scholarly journals Reducing Substrate Moisture Content during Greenhouse Production of Poinsettia Improves Postproduction Quality and Economic Value

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1618-1628
Author(s):  
Yanjun Guo ◽  
Terri Starman ◽  
Charles Hall

The objective was to determine the effect of substrate moisture content (SMC) during poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) greenhouse production on plant quality, postproduction longevity, and economic value. Two experiments were conducted, one in 2016 with ‘Freedom Red’ and the other in 2017 with ‘Christmas Eve Red’. Treatments included two SMC levels (20% or 40%) applied in four timing of application combinations. Total production (TP) time was 14 (2016) or 12 (2017) weeks in which vegetative production (VP) occurred from week 33 (2016) or 35 (2017) to week 39 and reproductive production (RP) continued from week 40 to 47. The four timing of application treatments were 40/40 = TP at 40% SMC; 20/40 = VP at 20% + RP at 40%; 40/20 = VP at 40% + RP at 20%; 20/20 = TP at 20% SMC. After simulated shipping in the dark, plants were evaluated in a simulated retail environment with two packaging treatments: no sleeve covering or plastic perforated plant sleeves covering container and plant. At the end of greenhouse production, plants grown in 20% SMC during RP (20/20 and 40/20) had shorter bract internode length, stem length, and smaller growth index (GI), decreased shoot and root dry weight (DW), and bract and leaf surface area compared with those in 40% SMC during RP (40/40 and 20/40). Photosynthetic rate was higher when plants were watered at 40% SMC regardless of production stage compared with those in 20% SMC. Leaf thickness, petiole thickness, total bract and leaf number were unaffected by SMC treatments. Plants in 20% SMC during RP (20/20 or 40/20) had earlier bract coloring despite days to anthesis being the same for all SMC treatments. Compared with 40/40, 40/20, and 20/20 could save 44.2% or 43.6%, respectively, irrigation and fertilizer usage, and 39.1% and 47.8%, respectively, labor time. During postharvest, ethylene concentration was unaffected by packaging method. Sleeved plants, regardless of SMC treatment, received lower light intensity in the middle of the plant canopy, causing plants to have lower total leaf number due to abscission and SPAD reading at the end of postproduction. The 40/40 treatment abscised more bracts during five weeks (in 2016) of postproduction and with no sleeve had higher number of bracts with bract edge burn (BEB). In summary, reducing SMC to 20% during TP or RP reduced water usage during production and produced more compact plants with increased postproduction quality.

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 1006-1011
Author(s):  
Yanjun Guo ◽  
Terri Starman ◽  
Charles Hall

Retail environments are rarely optimal for ornamental plants, and wilting caused by water stress is a major cause of postproduction shrinkage. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two levels of substrate moisture content (SMC) applied during greenhouse production on angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) ‘Angelface Blue’ and heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) ‘Simply Scentsational’ growth and physiological parameters and subsequent postproduction quality during simulated retail conditions. At the end of production, angelonia total plant shoot dry weight (DW) was reduced with 20% SMC compared with 40% SMC, and plants grown with 20% SMC had higher shoot coloring percentage, reduced internode length, and required less irrigation labor–related costs compared with 40% SMC. Heliotrope grown at 20% SMC produced the same size plant as 40% SMC, but had a higher shoot coloring percentage at the end of production and postproduction, indicating lower SMC resulted in higher visual quality compared with 40% SMC. For both species, 20% SMC increased plant visual quality compared with 40% SMC and reduced irrigation water input throughout production, resulting in reduced production costs and increased floral crop economic value.


HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 1891-1896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nastaran Basiri Jahromi ◽  
Amy Fulcher ◽  
Forbes Walker ◽  
James Altland ◽  
Wesley Wright ◽  
...  

Controlling irrigation using timers or manually operated systems is the most common irrigation scheduling method in outdoor container production systems. Improving irrigation efficiency can be achieved by scheduling irrigation based on plant water needs and the appropriate use of sensors rather than relying on periodically adjusting irrigation volume based on perceived water needs. Substrate amendments such as biochar, a carbon (C)-rich by-product of pyrolysis or gasification, can increase the amount of available water and improve irrigation efficiency and plant growth. Previous work examined two on-demand irrigation schedules in controlled indoor (greenhouse) environments. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of these on-demand irrigation schedules and hardwood biochar on water use and biomass gain of container-grown Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver Dollar’ in a typical outdoor nursery production environment. Eighteen independently controlled irrigation zones were designed to test three irrigation schedules on ‘Silver Dollar’ hydrangea grown in pine bark amended with 0% or 25% hardwood biochar. The three irrigation schedules were conventional irrigation and two on-demand schedules, which were based on substrate physical properties or plant physiology. Conventional irrigation delivered 1.8 cm water in one event each day. The scheduling of substrate-based irrigation was based on the soilless substrate moisture characteristic curve, applying water whenever the substrate water content corresponding to a substrate water potential of –10 kPa was reached. The plant-based irrigation schedule was based on a specific substrate moisture content derived from a previously defined relationship between substrate moisture content and photosynthetic rate, maintaining the volumetric water content (VWC) to support photosynthesis at 90% of the maximum predicted photosynthetic rate. Total water use for the substrate-based irrigation was the same as for the conventional system; the plant-based system used significantly less water. However, plant dry weight was 22% and 15% greater, water use efficiency (WUE) was 40% and 40% greater, and total leachate volume was 25% and 30% less for the substrate-based and plant-based irrigation scheduling systems, respectively, than for conventional irrigation. The 25% biochar amendment rate reduced leachate volume per irrigation event, and leaching fraction, but did not affect total water use or plant dry weight. This research demonstrated that on-demand irrigation scheduling that is plant based or substrate based could be an effective approach to increase WUE for container-grown nursery crops without affecting plant growth negatively.


