Using a simple mixing model to predict rooting media properties

Blok, C.; Eveleens, B.; Winkel, A. van; Veeken, A.H.M.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2019.1266.57

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Once the characteristics of the mixtures were established in the laboratory tests, the data were entered into a mixing model (Blok et al, 2009;Blok et al, 2019). This model is nowadays adjusted to calculate the amount of fertiliser that should based on a) crop demand; b) the amount of lime required to reach pH 5.3; c) the amount of extra nitrate to compensate for nitrogen mobilization by microbial degradation of the potting soil constituents used; d) the amount of extra iron to compensate for iron uptake by microbes active in the degradation of the potting soil constituents used.…”

Section: Mixing Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the wood fibre should not have an effect on EC and pH. As the wood fibre is mixed with other substrates, it is important to conduct an analysis to establish the required fertilization levels for the mixtures (Blok et al, 2019). Any wood fibre offered as an alternative substrate to peat and coir, must be thoroughly tested on chemical, physical and hydrological properties to give the growers, potting soil producers and suppliers insight into the properties of fine wood fibre.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Wood fiber in pot plant culture; peat replacement up to 50% in volume?

Eveleens¹,

Winkel²,

Blok³

2021

Acta Hortic.

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Use of peat and coir in horticulture is under pressure because of the negative effects on the environment. Peat harvesting releases CO2 into the atmosphere and changes the wetland ecosystem. Coir production can cause salt pollution in the country of origin as the product has a high salt level and is washed with fresh water before use as a substrate. HydraFiber, a specific wood fibre product was tested as substitute for (part of) peat and coir in professional potting soils. Wood fibre was mixed in 3 volume percentage ratios (30, 40 and 50 %v/v) with peat or coir. Nutrient content and stability were used to calculate appropriate fertiliser levels for each mixture for growth of a Begonia crop in an ebb and flood system. Addition of up to 50% v/v wood fibre to peat or coir has no negative effect on the rate of development to flowering of a 10 week crop. The ratio of weight/length of the plants is similar for all treatments. Addition of 40% and 50% v/v wood fibre to peat reduces water content by 16% v/v and increases air content by the same amount in the substrate in the range of -6 to -100 cm pressure head. Addition of wood fibre to coir has a similar effect. A lower average water content in substrate mixes of peat and wood fibre indicates it is more difficult to overirrigate but that it also requires a more precise monitoring of both, water content and nutrient status. It also requires a higher frequency of irrigation and more frequent adaptations of the nutrient level in the water supply. Using wood fibre in percentages from 30 to 50% v/v may also require an adaptation in the growing medium used for propagation plugs.

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Section: Mixing Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood fiber in pot plant culture; peat replacement up to 50% in volume?

Eveleens¹,

Winkel²,

Blok³

2021

Acta Hortic.

Self Cite

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although solid phase and pore phase organization, and consequently, physical properties, are influenced by PSD, other parameters affect water and air retention and flow properties (Boudreault et al., 2014; Caron & Michel, 2017). Mixing and potting operations can largely alter the bulk density by modifying the pore size distribution (Blok et al., 2019; Gruda & Schnitzler, 2004) and affect the integrity of materials by changing their particle and pore size (Heiskanen, 1994; Heiskanen et al., 1996). Physical properties can be greatly affected by container geometry (i.e., container height) (Bilderback & Fonteno, 1987; Owens & Altland, 2008; Raviv et al., 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review and analysis of particle size parameters and their relationships to physical properties of growing media

Durand,

Fonteno,

Michel

2024

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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An expanded description of particle morphology and the analysis of its relationships with physical properties may help to optimize the selection of raw materials and particle size fractions used as growing media constituents. Previous works have described the outlines of these relations based mostly on sieving procedures to characterize particle size distribution. They have shown limited and sometimes contradictory results due to the different methods used, size fractions selected, and physical properties measured. Also, sieve analysis, which separates particles based on their width, is less accurate for non‐spherical particles, which is the case for most growing media constituents. Recent works have promoted the use of dynamic image analysis (DIA) to precisely analyze both particle length and width. Five raw materials were chosen (white and black peats, coir, pine bark, and wood fiber) and sieved to obtain various particle size fractions. For each particle size fraction and the raw materials, the mean weight diameter (MWD), derived from sieving, was calculated, whereas mean particle length and width were determined using a DIA tool, the QicPic device. Also, physical properties were assessed from water retention curves established using Hyprop systems. The statement that the larger the particle size, the higher the air‐filled porosity (AFP), the lower the water holding capacity (WHC) was more precisely redefined. Large variations in WHC and AFP mainly occurred for finest particle size fractions, whereas changes were conversely very small or non‐existent for larger particle sizes. From data obtained for each particle size fractions, regression models were established to relate mean particle length and width (both determined using DIA) and MWD (determined from sieving) with WHC and AFP. Mean particle length was identified as the most relevant parameter for predicting WHC and AFP of the raw materials tested.

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Using a simple mixing model to predict rooting media properties

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

Wood fiber in pot plant culture; peat replacement up to 50% in volume?

Wood fiber in pot plant culture; peat replacement up to 50% in volume?

A review and analysis of particle size parameters and their relationships to physical properties of growing media

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