ISHS Acta Horticulturae 99: Symposium on Substrates in Horticulture other than Soils In Situ
PROPERTIES OF SUBSTRATES WITH GROUND PINE BARK |
| Authors: | F. LEMAIRE, A. DARTIGUES, L.M. RIVIERE |
| Abstract:
The difficulties to find imported peat for substrate preparation of horticultural soilless crops have directed French plant-growers to use substitution products, for example the non-composted ground pine bark. The authors give results of investigations on the physical and chemical characteristics, the stability of this material and the response in growth of some ornamental plants. The pine barks make a light substrate with high porosity, well aerated but with a very small water availability. Their mixing with sphagnum peat gives a substrate with suitable characteristics : high air content, good water availability. When sphagnum peat is too fine, pine bark adding has for result to compensate the air lack of this peat grade at pF 1. The pine barks have a pH less low and an index of buffer capacity less high than those of peat. The experimented pine barks present a good stability during eight months, without packing down and without granulometry modifications. Container growth experiments of ornamental plants moderately resistant to asphyxia, under conditions of non-limitative mineral nutrition have shown that the substrates with pine bark and peat compared to those with peat and sand give similar results for Weigel a hybrid growth and for Pelargonium zonale cutting production, better longevity and rooting for Picea pungens "Koster". No phytotoxicity has been observed during experiments. | |
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