ISHS Acta Horticulturae 559: V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies
COAL-MINE SPOIL RECLAIMING AS SUBSTRATE FOR "CULTIVATION WITHOUT SOIL" IN PETUNIA |
| Authors: | R. Arias-Fernández, M.E. López-Mosquera, S. Seoane |
| Keywords: | coal spoil reclaiming, Petunia, hydroponics cultivation, cultivation without soil (CHS) |
| Abstract:
Present work is based in the reclaiming of coal-mine spoils as substrate of “cultivation without soil” technique in a glass house experiment. The feasibility of using coal-mine spoils as an agricultural substrate can help to avoid the pollution that their storage produces. Coal-mine spoils studied here came from a tipping at Minero Siderúrgica of Ponferrada (León-Spain). A preliminar chemical and physical characterization of the coal-mine spoil was made. Given the characteristics of the coal-mine spoil, different mixtures were made using this material with peat, that were also chemically and physically characterized. Then, the mixtures were evaluated agronomically, i.e.: (85% coal-mine spoil - 15% peat, 70% coal-mine spoil - 30% peat and 50% coal-mine spoil - 50% peat), coal-mine spoil 100% and perlite has been used as the control. A practical test was made with an ornamental culture (Petunia). Cultivation has been done in plastic pots of three liters capacity using slow release fertilization and watering was accomplished by an automatic microsprinkler. The test was monitored measuring suitable plant production parameters (aerial plant parts dry weight, root dry weight, amount of flowers). All the CHS substrates were suitable for Petunia cultivation. Whereas, the best results were attained when using the mixture 85% coal-mine spoil - 15% peat as well as with the substrate made of 100% coal-mine spoil. | |
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