ISHS Acta Horticulturae 819: International Symposium on Growing Media 2007
NURSERY GROWERS' EXPERIENCES OF GROWING MEDIA - A FINNISH CASE STUDY |
| Authors: | S. Kukkonen, M. Vestberg |
| Keywords: | substrate composition, peat, plant production, interview study, physical properties |
| Abstract:
A questionnaire concerning the substrates used for container-grown stock was sent to all members of the Finnish Association of Plant Nursery Growers. A total of 41 answers (51%) were obtained. Nurseries use light Sphagnum peat as the basic ingredient of growing media in containers. However, mineral components (mainly sand and vermiculite) and dark humus are commonly mixed with the peat to improve the structure and water absorbing properties and to increase weight. It is equally common that nurseries buy their growing media ready mixed, as raw materials or as a semi-finished product. A quarter of the nurseries reported significant plant deaths in containers. The deaths were mainly attributed to winter damage or failure of cold storage. Of the respondents to the question (28), a third considered that the deaths were mainly or partially related to the substrate. However, three quarters reported properties that should be improved in currently available growing media. The most commonly mentioned were water-holding properties/rewettability, structural stability and aeration. Even though the structure of light Sphagnum peat is initially good, it weakens due to rapid decomposition in nursery conditions. Substrate quality was not a major problem in the nurseries, but only a few were fully satisfied with the substrate they used. | |
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