ISHS Acta Horticulturae 779: International Symposium on Growing Media
UTILIZATION OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC WASTES FROM MADRID AS GROWTH MEDIA FOR PELARGONIUM ZONALE |
| Authors: | M.C. López-Cuadrado, J. Ruiz-Fernández, A. Masaguer, A. Moliner |
| Keywords: | alternative substrate, P. zonale, organic waste, ornamental plant |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.779.80 |
| Abstract:
This study was set to evaluate the behaviour of several recycled materials as plant growth substrates, using Pelargonium zonale 'Cap Blanc' as indicator orna¬mental plant. Six different substrates were evaluated: pruning waste (PW), spent mushroom compost (SMC), one type of pine bark mixed with 50% peat (PI), another type of pine bark mixed with 20% peat (PII), a widely used substrate in the ornamental plant sector (S) and a mixture used as control (C). Substrates were characterized at the beginning of the experiment as well as at the end to look for evolution of their properties. Agronomic response was assessed through several growth parameters: total height, foliage height, foliage diameter, flower diameter and number of visible inflorescences per plant and the nutritional state of plants. The substrates under study made from recycled materials showed good results, production parameters being even better than in the control and without changing flowering time neither the capacity of taking roots. Thus, these sub-products are re-valued and the environmental impact caused by using peat as mayor component of growth substrates is minimized. | |
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