Growing media, greenhouse tomato yield and <i>Pythium</i> root rot

Juneau, Jean Caron Viviane; Martinez, Valérie Gravel Carole; Allaire, Suzanne

doi:10.4141/s05-038

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

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“…Pathogens such as Pythium tend to proliferate in conditions of excess water and poor drainage (Stanghellini et al 1983), reducing plant growth in greenhouse crops. However, a relationship between K s , root rot disease and below-ground biomass of manually irrigated Petunia and Pelargonium is unlikely, and such relationships are difficult to establish because of the complexity of the interactions with environmental conditions (Juneau et al 2006). The significant correlation between belowground biomass of manually irrigated Petunia and Pelargonium and gas diffusion is more likely associated with aeration properties.…”

Section: Substrate Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing new potting mixes with Sphagnum fibers

2014

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Jobin, P., Caron, J. and Rochefort, L. 2014. Developing new potting mixes with Sphagnum fibers. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 585–593. Researchers are developing techniques to mass produce Sphagnum fibers (SF) on a sustainable basis since this material has properties that could benefit the growing-media industry. The objective of this study was to incorporate SF into peat-based substrates to enhance the value of brown Sphagnum peat and/or replace perlite in blond peat mixes. Nine substrates were prepared by mixing brown Sphagnum peat (BrSP) or sieved brown Sphagnum peat (sBrSP) with 0, 15 and 30% of SF and substituting 0, 50 and 100% of the perlite in a 70% blond Sphagnum peat (BSP) and 30% perlite mix with SF. The growth of Pelargonium was unaffected by the addition of SF, with the exception of above-ground biomass which was 15% lower in the BrSP substrate containing 15% SF. In the case of Petunia, above-ground biomass increased with a 30% SF addition to sBrSP, and below-ground biomass increased with a 30% SF addition to BrSP and sBrSP. Adding SF to peat increased water retention and hydraulic conductivity, but either reduced or had no impact on air-filled porosity. Removing fine particles from BrSP and adding 30% SF provided promising results, although the effect varied with plant species. Moreover, it is clear that SF can be used as a substitute for perlite in BSP mixes.

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Section: Substrate Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing new potting mixes with Sphagnum fibers

2014

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Changes in the physical properties of two Acacia compost-based growing media and their effects on carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seedling development

et al. 2013

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Defining Irrigation Set Points Based on Substrate Properties for Variable Irrigation and Constant Matric Potential Devices in Greenhouse Tomato

Lemay¹,

Caron²,

Dorais³

et al. 2012

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Ongoing research on organic growing media for greenhouse tomato production is driven by the constant changes in the quality, stability, and form of the organic byproducts used in the manufacturing of these media. This study was undertaken to determine appropriate irrigation set points for a sawdust–peat mix (SP) under development given that the performance of this substrate appeared to be strongly dependent on appropriate irrigation management. A greenhouse tomato experiment was conducted to compare different irrigation management approaches for a SP substrate in the spring and summer. Using preliminary measurements from an initial experiment (Expt. 1), different irrigation strategies for the SP substrate were compared in a second experiment (Expt. 2): 1) a variable irrigation regime using a timer control (with frequency adjusted as a function of irradiance); 2) tensiometer control at –1.5 kPa; and 3) two constant substrate water potential devices: –1.1 kPa and –0.9 kPa. An irrigation timer/controller using solar radiation input was used with a rockwool control (RC) substrate. Measurements of plant activity [photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance (gS)], substrate physical and chemical properties, biomass, and yield were obtained. For all irrigation strategies, results indicated that 10% to 20% higher photosynthesis rates and gS values were obtained with the SP substrate compared with RC. Data indicated that moderate drying conditions (matric potential ranging from –2.2 kPa to –1.5 kPa in Expt. 1 and Expt. 2, respectively) relative to container capacity (–0.6 kPa) were beneficial for improving plant photosynthetic activity and allowed the highest yields for the SP substrate. Variable irrigation management showed higher levels of plant activity than constant watering and increased the oxygen concentration in the substrate by ≈2% in absolute value relative to the constant water potential device. Lower CO2 and N2O levels were also observed with the variable irrigation strategy. On the other hand, maximum nutrient solution savings were achieved with the constant matric potential devices (8% to 31% relative to the RC). This study showed high productivity potential for the SP substrate with suitable irrigation management. Replacing conventional growing media with organic waste-based products using an appropriate irrigation strategy may help to increase the sustainability of the greenhouse industry.

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Growing media, greenhouse tomato yield and Pythium root rot

Cited by 5 publications

References 33 publications

Developing new potting mixes with Sphagnum fibers

Developing new potting mixes with Sphagnum fibers

Changes in the physical properties of two Acacia compost-based growing media and their effects on carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seedling development

Defining Irrigation Set Points Based on Substrate Properties for Variable Irrigation and Constant Matric Potential Devices in Greenhouse Tomato

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