ISHS Acta Horticulturae 172: Composts as Horticultural Substrates
INFLUENCE OF REUTILIZATION DURING FIVE YEARS ON THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF A POSIDONIA OCEANICA (L.) DEL. SUBSTRATE AND ON THE BEHAVIOR OF A TOMATO CROP |
| Authors: | H. VERLODT, M. ZOUAOUI, A. SAIDANE, N. DE WAELE, Y. HARBAOUI |
| Abstract:
Posidonia oceanica L. seagrasses, collected on the beaches and receiving during the first year of utilization a 20% (volume) addition of well made stable manure, were utilized in PE mulched furrows. The substrate was reutilized each year, staying during the interseason in the furrows, and receiving each year a supplement stable manure of 4 kg/m or 4 kg/0.07 m3 and also 200 g/m Osmocote slow release fertilizer. Comparison of six substrates (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 5th year + Ca) indicates that the physical properties of the substrate, such as bulk density, total porosity, easy available water, buffering capacity, non available water, air content, organic carbone content, electric conductivity and degree of decomposition, are better in the older substrates than in the fresh one. Chemical analysis (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Rb, Ca and B content) of the substrate before utilization, 30 days after planting and 14 days before the end of the harvest shows only small differences between the substrates and only an accumulation of Zn and Cu seems evident for the older substrates. Chemical analysis of tomato leaves cv. 'Vemone' between the 3rd and the 4th and the 5th and the 6th cluster respectively during the fructification period and the full harvest period, are presented also but only small differences are appearing for the major elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), while an accumulation of Zn and Cu and Mn is evident especially during the 4th and the 5th year. The addition of Ca seems to result in a reduced accumulation of this elements. Growth and yield results (plant heigth, stem diameter, fruitset, very early yield, early yield, total yield and fruitweight) were the best for the substrate in 3rd year of utilization and the supplementary addition of Ca during the 5th year seems to have a positive influence. | |
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