scholarly journals Comparing Potting Media Available to Consumers through Garden Centers and National Chain Stores

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 658d-658
Author(s):  
Larry J. Kuhns ◽  
Tracey L. Harpster
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Tagetes Patula ◽  
Soluble Salts ◽  
Chain Stores ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Potting Media ◽  
The Media ◽  
Water Holding

A study was initiated to determine how well plants would grow in potting media available to consumers through garden centers and national chain stores. Nine media were evaluated. The chemical and physical characteristics were determined, and six geraniums (Pelargonium sp) and six marigolds (Tagetes patula) were grown in each of the media. Three of each six were fertilized, three were not. The plants that were fertilized received 100 ppm N and K and 50 ppm P once a week. Three months after seeding the flowers, flowers and buds on the marigolds were counted and the plants were harvested. Dry weights were determined. Nitrate-N ranged from 6 to 627 ppm, pH from 4.9 to 7.1, phosphorus from 88 to 502 pounds/A, potassium from 1.0 to 6.9 meq/100 g, magnesium from 1.4 to 10.8 meq/100 g, calcium from 5.2 to 30.0 meq/100 g, soluble salts from 20 to 151 mmhos, and CEC from 13.0 to 43.8 meq/100cc. Bulk density ranged from 21 to 53 g/100cc, water holding capacity from 32 to 53 ml/100cc, percent air-pore space from 2.7 to 15.7, and total porosity ranged from 65% to 78%. Unfertilized marigolds weighed between 0.1 and 9.6 g; fertilized marigolds weighed 1.4 to 17.2 g. Unfertilized geraniums weighed between 1.4 and 23.3 g; fertilized geraniums weighed 4.4 to 56 g. There were 1.3 to 16 flowers on unfertilized and 7 to 24.3 flowers on fertilized marigolds.

scholarly journals NATURE OF HYDR0PHILIC POLYMERS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOIL PROPERTIES

HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 851e-851
Author(s):  
Yin-Tung Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Retention ◽  
Unit Volume ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Hydrophilic Polymers ◽  
Capillary Porosity ◽  
Potting Media ◽  
The Media ◽  
Maximum Water ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Capillary Pore

The rate of full hydration for several hydrophilic polymers differed greatly (starch-based polymers > propenoate-propenoamid copolymer > polyacrylamide). Maximum water retention in distilled water varied from over 500 g to 57 g of water per of different dry materials. All polymers retained less water in the presence of metal ions or fertilizers, with substances releasing Fe+2 being the most detrimental. Potting media containing a polyacrylamide polymer reached maximum water retention after 6 irrigations, while those with Micromax (micronutrient source) required 10 irrigations to reach maximum hydration. The water-holding capacities of the media declined after repeated fertilization. Medium bulk density, total watet retention, and water retention per unit volume of medium were increased by the incorporation of the polymer, regardless of the presence of Micromax. Non-capillary porosity in medium amended with Micromax progressively decreased as the amount of the polymer increased, but remained unchanged in medium without Micromax. Repeated wet-dry cycles resulted in decreased water retention and increased non-capillary pore space of the media.

scholarly journals KENAF PITH AS A VERMICULITE SUBSTITUTE IN PEAT-BASED MEDIA.

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 647g-647
Author(s):  
Brad B. Hawcroft ◽  
Steven E. Newman
Keyword(s):  
Pore Space ◽  
Hibiscus Cannabinus ◽  
Peat Moss ◽  
Kenaf Fiber ◽  
Fiber Core ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Sphagnum Peat Moss ◽  
Celosia Argentea ◽  
The Media ◽  
Water Holding

