ISHS Acta Horticulturae 294: II Symposium on Horticultural Substrates and their Analysis, XXIII IHC
STORAGE PROPERTIES OF PEAT BASED GROWING MEDIA CONTAINING WORM WORKED DUCK WASTE |
| Authors: | D.P. Wilson, W.R. Carlile |
| Abstract:
The suitability of worm-worked duck waste (wwdw) as a complete nutrient source in sphagnum peat-based potting media has previously been demonstrated with a range of plant species. The storage properties of growing substrates are also of considerable importance. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the storage properties of wwdw amended sphagnum and sedge peat-based media. Little change was noted in the major nutrient status of either wwdw amended or standard inorganic media stored at 8°C or 25°C over a 24 month period. The nitrification of ammoniacal-nitrogen was the most notable change in stored media, occurring most rapidly in sedge peat-based media at the highest storage temperature. However the conductivity values and most major nutrient levels remained remarkably steady in all media throughout the storage period and this was linked with the consistent rates of germination of the four plant species assessed. | |
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