Influence of Initial Moisture Content on the Wettability of a Milled Pine Bark Medium1

Abstract

Water absorption curves were developed for air dry peat-vermiculite and pine bark media. Data indicated 70-78% of moisture saturation was attained within 5 days with a peatvermiculite medium while 48 days were required to achieve 58-70% saturation with a milled pine bark medium. Increased water absorption of pine bark after 10 days of wetting suggested that a threshold moisture level within the bark particles is necessary if water uptake is to be enhanced. The threshold moisture content was established at 35% (wet wt basis).

Effects of Three Cultural Practices on Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Open Blueberry Fields in Florida

“…The constituents of pine bark and its ability to cover some areas of the soil which prevent the SWD from pupating may contribute to the suppression of the SWD populations. Pine bark has shown to become hydrophobic when allowed to dry to a moisture content below 34% by volume [ 25 , 26 ]. A reduced mulch humidity leads to unfavorable conditions for the SWD growth and development and may have contributed to the low populations and emergence rates.…”

Root Exploration, Initial Moisture Conditions, and Irrigation Scheduling Influence Hydration of Stratified and Non-Stratified Substrates

“…To expand, low-cost pine bark is the most utilized soilless substrate component in the southeastern United States [16] because of the forgiving physical properties due to large size particles and consequent increased aeration and drainage [17]. Pine bark-based substrates inherently retain little water when compared to fibrous substrate components; therefore, bark wettability and subsequent water-holding capacity decreases as moisture content declines, becoming hydrophobic during production [18,19]. This, in turn, has been reported to reduce wettability [20], hydration efficiency [21] of substrates, and increase preferential flow, all resulting in a non-uniform wetting [22].…”