ISHS Acta Horticulturae 573: International Symposium on Techniques to Control Salination for Horticultural Productivity
EC AND pH CHANGES OF THE GROWING MEDIA AND NUTRIENT SOLUTION DURING ANTHURIUM PRODUCTION IN A CLOSED SYSTEM |
| Authors: | A. Özçelik, C.F. Özkan |
| Keywords: | Closed system, anthurium, pumice, salinity |
| Abstract:
Anthurium is an epifidic plant which has aerial roots which can efficiently grow on high porosity substrates. Pumice has a high porosity, inert, a strong and cheap material one when it is compared to the other available substrates and Turkey has rich pumice reserves. Mapito is also a commercial material which has 70% rockwool and 30% polyurethane rubber to be used in soilless culture. Anthurium is susceptible to salinity of nutrient solution and substrate, requires an EC of between 1.0–1.5 mS cm-1. This experiment was conducted in order to indicate the efficiency ability of using pumice as a substrate in Anthurium production and to specify the pH and EC changes of both the nutrient solution and the substrate. The other objective of the study was to determine plant water consumption in such a closed system during eight months after planting. The pH of the nutrient solution and the substrates decreased after applying the nutrient solution. The decrease in pH of the nutrient solutions used in pumice was higher than that of Mapito. The EC of the nutrient solutions in pumice decreased only in January. EC values of nutrient solutions and substrates increased during the applying period, but The change of EC in pumice was less than Mapito. | |
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