ISHS Acta Horticulturae 559: V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies
EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE TYPE (PERLITE AND TUFF) IN THE WATER AND NUTRIENT BALANCE OF A SOILLESS CULTURE ROSE PRODUCTION SYSTEM |
| Authors: | LL. Martín-Closas, X. Recasens |
| Keywords: | Rosa hybrida, water use efficiency, nutrient uptake efficiency, porous volcanic gravel, crop coefficient, recirculation |
| Abstract:
The study was carried out in a commercial nursery at the Maresme, north of Barcelona area, Spain. The intensive horticultural production of the area contributes to undesired water wastes with high content of nutrients. The aim of this study is to establish the effect of the substrate type (perlite vs. tuff) on the water and nutrient use of roses cultivated under commercial conditions. Plants were monitored on perlite and tuff substrates in a plastic greenhouse from March to December. Water supply, drainage and evapotranspiration of the crop were daily registered. Weekly chemical analyses of the nutrient solution and drainage allowed the determination of the nutrient balance. Number and weight of flowers produced, and flower stalk length were also recorded, and water (WUE) and nutrient uptake efficiency estimated. Data registered showed that daily water supply varied from 2.8 to 5.8 l·m-2·d-1 for the tuff substrate and from 2.9 to 5.4 l·m-2·d-1 for perlite between winter and summer, respectively. The perlite cultivated plants evapotranspired slightly more than the tuff ones, and the Kc values were similar for both substrates, ranging from 0.57 in August to 1.16 in March. WUE increased in autumn and decreased in spring and summer, and was higher in perlite than in tuff. The plant nutrient uptake efficiency was also higher in perlite. The percentage of nutrients wasted through the leachate ranged, depending on the nutrient, between 44% and 76% of the nutrient supplied. The changing from an open system to a close one could save up to 40% of the water used and an important amount of nutrients, avoiding at the same time the pollution of ground water. | |
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