Commercial Greenhouse Growers Can Produce High-quality Bedding Plants in Bioplastic-based Biocontainers

Abstract

<jats:p>Our objectives were to quantify the growth and quality of herbaceous annuals grown in different types of bioplastic-based biocontainers in commercial greenhouses and quantify producer interest in using these types of biocontainers in their production systems. Seedlings of ‘Serena White’ angelonia (<jats:italic>Angelonia angustifolia</jats:italic>) and ‘Maverick Red’ zonal geranium (<jats:italic>Pelargonium ×hortorum</jats:italic>) that had been transplanted into nine different (4.5-inch diameter) container types [eight bioplastic-based biocontainers and a petroleum-based plastic (PP) (control)] were grown at six commercial greenhouses in the upper midwestern United States. Plants were grown alongside other bedding annuals in each commercial greenhouse, and producers employed their standard crop culture practices. Data were collected to characterize growth when most plants were flowering. Questionnaires to quantify producer perceptions and interest in using bioplastic-based biocontainers, interest in different container attributes, and satisfaction were administered at select times during the experiment. Container type interacted with greenhouse to affect angelonia growth index (GI) and shoot dry weight (SDW), as well as shoot, root, and container ratings. Container type or greenhouse affected geranium GI and shoot rating, and their interaction affected SDW, and root and container ratings. These results indicate that commercial producers can grow herbaceous annuals in a range of bioplastic-based biocontainers with few or no changes to their crop culture practices.</jats:p>

Herbaceous Perennial Producers Can Grow High-quality Blanket Flower in Bioplastic-based Plant Containers

“…This agrees with the other research that investigated the use of bioplastic-based biocontainers in greenhouse crop production of annual bedding plants, where container type seldom affected shoot ratings within a given grower facility (Flax et al, 2017). In addition, the bioplastic-based biocontainers used in our experiment were larger containers manufactured using the same materials as the PLA-BR and PUR containers used by Flax et al (2017). Shoot ratings of plants grown in PLA-BR and PUR containers are consistently similar to those of plants grown in PP containers in this experiment and the petroleum-based plastic controls in the experiment conducted by Flax et al (2017).…”

“…Shoot ratings were unaffected by container type (Table 5). This agrees with the other research that investigated the use of bioplastic-based biocontainers in greenhouse crop production of annual bedding plants, where container type seldom affected shoot ratings within a given grower facility (Flax et al, 2017). In addition, the bioplastic-based biocontainers used in our experiment were larger containers manufactured using the same materials as the PLA-BR and PUR containers used by Flax et al (2017).…”

“…Information on the different container types and container parent materials was withheld from growers until the conclusion of the experiment to avoid bias. Grower participants were instructed to assign all ratings objectively, one at a time, and not compare shoots, roots, or containers to other samples (Flax et al, 2017).…”

“…Commercial grower trials with new technologies such as soil moisture sensor-controlled irrigation have proven valuable in testing new crop production technologies (Chappell et al, 2013). In addition, smaller bioplastic plant containers have yielded positive results and garnered interest of commercial greenhouse growers for use with annual bedding plant production (Flax et al, 2017). Thus, our objectives were to 1) quantify and compare growth of herbaceous perennials grown in different (predominately unprotected, outdoor) production environments using two types of bioplastic-based biocontainers to plants grown in petroleum-plastic containers and 2) characterize commercial perennial producers' perceptions of and interest in using bioplastic-based biocontainers in their cropping systems through a series of questionnaires and qualitative assessments of plant shoot and root quality and container quality.…”

“…In addition, the bioplastic-based biocontainers used in our experiment were larger containers manufactured using the same materials as the PLA-BR and PUR containers used by Flax et al (2017). Shoot ratings of plants grown in PLA-BR and PUR containers are consistently similar to those of plants grown in PP containers in this experiment and the petroleum-based plastic controls in the experiment conducted by Flax et al (2017). This suggests that PLA-BR and PUR containers may be strong candidates for use in the perennial crops industry, as well as in annual bedding plant production.…”