2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Hummel ◽  
S. Kuo ◽  
D. Winters ◽  
E.J. Jellum

Abstract Utilization of fish waste for producing fishwaste compost (FWC) as a value-added product is preferred to disposing of it in ocean dumping or landfills. This study determined: (i) the effectiveness of FWC as a container-growth medium and N source for greenhouse production of marigolds (Tagetes patula L. ‘Queen Sophia’) and geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum L.H. Bailey ‘Sprinter Scarlet’) that were drip-irrigated to prevent leaching; and (ii) if leaching was necessary to sustain plant growth. In a 3 by 3 factorial experiment, plants were grown in 100% FWC, 50% FWC:50% Douglas-fir bark (B), and 100% B at 0, 160, and 320 mg (0, 0.0056, 0.0112 oz) N container−1 applied as NH4NO3 every 2 weeks. Under drip irrigation, FWC in the 100% FWC growing medium supplied a sufficient amount of available N up to 7 weeks after transplanting to produce plant quality, shoot growth index (SGI), and shoot and root dry weights comparable to those treated with 320 mg N container−1. In the 50% FWC: 50% B growing medium fertilization with 320 mg N improved plant growth and quality 7 weeks after transplanting. The concentration of inorganic N (NO3 plus NH4) in the 100% FWC declined to very low levels 7 weeks after transplanting. This indicated that FWC used as the sole component of the growing medium was an effective N source for marigolds and geraniums up to 7 weeks after transplant. Compared with no leach plants, irrigation of 100% FWC marigolds with a weekly leaching fraction of about 0.55 did not affect quality, SGI, and shoot dry weight at the time-of-sale, 7 weeks after transplant. The FWC did not have sufficiently high salt content to require minimum leaching to prevent salt injury to the plants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Flax ◽  
Christopher J. Currey ◽  
James A. Schrader ◽  
David Grewell ◽  
William R. Graves

We evaluated the effects of seven types of 4.5-inch top-diameter biocontainers and five rates of paclobutrazol drench on the growth and development of angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia ‘Serena White’) and petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Wave® Purple Improved Prostrate’) during greenhouse production. The container types included were biopolyurethane-coated paper fiber; uncoated paper fiber; rice hull; coconut coir; peat; two types of bioplastic container, one made from 90% polylactic acid (PLA) and 10% lignin [PLA-lignin (90/10 by weight)] and another made from 60% PLA and 40% soy polymer with adipic anhydride {SP.A [PLA-SP.A]; (60/40 by weight)}; and a petroleum-based plastic control. All containers were filled with 590 mL of substrate composed of (by vol) 75% canadian sphagnum moss and 25% perlite. Ten days after transplanting seedlings, 2-fl oz aliquots of deionized water containing 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg·L−1 paclobutrazol were applied to the substrate surface as drenches. The date of anthesis was recorded for each plant, and growth data were collected 6 weeks after transplant. Shoots were harvested and dried and shoot dry weight (SDW) was recorded. Height (angelonia only) and diameter of angelonia and petunia and time to flower were calculated. Container type and paclobutrazol concentration interacted to affect size and SDW of angelonia and petunia. Growth index of angelonia treated with 0 mg·L−1 paclobutrazol and grown in coir and peat containers was 19% to 29% and 29% to 38% smaller than that of plants in other container types, respectively. Diameter of untreated petunia grown in peat containers was similar to that of those grown in coir and uncoated paper fiber containers, but was smaller (10.9 to 13.5 cm) than that of plants grown in other container types. As paclobutrazol concentrations increased from 0 to 20 mg·L−1 treatments, SDWs of petunia grown in coir containers were suppressed by 23%, whereas plants grown in rice hull containers were up to 45% less. Our results indicate that growth suppression of angelonia and petunia grown in biocontainers using paclobutrazol drenches varies by the type of biocontainer. Producers should reduce paclobutrazol drench concentrations to produce plants of appropriate size if substituting coir or peat biocontainers for traditional petroleum plastics, whereas no adjustment in plant growth retardant (PGR) drench concentrations is required for plants produced in the other biocontainer types we evaluated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clenilso Sehnen Mota ◽  
Eduard Lucas Souza Araújo ◽  
Fabiano Guimarães Silva ◽  
Paulo Dornelles ◽  
Mariângela Brito Freiberger ◽  
...  

