The challenge of using date branch waste as a peat substitute in container nursery production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

Purpose Peat-based substrates constitute the preferred media in conventional and organic nursery production. Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in environmental impacts associated with peat extraction that has increased with the demand of these non-renewable substrates. The re-use of organic wastes as substrate seems to be good solution to substitute commercial peat. This study evaluates date-palm peat (wastes of date-palm branches base locally known as "Kornef") as an alternative nursery substrate. Methods The research was conducted in a completely block randomized design with a linear substitution (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of peat with date-palm waste peat for transplant production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Different physicochemical parameters (porosity, bulk density, pH, and CEC) of cultivation substrates were measured. The growth parameters (leaves number, leaves area, length, chlorophyll values, fresh and dry weight of seedlings) were evaluated at the end of growth period (when the seedling reached the commercial transplanting size). ResultsThe results showed that date-palm waste peat is an appropriate media for nursery production, showing similar properties with commercial peat and best plant response with 25 and 50% substitution. Conclusions In view of low cost, availability and large area of date-palm cultivation in Tunisia and over the world, it seems that peat can be replaced with substrate of date-palm wastes in the horticulture sector.Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Date-Palm Compost as Soilless Substrate Improves Plant Growth, Photosynthesis, Yield and Phytochemical Quality of Greenhouse Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

“…Previous funding comparing date palm waste to other growing substrates in soilless culture concluded that date palm waste is an appropriate medium for soilless culture with suitable physical and chemical properties, availability, and low cost [21]. Therefore, it might be a novel substrate that displaces other media.…”

“…Date-palm substrate presents a low amount of bulk density and a high amount of porosity related [19] that allows the plant root to penetrate in substrate easily, and it could use more volume and space of media [20,21]. It has a higher water-holding capability than CF and can absorb water 8.5 times its dry weight [13].…”

Optimizing Alternative Substrate for Tomato Production in Arid Zone: Lesson from Growth, Water Relations, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, and Photosynthesis

“…To this end, date cultivation is an important sector in North Africa and the Gulf region. Worldwide, an estimated amount of over 3,675,000 tons of residue is discarded annually, leading to environmental problems [ 14 ]. Therefore, this experiment compares the growth, physiological parameters, and production of tomatoes grown on date-palm waste and local soil to those grown on a commercial soilless substrate: coco-peat.…”

“…There are around 105 million palm trees worldwide and an approximate 3,675,000 tons of waste are dumped annually [ 14 ], causing environmental hazards [ 15 , 16 ]. The most frequent types of date-palm waste are fronds, branches, stem bark, and leaves.…”

Effects of brown seaweed extract, silicon, and selenium on fruit quality and yield of tomato under different substrates

“…The waste of date palm includes its branches, stem barks, fronds, and leaves. While it has a higher value of water holding capacity than coco peat substrate, it is most commonly produced by pruning date palm trees each year [ 20 ]. According to previous reports, the performance of palm-date wastes as substrate was similar to, or even better than, peat, perlite, and coco peat substrates [ 21 , 22 ].…”