ISHS Acta Horticulturae 747: VIII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Advances in Soil and Soilless Cultivation under Protected Environment
COCONUT COIR AS A POTTING MEDIA FOR ORGANIC LETTUCE TRANSPLANT PRODUCTION |
| Authors: | G. Colla, Y. Rouphael, G. Possanzini, M. Cardarelli, O. Temperini, F. Saccardo, F. Pierandrei, E. Rea |
| Keywords: | Lactuca sativa L., transplant, soilless media, shoot:root ratio |
| Abstract:
The objective of this study was to assess coir alone or in combination with peat as media for lettuce transplant production and to evaluate the transplant response through an agronomical trial under field conditions. A greenhouse trial was conducted in 2003 at the experimental farm of Tuscia University (Italy) using six media prepared from peat and coconut coir (v/v) [coir:peat ratio 0:100; 20:80, 40:60; 60:40; 80:20, 100:0]. Individual 242- styro-foam transplant trays of the various media were sown with ‘Rosario’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds. Trays of the 6 media were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. All plants were grown for 3 weeks. Medium composition did not affect lettuce seed emergence, nitrogen concentration and total chlorophyll. Greatest transplant fresh, dry weight and leaf area were achieved with 40% and 60% coir. The results showed that coconut coir could be adopted in transplant production with an optimal combination of about 50% peat and 50% coir. Despite the transplant growth differences, lettuce yields were unaffected by transplant media. | |
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