Kenaf is an alternative fiber crop being evaluated in Mississippi. Kenaf, primarily grown in Asia, can be used in the manufacture of paper, fiber board, acoustical tiles and compost. The bark is the source of the fiber used, leaving the fiber core or pith for use as a paper additive, poultry litter, or is discarded. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of kenaf fiber core as a vermiculite substitute in a sphagnum peat moss-based medium. Plugs of Celosia argentea, Viola × wittrockiana, and Impatiens wallerana were transplanted into 10 cm pots containing 5 different sphagnum peat moss-based media modified with the milled fiber core (pith) of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) and/or vermiculite. The media were as follows: 5 peat: 0 kenaf : 5 vermiculite (v/v/v); 5 peat : 1 kenaf : 4 vermiculite (v/v/v); 5 peat : 2 kenaf : 3 vermiculite (v/v/v); 5 peat : 3 kenaf : 2 vermiculite (v/v/v); 5 peat : 4 kenaf : 1 vermiculite (v/v/v); and 5 peat : 5 kenaf: 0 vermiculite (v/v/v). Water holding capacity, pore space, pH and media shrinkage were monitored throughout the study along with plant growth and plant quality.

scholarly journals Earthworm Castings as a Substrate Amendment for Chrysanthemum Production

HortScience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 1035-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo R. Hidalgo ◽  
Richard L. Harkess
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Growth Index ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Dendranthema Grandiflora ◽  
Substrate Amendment ◽  
Sheep Manure ◽  
Air Space ◽  
Water Holding

Earthworm castings (vermicompost) were evaluated as a substrate amendment for chrysanthemum [Dendranthema ×grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitam.] `Miramar' production. Vermicompost produced from sheep, cattle, and horse manures were mixed at different ratios with 70 peatmoss: 30 perlite (v/v) to create 12 substrates. The 70 peatmoss: 30 perlite mix at 100% and Sunshine® Mix 1 were used as control substrates. The bulk density, percentage of pore space, and water holding capacity increased as vermicompost content increased while the percentage of air space decreased. At 100% vermicompost, water holding capacity and bulk density were greatest in vermicompost from sheep manure. Plants grown in mixtures of 50% vermicompost from sheep had a greater growth index at harvest, foliar area, number of flowers per pot, and dry weight and fewer days for flower development than plants grown in other substrates. Vermicompost from sheep manure added at 50% by volume was most effective as a substrate amendment for chrysanthemum production.

Evaluation of the solid digestate from garage-type high solids anaerobic digestion of bundled rice straw and swine manure as a growth medium for seeding production

BioResources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 3017-3028
Author(s):  
Jingjing Fu ◽  
Biao Ma ◽  
Binxing Xu ◽  
Chunsong Guan ◽  
Aibing Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Growth Medium ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Swine Manure ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
High Solid ◽  
Water Holding

The solid digestate from high solid anaerobic digestion was used as growth medium for seeding production. The garage-type dry fermentation system using bundled rice straw and swine manure was performed to obtain solid digestate. The addition of solid digestate addition greatly influenced the properties of the growth medium. The bulk density increased and the total porosity, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) values were decreased with the reduction of solid digestate. The solid digestate-based media had a bulk density < 0.3 g/cm3, total porosity > 70%, air filled porosity ~ 3%, water holding porosity > 60%, EC < 3 mS/cm, and 6.5 < pH < 8. Those properties almost satisfied the essential requirements of nursery substrate. Also, the concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals of the substrate exhibited a positive relationship with solid digestate addition, and they are all within acceptable ranges for plant growth. When the addition of solid digestate was 50% (v/v), the germination rate of tomato seeding cultivated in that solid digestate-based growth medium reached 85%. These findings showed that the solid digestate from the high solid anaerobic digestion could be successfully applied in the seeding nursery and merit consideration for industrial applications.

Soil compaction in permanent pasture and its amelioration by slitting

1989 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Davies ◽  
W. A. Adams ◽  
D. Wilman
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Fine Earth ◽  
Total N ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Net Uptake ◽  
Uptake Of Nutrients

SUMMARYIn a field which had been grazed by dairy cows for 26 years, the bulk density of both total soil and fine earth increased rapidly with depth down to 10–12 cm, but decreased below this depth. The bulk density was approximately twice as great in the 10–12 cm as in the 2–4 cm layer. Total porosity in the 10–12 cm layer was only 22%.Slitting the soil to penetrate the compacted layer approximately doubled net herbage accumulation and the net uptake of N, P and K, raising herbage production and uptake of nutrients from a low level to an acceptable one. Slitting tended to increase the concentrations of nitrate-N and K in herbage, but had little effect on the concentration of total N. Slitting increased the weight of ash-free root in the 10–20 cm depth range.

