Peat replacement in horticultural growth media: the adequacy of coir, paper sludge and biogas digestate as growth medium constituents for tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum L.</i>) and lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa L.</i>)

Nesse, Astrid Solvåg; Sogn, Trine A.; Børresen, Trond; Foereid, Bente

doi:10.1080/09064710.2018.1556728

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Notwithstanding the different origin of the starting materials, all the three mixtures presented excellent physical properties, with values comparable to an ideal growing media [63,64] (Table 5). Bulk Density (BD) and Total Pore Space (TPS) were comparable to values found in digestates as a constituent for growing media by Nesse et al (2018) [65]. Moreover, the results about Air Capacity (AC), Water Content (WC) and, Easily Available Water (EAW) were in line with values proposed for growing media for container-grown tomato [66], thus confirming the suitability of the digestate-based mixtures for land application from a physical point of view.…”

Section: Digestate-based Mixtures Quality Evaluation For Land Applicasupporting

confidence: 81%

Evaluation of MSW Compost and Digestate Mixtures for a Circular Economy Application

et al. 2020

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In order to obtain a product with agronomic characteristics and biological stability consistent with the EU fertilizer decree for the market of EU fertilising products three different mixtures obtained from sludge digestate from municipal wastewater treatment plant, fresh compost and mature compost have been studied and characterized. For the experimental activity, the raw samples and three mixing ones were collected for the analytical characterization. The biological stability was then assessed for all samples using different stability criteria such as Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate, Rottegrad self-heating factor, Residual biogas potential. Specific enzymatic tests provided information about the status of nutrient cycles (C, P and S) and to overall microbial activity. Physical (bulk density, particle density, air capacity and water content), nutritional (C, N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) and toxicological properties (seedling growth tests on Lepidum sativum L., Cucumis sativus L., Lolium perenne L.) were also evaluated in order to assess the feasibility of agronomic use of the digestate-based mixtures. All the digestate-based mixtures responded to the main characteristics of compost quality requirements proposed in national and international regulations. The evidence found in this study highlighted that the strategy of mixing of sludge digestates with the composts allowed to mitigate the environmental risk posed by each starting material and to valorize their nutrient content.

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Section: Digestate-based Mixtures Quality Evaluation For Land Applicasupporting

confidence: 81%

Evaluation of MSW Compost and Digestate Mixtures for a Circular Economy Application

et al. 2020

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“…This additional cost and resource use should be considered, especially as peat continues to be a major component of most growing media. Peat is a non-renewable resource under threat of overexploitation (Nesse et al 2019); therefore, any reduction in the amount of media used can result in resource conservation and environment benefit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Soil Block Method and Growing Media in Organic Vegetable Transplant Production

Carey,

Nair,

Thoms

2024

horts

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Organic vegetable growers are interested in using the “soil block” method for transplant production as an alternative to plastic flats. The soil block method compresses growing media into a freestanding block in contrast to the cells of a plastic flat. Anecdotal evidence of soil block–grown transplants with increased vigor and root development exists, but limited research has been conducted to evaluate these claims. Furthermore, identifying commercial growing medium for certified organic transplant production is needed. The objective of this study was to compare growth parameters and root development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and pepper (Capsicum annum) transplants grown in soil blocks and plastic flats, in combination with four commercially available certified organic media (Beautiful Land Products “Soil Blocking Mix,” Purple Cow Organics “Seed Starter Mix,” Cowsmo “Green Potting Soil,” and Vermont Compost Company “Fort Vee”). A volume-based 50% peat, 25% compost, 12.5% perlite, and 12.5% vermiculite growing medium was also evaluated. A split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications was used with growing method as the whole plot factor and medium as the subplot factor. ‘Marketmore 76’ cucumbers and ‘Yankee Bell’ peppers were seeded in 50-cell flats and soil blocks made with Johnny’s Selected Seeds Stand-up 12 Soil Blocker. Data were collected on growth parameters by destructively sampling cucumbers 3 weeks after seeding, and peppers 5, 6, and 7 weeks after seeding. Root development was evaluated using WinRHIZOTM at the last sampling. Cucumber and pepper transplants performed differently in soil blocks and flats. Cucumbers grown in flats had a significantly greater dry weight than those grown in soil blocks, by 20% in 2022 and by 38% in 2023. In contrast, pepper transplants grown with the soil block method had between 50% and 130% greater dry weight in the final sampling in 2022. Cucumber and pepper transplants grown with Cowsmo “Green Potting Soil” performed poorly, with an up to 144% lower dry weight and up to 167% lower root surface area than transplants grown with the other media. Root development correlated with shoot development, without a specific advantage in soil blocks, although differences in root system architecture should be investigated. The evaluated Beautiful Land Products, Purple Cow Organics, and Vermont Compost Company media can all be considered suitable for growing certified organic vegetable transplants in both soil blocks and flats. Further research is warranted to better optimize the soil block technique, investigate optimum soil block bulk density, and inform growers of appropriate commercially available certified organic growing media for organic vegetable transplant production.

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“…Moisture retention thus enhanced the germination and sustained the pH and EC in acceptable ranges 28 . Physical properties of the media contributed a lot in enhancing germination of tomato 29 . Since bulk density of the media is dependent on AFPs, thermal conductivity could be influenced differently 30 and may affect the plant growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formalin fumigation and steaming of various composts differentially influence the nutrient release, growth and yield of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Mustafa

Ali

Smith

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Nutrient disorder and presence of disease-causing agents in soilless media negatively influence the growth of muskmelon. To combat these issues, use of environmentally-friendly sanitation techniques is crucial for increased crop productivity. The study was conducted under greenhouse and field conditions to investigate the effect of two different sanitation techniques: steaming and formalin fumigation on various media’s characteristics and their impact on muskmelon yield. Media: jantar, guar, wheat straw and rice hull and peat moss of 10% air-filled porosity and sanitized with formalin and steaming. Steaming of guar, jantar, and wheat straw increased the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations by 13.80–14.86% and 6.22–8.45% over formalin fumigation. Likewise, P and K concentrations in muskmelon were higher under steaming. Steaming significantly inhibited the survival of Fusarium wilt sp. melonis, root knot nematode sp. meloidogyne and nitrifying bacteria in media than formalin fumigation. In conclusion, steaming decreased the prevalence of nitrifying bacteria and pathogens which thus improved the NO3−–N:NH4+–N ratios, P and K nutritional balance both in the media and muskmelon transplants. Hence, steaming as an environment-friendly approach is recommended for soilless media. Further, optimization of steaming for various composts with different crops needs to be investigated with steaming teachnique.

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Peat replacement in horticultural growth media: the adequacy of coir, paper sludge and biogas digestate as growth medium constituents for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Cited by 6 publications

References 25 publications

Evaluation of MSW Compost and Digestate Mixtures for a Circular Economy Application

Evaluation of MSW Compost and Digestate Mixtures for a Circular Economy Application

Evaluating the Soil Block Method and Growing Media in Organic Vegetable Transplant Production

Formalin fumigation and steaming of various composts differentially influence the nutrient release, growth and yield of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

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