Effects of Substitute Substrate, Water, and Fertilizer Management on the Growth of Potted Chrysanthemums

Abstract

The chrysanthemum is a perennial herbaceous flower with a long history of cultivation dating back over 3000 years. The potted chrysanthemum is a significant type and is widely used in landscaping. Expensive substrate costs, complicated management of water and fertilizer, and uneven product quality currently plague the potted chrysanthemum industry. This study systematically investigated the growth status of potted chrysanthemums under different substrates, water, and fertilizer ratios and established a simplified cultivation system for potted chrysanthemums. The substitute substrate experiment demonstrated that coir: moss peat: perlite: pine needle mulch = 2:4:2:2 is the most suitable substitute substrate. Research on fertilizer ratios found that chrysanthemums’ best growth and flowering characteristics were achieved with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations of 336 mg/L, 93 mg/L, and 273 mg/L, respectively. A comprehensive, simplified cultivation system was established when utilizing T4 substitute substrate (2:4:2:2 ratios of coir, moss peat, perlite, and pine needle mulch), 40% water capacity, and F9 fertilizer (336 mg/L nitrogen, 93 mg/L phosphorus, and 273 mg/L potassium). This study comprehensively and systematically explored the cultivation and maintenance schemes in the production of potted chrysanthemums and built a light, simple, and efficient production technology system of potted chrysanthemums in the open field suitable for the climatic characteristics of northern China, which provides feasible technical specifications and a theoretical basis for the refinement and large-scale management of potted chrysanthemums. This experiment lays the foundations for cost reduction and efficiency in the potted chrysanthemum industry.

Smart Aquaponics: An Automated Water Quality Management System for Sustainable Urban Agriculture

“…The mention of obtaining optimum values for each controller (vegetable tank, fish tank, and heater system) indicates a tailored approach to optimization. Earlier systems [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] may have employed generic control settings or overlooked the significance of fine-tuning control parameters for specific components within the aquaponic system. By optimizing the parameters for each subsystem, the proposed system is likely to achieve a superior overall performance and efficiency.…”

“…Research for managing water quality in treatment plants has intensified due to its substantial potential to enhance operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve overall water treatment effectiveness [16][17][18]. Simultaneously, research efforts [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] have concentrated on refining water management control. In the realm of aquaponics, where water plays a pivotal role, the research paper [29] offers a succinct overview of the proposed solutions in the literature.…”