scholarly journals Substrate Properties and Fertilizer Rates on Yield Responses of Lettuce in a Vertical Growth System

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6465
Author(s):  
ZaDarreyal Wiggins ◽  
Onyekachukwu Akaeze ◽  
Dilip Nandwani ◽  
Anthony Witcher
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Growth System ◽  
Substrate Properties ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

The increased demand for food and the challenge for space for agriculture production in urban centers have made the vertical growth system an interesting trend. Agriculture is no longer only the horizontal, traditional, and soil grown method. Urban agriculture has created ways for inner city growers to be able to farm in a restricted space. Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops, especially leafy vegetables such as lettuce, in vertically stacked layers, as this results in significantly higher plant population per unit area. Two research trials were conducted in the fall of 2018 and the spring of 2019 to determine the effect of substrate properties and fertilizers on lettuce yield to optimize the urban production of lettuce. Three substrates (P3 + CF7 = Perlite 30%: Coco fiber 70%, PB7 + C3 = Pine Bark 70%: Compost 30%, and PB9 + C1 = Pine Bark 90%: Compost 10%) along with full and half rates of a fertilizer blend (VertiGro Organics fermented molasses, Ohrstrom’s Maxicrop liquid seaweed, and organic mineral blend) were evaluated on fresh and dried weight yield of lettuce. Substrate physical properties (air space, water holding capacity, total porosity, and bulk density) and substrate volumetric water content were also determined. ‘Nevada’ and ‘Optima’ lettuce varieties showed similar yield responses (fresh and dried weight) to substrate and fertilizer rates in both trials. In the fall 2018 trial, the highest fresh weight was observed in substrate PB7 + C3 with half fertilizer rate, with a mean plant weight of 41.13 g and 49.75 g for ‘Optima’ and ‘Nevada’, respectively. The least mean fresh weight was observed in half fertilizer rate of substrate P3 + CF7. For the spring 2019 trial, PB7 + C3 in half fertilizer strength gave the highest fresh weight for ‘Optima’ and ‘Nevada’ (45.64 g and 41.13 g, respectively). These values were statistically comparable to all other treatments except for substrate P3 + CF7 in full and half fertilizer which gave the least mean fresh weight. Volumetric water content in substrates P3 + CF7 recorded the highest average, while PB7 + C3 gave the least. Higher water holding capacity, total porosity, and lower airspace were observed in substrate P3 + CF7. Higher airspace was observed in PB9 + C1 but was comparable to PB7 + C3. PB7 + C3 gave the highest bulk density in both trials.

scholarly journals Physical Properties of Container Media and Relation to Severity of Phytophthora Root Rot of Rhododendron

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 564-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.H. Ownley ◽  
D.M. Benson ◽  
T. E. Bilderback
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Pine Bark ◽  
Phytophthora Root Rot ◽  
Air Space ◽  
The Media ◽  
One Year ◽  
Water Percent

One-year-old Rhododendron L. `Nova Zembla' were grown in four container media infested with Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. The media (all v/v) were pine bark, 3 pine bark:1 sand, 3 pine bark:1 peat, and 1 peat: 1 sand: 1 soil. After 20 weeks, plants were evaluated for root rot symptoms and the total porosity, air space, moisture-holding capacity, and bulk density were determined for all media. All media provided adequate moisture-holding capacity for container production of rhododendron in noninfested media. Shoot fresh weight in noninfested media was positively correlated with bulk density and water (percent by volume) held in the 1.0- to 5.0-kPa matric tension range and negatively correlated with total porosity and air space. Root rot severity was greatest in peat: sand: soil, intermediate in pine bark: peat, and least in pine bark and pine bark: sand. Root rot severity was negatively correlated with total porosity and air space and positively correlated with bulk density and water (percent by volume) held in the 5.0- to 10.0-kPa matric tension range.

scholarly journals Zinc Uptake by Pelargonium × hortorum Grown in Shredded Tire Rubber-amended Media

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 485B-485
Author(s):  
Mohammad Baqir ◽  
Richard L. Harkess
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Tissue Analysis ◽  
Rooted Cuttings ◽  
Tire Rubber ◽  
Air Space ◽  
The Media ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Slow Growing

