ISHS Acta Horticulturae 458: International Symposium on Water Quality & Quantity-Greenhouse
WETTING AGENT EFFECTS ON PEAT PROPERTIES RELATED TO NUTRIENT SOLUTION LOSSES AND PLANT GROWTH |
| Authors: | C. Cid-Ballarin, R. Muñoz-Carpena, A. Socorro-Monzón, G. González-Tamargo |
| Keywords: | wetter, growing-media, ornamental-crops, substrate, hydroponics |
| Abstract:
Water and nutrient losses, usually in excess of 50%, are a major drawback of potted plant production. Previous work comparing plants growing on peat treated with a wetting agent, showed an increase in size and quality over those grown on regular peat. Better plant growth on wetting agent treated peat has been attributed to improvement of physical conditions, mainly wettability and water relationships. Knowledge on the influence in chemical properties is limited. This work discusses wetting agent effects on physical and chemical properties of peat, its influence on quality and quantity of drainage, and on the growth of Argyranthemum coronopifolium (daisy). Effective peat water-holding capacity was significantly increased by the wetting agent, particularly after peat desiccation. Hydraulic conductivity was reduced thus increasing the lateral water movement and the opportunity of nutrient uptake by the plants. Modifications in plant cation uptake (Ca), root pH buffering and physical factors help to explain the increase in growth and development observed on plants grown in treated peat. | |
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