ISHS Acta Horticulturae 779: International Symposium on Growing Media
EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE SUBSTRATES TO THE XAXIM DUST FOR 'MATOGROSSENSE' FERN (POLYPODIUM AUREUM) CULTIVATION |
| Author: | E.D. Salvador |
| Keywords: | substrate, xaxim dust, ferns, Polypodium aureum, Dicksonia sellowiana |
| Abstract:
In Brazil, during decades, xaxim dust was used as a substrate for ornamental plants. Xaxim is a fiber stem from Dicksonia sellowiana (Presl.) Hook, a Brazilian fern in danger of extinction. Indiscriminate exploration of Dicksonia made the Brazilian government prohibit its cutting, industrialization and commercialization. With the objective of studying alternative substrates to the xaxim dust for fern cultivation, an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions to evaluate growth of ‘Matogrossense’ fern (Polypodium aureum) on different substrates. Plants were arranged in a complete randomized design, with ten treatments and three replications. Nine substrates were compared to xaxim dust substrate for fern cultivation and it was observed that the treatment with carbonized rice rool and earthworm humus substrate was excellent, giving the best results for commercial quality, number of leaves, fresh top weight and dry top weight. Plants presented high quality and uniform visual aspect. Commercial production using xaxim dust as substrate normally takes 300 days to produce plants of commercial quality. With the use of the carbonized rice rool : earthworm humus substrate, it was possible to obtain plants of commercial quality in 120 days. This substrate showed to have better physical and chemical properties for ‘Matogrossense’ fern cultivation. | |
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