On 2 Feb. 1996, rooted cuttings of Pelargonium × hortorum L. H. Bailey cvs. Tango and Blues were planted in 750-cm3 (14 cm in diameter) pots containing peatmoss mixed with shredded tire rubber (2–6.0 mm particle size) at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or 80%. Plants were irrigated by hand, drip, or ebb-and-fl ood, and were arranged in a split-plot experimental design. A wetting agent (Aqua Gro 2000 L, Aquatrols Corporation, Cherry Hill, N.J.) was mixed at the rate of 6 ml per 3750 ml of water and 120 ml of solution was applied to each plant. Greenhouse studies indicated that geraniums could be grown successfully in media containing up to 20% shredded tire rubber by volume when irrigated by hand. Plants grown in media containing more than 20% rubber were observed to be slow-growing and chlorotic. Tissue analysis of the plants indicated significantly increased levels of zinc in plants grown in media containing high percentages of rubber. Geraniums grown in media containing 80% rubber and irrigated using ebb-and-fl ood benches had the significantly highest levels of foliar zinc. Media porosity, percent air space, and bulk density increased, while water holding capacity decreased with increasing amounts of shredded tire rubber added to the media.

scholarly journals Greenhouse Growth of Marigolds in Three Leached Sources of Spent Mushroom Compost over a 3-Year Period

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Young ◽  
E. Jay Holcomb ◽  
Charles W. Heuser
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Tagetes Patula ◽  
High Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Mushroom Compost ◽  
Spent Mushroom Compost ◽  
Substrate Solution ◽  
Water Holding

Though high electrical conductivity (EC) levels are commonly held to be the primary limiting factor for using spent mushroom compost (SMC) as a growing substrate, EC can be reduced by leaching. This allowed SMC to be successfully used for growing plants. Leaching reduced EC of the substrate solution from as high of 30 dS·m-1 (mmhos·cm-1) to 2 to 3 dS·m-1, a level acceptable for growing plants. The initial EC and container capacity determined the number of leachings and total volume of water required to lower EC of SMC substrates to acceptable levels. As the concentration of SMC was increased, a higher number of leachings or larger volume of water were required to adequately reduce EC levels. In trials spanning 2.5 years, SMC was effectively used as a substrate in the production of marigold (Tagetes patula) `Yellow Girl'. Benefits to plant growth from SMC incorporation included a slow release of nutrients as the SMC decomposed and a good air-filled pore space/water-holding capacity when amended with a commercial nursery mix. From these trials, it is recommended that SMC be incorporated at rates of 25% to 50%. It is not recommended that SMC be used in concentrations over 50% because the EC may be too difficult to manage and the high levels of air-filled pore space of SMC. Though season may affect the initial EC level of SMC, such variation is minimized by leaching while differences in plant response are more likely to be attributed to environmental conditions. No differences in plant growth were observed among SMC sources.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Physical Characteristics of Growing Media Containing Composted Oak Sawdust and Sphagnum Peat

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 657b-657
Author(s):  
F. M. Jeneidi ◽  
C. J. Starbuck
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Poultry Manure ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Growing Medium ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Media ◽  
Corn Plants ◽  
Water Contents

The physical characteristics of a container growing medium containing 2 oak sawdust composted with poultry manure: 1 vermiculite: 1 perlite were compared with those of a similar medium containing sphagnum peat rather than compost. Both media were amended with inorganic nutrients based on laboratory analysis to make them nutritionally comparable and with AquaGro wetting agent at 800 g·m–3. Moisture release characteristics of the media were evaluated using tension cups in which desorption at 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 100, and 160 cm of water was measured. While bulk density of the peat mix (0.129 g·cm–3) was, significantly lower than that of the compost mix (0.157 g·cm–3), total porosity of the peat mix (84%) was significantly greater than that of the compost mix (79%). Air-filled and water-filled porosities of the peat and compost mixes were 18.2% 16.2% and 75.2% 70.5% of container volume, respectively. While the peat mix held more water at tensions between 5 and 20 cm, there was no significant difference between the volumetric water contents of the two media between 20 and 160 cm. Fresh and dry weights of corn plants grown for 3 weeks in compost- and peat-based media were not significantly different.

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