ISHS Acta Horticulturae 697: International Symposium on Soilless Culture and Hydroponics
RESPONSE OF A SWEET PEPPER CROP GROWN IN NEW AND TWO-YEAR-OLD REUSED ROCKWOOL SLABS IN GREENHOUSE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF SOUTH-EAST SPAIN |
| Authors: | R. Acuña, S. Bonachela, J.J. Magán |
| Keywords: | Capsicum annuum, Soilless culture, substrate lifespan, water content |
| Abstract:
The response of a sweet pepper crop grown in new (LN) and two-year-old reused (LV) rockwool slabs was evaluated. The physical properties of the slabs were determined before starting the experiment. Total porosity was 97% on both substrates; however the air-filled porosity in LV (47.2%) was higher than in LN (37.5%), whereas the easily available water was higher in LN (59%) than LV (46.6%). No significant differences between substrate types were found for the volumetric water content (CVA) and electric conductivity (EC) in this experiment: 41% and 3.5 dS m-1 for LN, and 48% and 3.2 dS m-1 for LV, respectively. However, differences between substrate types were found in the humidity distribution inside the slab. The variation coefficients were 10.3% for LN and 27.5% for LV respectively. Growth, total and marketable yield did not differ significantly with substrate age. Continuous measurements of leaf area index, plant length, production and yield components were made. The final marketable production was 8.5 and 8.8 k m-2 for LN and LV, respectively and the majority of the sweet pepper fruits were suitable for commercialisation (>95%) for both treatments. The yield and the number of first category fruits were significantly higher in LV. | |
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