemone respectively). A 38% reduction of marketable production was observed for thesis B with respect to thesis A. At the end of growing cycle both solutions resulted depleted of the major nutrient elements, including the pollutants ones, and unsuitable for a further crop system cultivation.
Even though a not optimal production was expected, this depletion strategy of exhaust solutions, allowed their disposal in the environment without hazard pollution.
Monnalisa) and ranunculus (Ranunculus cv.
White elegance) plants were grown in a soilless closed system.
Sprouted bulbs were transplanted in pots containing perlite and peat in a ratio 3:1 (v/v). The substrate was used in a previous cycle of chrysanthemum plants.
Two nutrient solutions, (A and B) with different nutrient content were used.
Solution A and solution B (more and less concentrated respectively) were obtained from two previous cycles, performed in succession, of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) and chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × morifolium cv.
Euro). A growing cycle of about 150 days in autumn-spring seasons was realized, with a total of 14 harvests.
In both species, the leaves N, P and K content was higher in treatment A compared with B, and an equal level for all other elements was determined, particularly a low Mn concentration resulted.
Moreover, in anemone some flowers with small corollas and thin stems were harvested.
Marketable production of both species of treatment A was in agreement with standard ones (484 and 682 flowers for ranunculus and anemone respectively). A 38% reduction of marketable production was observed for thesis B with respect to thesis A. At the end of growing cycle both solutions resulted depleted of the major nutrient elements, including the pollutants ones, and unsuitable for a further crop system cultivation.
Even though a not optimal production was expected, this depletion strategy of exhaust solutions, allowed their disposal in the environment without hazard pollution.
Publication
Authors
E. Rea, A. Salerno, F. Pierandrei
Keywords
bulbous crops, ornamental plants, nutrient solution disposal, marketable production
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