Articles
GROWING MEDIA FOR THE NURSERY INDUSTRY: USE OF AMENDMENTS IN TRADITIONAL BARK-BASED MEDIA
Article number
819_13
Pages
143 – 156
Language
English
Abstract
Bark may become a limited resource due to a changing timber industry in conjunction with its use as an effective energy source.
Identifying alternative components that can be used as substrate supplements to extend bark supplies may be one of the better solutions as this should require minimal changes in current nursery production practices.
Two experiments consisting of pine bark amended with four rates [0, 15, 30, and 45% (by vol.)] of composted cotton stalks/swine waste (CCSW) or composted residential household waste (Fluff®) were conducted to identify materials to serve as alternative components.
No micronutrients or dolomitic limestone amendments were added to these substrates.
For comparison to a common commercial substrate, 8 pine bark: 1 sand (by vol.) (PBS) was amended with 0.9 kg m-3 dolomitic limestone and 0.7 kg m-3 micronutrient fertilizer. Cotoneaster dammeri C.K. Schneid. Stogholm (cotoneaster) was grown for 19 weeks.
All substrates were top-dressed with 5 g N per container with a commercial controlled release fertilizer (CRF). Top dry weight of cotoneaster increased linearly with increasing rates of CCSW. Top dry weight of cotoneaster grown in 15, 30, and 45% CCSW was significantly greater than cotoneaster grown in PBS. Substrate solution pH was maintained between 5.3 and 6.1 throughout the season in all substrates.
Electrical conductivity increased linearly with increasing rate of CCSW, with the highest EC of 2.81 dS m-1 recorded at 15 days after initiation (DAI). CCSW could replace the micronutrient fertilizer, dolomitic limestone and phosphorus in the CRF. Total porosity, container capacity, available, and unavailable water increased linearly with increasing rate of CCSW. Top and root dry weight of cotoneaster were unaffected by rate of Fluff®, nor were there any significant differences from PBS. Substrate solution pH increased linearly with increasing rates of Fluff®. Electrical conductivity increased with increasing rate of Fluff®, with the highest EC of 1.7 dS m-1 recorded at 15 DAI. Fluff® was able to replace the micronutrient fertilizer and dolomitic limestone.
Physical properties were unaffected by rate of Fluff®. Adding Fluff® helped to maintain structural integrity of the substrate during the study.
Identifying alternative components that can be used as substrate supplements to extend bark supplies may be one of the better solutions as this should require minimal changes in current nursery production practices.
Two experiments consisting of pine bark amended with four rates [0, 15, 30, and 45% (by vol.)] of composted cotton stalks/swine waste (CCSW) or composted residential household waste (Fluff®) were conducted to identify materials to serve as alternative components.
No micronutrients or dolomitic limestone amendments were added to these substrates.
For comparison to a common commercial substrate, 8 pine bark: 1 sand (by vol.) (PBS) was amended with 0.9 kg m-3 dolomitic limestone and 0.7 kg m-3 micronutrient fertilizer. Cotoneaster dammeri C.K. Schneid. Stogholm (cotoneaster) was grown for 19 weeks.
All substrates were top-dressed with 5 g N per container with a commercial controlled release fertilizer (CRF). Top dry weight of cotoneaster increased linearly with increasing rates of CCSW. Top dry weight of cotoneaster grown in 15, 30, and 45% CCSW was significantly greater than cotoneaster grown in PBS. Substrate solution pH was maintained between 5.3 and 6.1 throughout the season in all substrates.
Electrical conductivity increased linearly with increasing rate of CCSW, with the highest EC of 2.81 dS m-1 recorded at 15 days after initiation (DAI). CCSW could replace the micronutrient fertilizer, dolomitic limestone and phosphorus in the CRF. Total porosity, container capacity, available, and unavailable water increased linearly with increasing rate of CCSW. Top and root dry weight of cotoneaster were unaffected by rate of Fluff®, nor were there any significant differences from PBS. Substrate solution pH increased linearly with increasing rates of Fluff®. Electrical conductivity increased with increasing rate of Fluff®, with the highest EC of 1.7 dS m-1 recorded at 15 DAI. Fluff® was able to replace the micronutrient fertilizer and dolomitic limestone.
Physical properties were unaffected by rate of Fluff®. Adding Fluff® helped to maintain structural integrity of the substrate during the study.
Publication
Authors
S.L. Warren, T.E. Bilderback, J.S. Owen, Jr.
Keywords
bark, substrate amendment, physical properties, chemical properties
Online Articles (56)