Some physical properties of pot-plant composts and their effect on plant growth

Bunt, A. C.

doi:10.1007/bf01394644

Cited by 25 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Physical properties of these substrates show that 20% and 40% SPW substrates had higher AS than 20% PL substrate, but these substrates were not significantly different in AS from 30% SPW substrate (Table 1). The higher AS could account for an increase in root dry mass in the 20% SPW; other researchers have observed an increase in root growth with higher (around 20% to 25% by volume) air-filled porosity (Bunt, 1961;Strojny and Nowak, 2004).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Measuring Root Hydraulic Parameters of Container-grown Herbaceous and Woody Plants Using the Hydraulic Conductance Flow Meter

Judd¹,

Jackson²,

Fonteno³

et al. 2016

horts

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Root hydraulic conductance and conductivity are physiological traits describing the ease with which water can move through the belowground vascular system of a plant, and are used as indicators of plant performance and adaptability to a given environment. The ability to measure hydraulic conductance of container-grown herbaceous and semiwoody plants with soft conductive tissue was tested using a hydraulic conductance flow meter (HCFM). Although the HCFM is a hydraulic apparatus that has been used on woody plants to measure hydraulic conductance of intact roots, it has never been reportedly used on container-grown horticultural plants. Two herbaceous species, Chrysanthemum L. and Solenstemon scutellarioides Thonn., were grown in containers and hydraulic parameters were measured, including root conductance and root conductivity, as well as physical traits such as stem diameter and dry root mass. The HCFM was easily connected to intact roots even on herbaceous stems and was used to determine hydraulic conductance and conductivity directly on container-grown plants with minimal disturbance on the root system. Chrysanthemums, Buddleja davidii Franch., and Hibiscus moscheutos L. were grown in three different substrates, and both root mass and root hydraulic parameters were determined. Chrysanthemums showed a positive response with increasing root hydraulic conductance with increasing root mass. The substrates used in these studies only had an effect on root biomass of chrysanthemums, but substrates had no differential effect on root hydraulic conductivity.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Measuring Root Hydraulic Parameters of Container-grown Herbaceous and Woody Plants Using the Hydraulic Conductance Flow Meter

Judd¹,

Jackson²,

Fonteno³

et al. 2016

horts

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show abstract

“…In the cultivation in containers, regardless of the substrate used, there is limitation of space for root expansion, so it is necessary that the medium be able to maintain a volume of water easily available to the plants, without compromising the oxygen concentration (Bunt, 1961). Other characteristics considered essential for the substrate are: having good structure and consistency, not contracting or expanding excessively with moisture variation, being free of toxic substances, inoculum of diseases, invasive plants, insects and excess salts, and being readily available (Kämpf, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

REUTILIZATION OF RESIDUES AS COMPONENTS OF SUBSTRATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF Eucalyptus grandis SEEDLINGS

Fermino¹,

Araújo

Aimi

et al. 2018

CERNE

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“…As substrate science develops, understanding more about using dynamic hydraulic properties as measures of substrate productivity as it relates to resource (i.e., water and mineral nutrient) sustainability is becoming imperative (Caron et al, 2014). For example, moisture characteristic curves (MCC) provide information on dynamic hydraulic properties that depict the relationship between volumetric water contents (VWCs) and Y (Bunt, 1961). Better defining the relationship between hydraulic conductivity (K) and MCC provides information on substrate environmental sustainability (through increased resource retention; Naasz et al, 2005) and water availability (O'Meara et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Substrate Hydraulic Conductivity on Plant Water Status of an Ornamental Container Crop Grown in Suboptimal Substrate Water Potentials

Fields

Owen

Scoggins³

2017

horts

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Many soilless substrates are inefficient with regard to water (i.e., high porosity and low water holding capacity), which provides an excellent opportunity to increase water efficiency in containerized production. We suggest that increasing hydraulic conductivity in the dry range of substrate moisture content occurring during production can increase water availability, reduce irrigation volume, and produce high quality, marketable crops. Three substrates were engineered using screened pine bark (PB) and amending with either Sphagnum peatmoss or coir to have higher unsaturated hydraulic conductivity between water potentials of −100 and −300 hPa. There was no correlation between substrate unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and saturated hydraulic conductivity (r = 0.04, P = 0.8985). Established Hydrangea arborescens (L.) ‘Annabelle’ plants were grown in the three engineered and a conventional (control) PB substrates exposed to suboptimal irrigation levels (i.e., held at substrate water potentials between −100 and −300 hPa) for 32 days. The plants in the engineered substrates outperformed the control in every growth and morphological metric measured, as well as exhibiting fewer (or no) physiological drought stress indicators (i.e., vigor, growth, plant development, etc.) compared with the control. We observed increased vigor measures in plants grown in substrates with higher unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, as well as greater plant water uptake. The coir increased unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and provided an increased air space when incorporated into coarse bark vs. if peat was incorporated into bark at the same ratio by volume. Increasing PB hydraulic conductivity, through screening bark or amending bark with fibrous materials, in concert with low irrigations can produce marketable, vigorous crops while reducing water consumed and minimizing water wasted in ornamental container production.

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Some physical properties of pot-plant composts and their effect on plant growth

Cited by 25 publications

References 1 publication

Measuring Root Hydraulic Parameters of Container-grown Herbaceous and Woody Plants Using the Hydraulic Conductance Flow Meter

Measuring Root Hydraulic Parameters of Container-grown Herbaceous and Woody Plants Using the Hydraulic Conductance Flow Meter

REUTILIZATION OF RESIDUES AS COMPONENTS OF SUBSTRATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF Eucalyptus grandis SEEDLINGS

The Influence of Substrate Hydraulic Conductivity on Plant Water Status of an Ornamental Container Crop Grown in Suboptimal Substrate Water Potentials

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