GREENHOUSE GROWTH OF EUPHORBIA X LOMI RAUH IN PEAT-REDUCED AND PEAT-FREE SUBSTRATES PREPARED WITH DIFFERENT COMPOSTED WASTES

In order to investigate the possibility of using composted agro-industrial and municipal wastes in the production of an ornamental succulent plant, this research was carried out in a heated glasshouse, replacing the peat in the growing medium at 30, 50 or 70%. Rooted apical cuttings of Euphorbia x lomi Rauh hybrid were grown in media containing olive mill (OWC) and green wastes compost (GWC), peat and draining materials in different percentage.
A medium of peat:draining material 7:3 (v/v) was established as control.
Chemical and physical properties of growing media were analyzed; plant vegetative growth, root growth and flowering were determined at the end of the 1^st phase of pot cultivation (after 140 days after transplanting) and at the end of the 2^nd one (280 days). The obtained results showed that Euphorbia x lomi growth was not adversely affected by rates of GWC up to 50% indicating the potential for using GWC as a growing medium component, and also that OWC can replace up to 30% of the peat: the quality of plant produced in this medium was often as good as that of the control one.

International Symposium on High Technology for Greenhouse System Management: Greensys2007

B. De Lucia, L. Vecchietti, A. Ventrelli, E. Rea, F. Pierandrei, M.A. Delicato

protected cultivation, waste management, renewable sources, alternative substrates

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.801.133