Stem Cutting Propagation in Whole Pine Tree Substrates

Abstract

<jats:p>Wood-based substrates have been extensively evaluated for greenhouse and nursery crop production, yet these substrates have not been evaluated for propagation. The objective of this study was to evaluate processed whole loblolly pine trees (WPT) (<jats:italic>Pinus taeda</jats:italic>) as a rooting substrate for stem cutting propagation of a range of ornamental crops. Substrates included processed WPT, pine (<jats:italic>Pinus</jats:italic> sp.) bark (PB), and each mixed with equal parts (by volume) peatmoss (PM) (WPT:PM and PB:PM, respectively). Substrate physical (air space, container capacity, total porosity, bulk density, and particle size distribution) and chemical [pH and electrical conductivity (EC)] properties were determined for all substrates. Rooting percentage, total root length, total root volume, and total shoot length were evaluated for four species in 2008 and five species in 2009. Substrate air space was similar between PB and WPT in the 2008 experiment, and likewise between PB:PM and WPT:PM. In the 2009 experiment, PB and WPT had similar substrate air space. The addition of PM to PB and WPT resulted in reduced air space and increased container capacity in both experiments. The proportion of fine particles doubled for PB:PM and WPT:PM compared with PB and WPT, respectively. Substrate pH for all substrates ranged from 6.0 to 6.9 at 7 days after sticking (DAS) cuttings and 6.9 to 7.1 at 79 DAS. Substrate EC was below the acceptable range for all substrates except at 7 DAS. Rooting percentage was similar among substrates within each species in both experiments. The addition of PM resulted in significantly greater total root length for PB:PM and WPT:PM compared with PB and WPT, respectively, for five of the eight species. Shoot growth was most vigorous for PB:PM compared with the other substrates for all species. The study demonstrated a range of plant species can be propagated from stem cuttings in whole pine tree substrates alone or combined with PM.</jats:p>

Vegetative Growth and Leaf Nutrient Status of ‘Carpino’ Chrysanthemum on a Pecan Wood-amended Commercial Substrate

“…Each of these nutrients declined in leaves of chrysanthemum growing in our substrates containing pecan wood. Thus, the prevailing wood-related microbial N immobilization hypothesis (Boyer et al, 2012a(Boyer et al, , 2012bFain et al, 2008;Gaches et al, 2011;Jackson et al, 2008Jackson et al, , 2009Witcher et al, 2014;Wright et al, 2006Wright et al, , 2008 discounts the potential for microbial immobilization of other plant nutrients.…”

“…Research on physical properties of pecan wood chips is needed to integrate lower WSF rates with lower irrigation volumes to reduce leaching fractions, retain nutrients in the pot, and maintain adequate substrate fertility levels (Biernbaum, 1992). For pine wood substrates, these sustainable practices are not only recommended (Fain et al, 2008;Jackson et al, 2008), but they are also readily attainable (Witcher et al, 2014). Pecan wood substrates are in their infancy, and further exploration is needed.…”

“…Chipped wood from softwood trees has shown excellent potential to supplement peatmoss supplies with few changes in production practices (Boyer et al, 2012a;Murphy et al, 2011). Pine wood substrate studies on ornamental crops have revealed limitations of the wood use, particularly reductions in substrate water and nutrient holding capacities with increased potential for nutrient leaching losses (Fain et al, 2008;Gaches et al, 2011;Jackson et al, 2009;Murphy et al, 2011;Witcher et al, 2014;Wright and Browder, 2005;Wright et al, 2008), and reductions in leaf N, P, and K concentrations (Jackson et al, 2008;Wright et al, 2006).…”

PROPAGACIÓN VEGETATIVA DE Pinus patula SCHIEDE ex SCHLTDL. et CHAM. EN DIFERENTES SUSTRATOS

“…Por lo anterior, han surgido alternativas de sustratos locales que pueden usarse para el enraizamiento de estacas, como corteza de pino, cascarilla de arroz carbonizada y pino triturado (hojas, corteza y ramas). Con el uso de estos materiales se han reportado enraizamientos de 90 a 97 % en especies de la familia Cupressaceae (Stumpf et al, 1999;Witcher et al, 2014) y de 80 a 95 % en el género Pinus (Alcantara et al, 2007;Browne et al, 2000;Henrique et al, 2006). Por su parte, Witcher et al (2014) no encontraron diferencias al comparar cuatro sustratos compuestos por corteza, corteza/turba (1:1), pino triturado y turba/pino triturado (1:1) en el enraizamiento de Leyland cypress A.B.…”