Articles
USE OF ORGANIC OR INORGANIC SUBSTRATES FOR REDUCING THE USE OF PEAT AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF BULBS AND INFLORESCENCES IN ASIATIC LILY
Article number
900_17
Pages
143 – 148
Language
English
Abstract
Peat, mainly imported from Northern and Eastern Europe, is the basic constituent of organic substrates commonly utilized in the cultivation of ornamental plants in pots or in benches.
Recently, the supply of peat is hampered by environmental and economical constraints.
Thus, it is necessary to find new materials to replace peat.
With the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of inorganic or organic materials in floriculture, several experiments were conducted at the CRA-VIV Pescia, Italy.
Previous trials, carried out on liatris, tulips, gerbera and chrysanthemum, had shown an improvement of flower quality and also a larger size of the bulbs utilizing new organic composts or adding zeolites to the traditional substrates.
In this trial, zeolites (Clinoptilolite, Cabasite and Litonita), as inorganic compounds, and Biomax (a compost obtained by barley crop residues), as an organic substrate, were evaluated for reducing the use of peat and for improving the size of bulbs, bulblets and bulbils and the quality of inflorescences in Asiatic Lily.
The results showed that the use of zeolites and Biomax determined a significant increase of stem height and diameter, bud length and bulb size and weight.
Furthermore, flower longevity was significantly improved in the cultivar Original Love.
Recently, the supply of peat is hampered by environmental and economical constraints.
Thus, it is necessary to find new materials to replace peat.
With the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of inorganic or organic materials in floriculture, several experiments were conducted at the CRA-VIV Pescia, Italy.
Previous trials, carried out on liatris, tulips, gerbera and chrysanthemum, had shown an improvement of flower quality and also a larger size of the bulbs utilizing new organic composts or adding zeolites to the traditional substrates.
In this trial, zeolites (Clinoptilolite, Cabasite and Litonita), as inorganic compounds, and Biomax (a compost obtained by barley crop residues), as an organic substrate, were evaluated for reducing the use of peat and for improving the size of bulbs, bulblets and bulbils and the quality of inflorescences in Asiatic Lily.
The results showed that the use of zeolites and Biomax determined a significant increase of stem height and diameter, bud length and bulb size and weight.
Furthermore, flower longevity was significantly improved in the cultivar Original Love.
Publication
Authors
D. Prisa, G. Burchi, M. Antonetti, A. Teani
Keywords
Lilium, substrates, bulbs, post-harvest quality, peat
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