Mixtures of paper mill sludge, wood chips, bark, and peat in substrates for pot-in-pot shade tree production

Abstract

Chong, C. and Lumis, G. P. 2000. Mixtures of paper mill sludge, wood chips, bark, and peat in substrates for pot-in-pot shade tree production. Can. J. Plant Sci. 80: 669-675. There is little scientific information on substrates for pot-in-pot shade tree production. The objective of this research was to examine various organic-waste-derived substrates for growing shade trees in potin-pot systems. Seedling whips of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.), Japanese birch [Betula platyphylla var. japonica (Miq.) Hara], and silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) were grown for two seasons in 76-L containers. The containers were trickle irrigated and fertilized with controlled-release fertilizers. Treatments included a control nursery mix (50% by volume of pine bark:15% compost:35% topsoil) and nine other mixes classified into three groups: Group I (25, 50 or 75% bark mixed with 50, 25, or 0% wood chips, and 25% paper mill sludge); Group II (25, 50 or 75% bark; 50, 25 or 0% wood chips; and 25% peat); and Group III (25, 50 or 75% peat; 50, 25 or 0% wood chips; and 25% paper mill sludge). In both years, trunk diameters of the three species were greatest with Group III substrates, intermediate with Group II, and least with Group I. Trunk growth was positively correlated with water retention porosity, which ranged from 42 to 57%, 38 to 42%, and 20 to 27% for Groups III, II, and I, respectively. Trunk diameters of Group II and III trees were equal to, or slightly exceeded (10-12%), those of the nursery mix. The nursery mix had a water retention porosity of 49% and generally the highest content of soluble salts. The high-peat (50 and 75%) substrates marginally but consistently produced trees with the largest trunk diameters, although with birch (not the other species) shorter trees resulted as the peat content increased. de 25, 50, 25; 50, 25, 25 ou 75, 0, 25 %. Dans les deux années, le diamètre des troncs chez les trois espèces atteignaient les valeurs les plus hautes avec les substrats du Groupe III, les valeurs intermédiaires avec ceux du Groupe II et les valeurs les plus basses avec celles du Groupe I. La croissance du tronc était positivement reliée à la porosité de rétention de l'eau, laquelle allait de 42 à 57, 38 à 42 et 20 à 27 %, respectivement, dans les milieux des groupes III, II et I. Le diamètre du tronc des arbres des Groupes II et III était égal ou légèrement supérieur (10-12 %) à celui des arbres cultivés dans le substrat témoin, qui avait une porosité de rétention de 49 % et qui, en général, contenait le plus de sels solubles. Les substrats à forte proportion (50 et 75 %) de tourbe produisaient les arbres possédant les diamètres de tronc légèrement, mais régulière-ment, les plus grands, bien que la taille des bouleaux diminuait à mesure qu'augmentait la proportion de tourbe dans le mélange.

Use of waste materials as nursery growing media for Pinus halepensis production

“…However, paper sludge media did not result in better growth than that obtained using the standard (control) media. This concurs with the results obtained by Chong and Lumis (2002) in the nursery, although the growing system was different (pot-in-pot). O'Brien et al (2003) showed that different applications of paper sludge on agricultural soil could increase corn production, although it did not increase the content of soil organic matter.…”

“…As is the case with sewage sludge, most studies consist of paper mill sludge application directly onto soils in order to determine the effects on plants and soils (Feldkirchner et al 2003;O'Brien et al 2003). However, few studies have reported on the use of these waste products for growing forest seedlings (Chong and Lumis 2002;Mañas et al 2009). In nurseries, peat and natural soils are most commonly used as substrates for growing ornamental plants and forest seedlings.…”

Wood production, wood technology, and biotechnological impacts

“…Bark and coconut coir blended with other organic or mineral components are particularly often used as peat substitutes (Chong & Lumis 2000, HernandezApaolaza et al 2005, Raviv 2005. Particle sizes and shape influences water retention and aeration in plant growth substrates (Allaire et al 2005.…”

Growth substrates and fig nursery tree production

“…During the 1980s, the use of soilless cultures and different substrates expanded enormously (Rijck and Schevens, 1998). Many authors have investigated the use of alternative substrates for nursery production (Bugbee et al, 1991;Tyler et al, 1993;Evans et al, 1996;Chong and Lumis, 2000). Most alternative substrate components are promising as they are non-toxic to plants and can be successfully used to amend conventional substrates.…”