Abstract Eugenia dysenterica DC is a fruiting species endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, belonging to the Myrtaceae family and popularly known as Cagaiteira. It has medicinal and antifungal properties, and has an important function in the ecosystem. Nevertheless, there are few studies about the maintenance of this species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth, nutrition, quality and physiology of E. dysenterica seedlings grown in fine vermiculite and rice husk-based substrates in the following combinations: 1:0, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, in addition to Trimix® commercial substrate and vermiculite only. The physical attributes of substrates (dry and moist densities, available water, remaining water, aeration space and total porosity), seedling emergence percentage, emergence speed index, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, relative seedling water content, relative substrate moisture content, plant biometric growth characteristics, accumulated dry weight and nutritional status were evaluated through leaf macronutrient content 128 days after emergence. The increase in the proportion of rice husk mixed with vermiculite resulted in reduction of the dry and moist densities of substrates, available water, remaining water, total porosity and moisture content, and increased the aeration space in substrates. The fine vermiculite substrate promoted the highest Dickson’s quality index and the greatest stem diameter of plants. Seedlings grown on vermiculite substrate presented higher N and K content in leaves, and those grown in Trimix® substrate showed higher leaf Mg content. Substrates did not alter the physiological attributes of seedlings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Triadiati Triadiati ◽  
Nampiah Sukarno ◽  
IRMA SITI RAHMAH

Abstract. Triadiati T, Sukarno N, Rahmah IS. 2021. Growth inhibition of Hydrilla verticillata by freshwater fungi. Biodiversitas 22: 2876-2882. The uncontrolled growth of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle) in Mekarsari Fruit Garden, Bogor causes various losses. A Freshwater fungus is one of the alternatives to control hydrilla growth. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the damage and growth inhibition of hydrilla using freshwater fungi. Freshwater fungi were isolated from Lake Mekarsari Fruit Garden. Hydrilla growth characteristics observed were stem length, stem nodus number, number of healthy leaves, leaf number, leaf damage, wet and dry weight. The results showed that a total of seven isolates of freshwater fungi were obtained from Lake Mekarsari Fruit Garden. Two species, i.e. Myrothecium sp. and Stachybotrys sp. were selected to control hydrilla growth. Fungal treatment reduced the stem length and leaf number of hydrilla. The combination of both fungal isolates showed less leaf damage than Myrothecium sp. The damage of hydrilla leaves by Myrothecium sp. and Stachybotrys sp. were 98.07% and 78.71%, respectively.


HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 515B-515
Author(s):  
D.R. Edwards ◽  
M.A. Dixon

A concern with the greenhouse production of horticultural commodities, particularly those grown in the ground, is the difficulty in managing nutrient runoff. Alstroemeria, a heavy-feeding crop that is nearly always grown in soil, were planted into 26.5-L pots with a medium of LECA. Greenhouse experiments were designed to examine flowering stem production, quality, and nutrient flux under nutrient solution reuse (closed system) and with one of three levels of nutrition (EC of 2.1, 1.6 and 1.1 mS/cm). Plants in the closed treatments were set on troughs sloped towards separate 24-L reservoirs. The control was an open drainage system fed at 2.1 mS/cm. The reservoirs were kept at a constant volume with the addition of water after every irrigation; nutrients were added to restore the EC to demand levels. Stems were harvested twice per week and the nutrient content of the reservoirs were analyzed biweekly by ion chromatography. Data were analyzed as an RCBD with four treatments and blocks. Analysis of data from the preliminary experiment (29 May to 3 Aug. 1998) indicated number of stems and cymes were similar among treatments. Stem length, dry weight, and number of florets were depressed below the control only in lowest fed treatment. Nutrient application was reduced markedly, by up to 1000-fold in the closed vs. the open production system.


HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 856-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjun Guo ◽  
Terri Starman ◽  
Charles Hall

This study analyzed the effects of two ranges of drying down of substrate moisture content (SMC) before re-watering on plant growth and development, postproduction quality, and economic value of bedding plants grown in 1.67-L containers during greenhouse production. The two SMC treatments were wide-range (WR) SMC (WR-SMC) for dry-down from container capacity (CC) of 54% SMC dried down to 20% SMC or narrow-range (NR) SMC (NR-SMC) for dry-down from CC of 54% SMC dried down to 40% SMC. Six bedding plant cultivars were used [Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘French Quarter’ (coleus); Petunia ×hybrida ‘Colorworks Pink Radiance’ (petunia); Lantana camara ‘Lucky Flame’ (lantana); Impatiens ×hybrida ‘Sunpatiens Compact Hot Coral’ (SCC); ‘Sunpatiens Spreading Lavender’ (SSL) (impatiens); and Salvia splendens ‘Red Hot Sally II’ (salvia)]. Shoot dry weight was reduced with WR-SMC on petunia, lantana, impatiens SCC, and salvia at the end of production. With WR-SMC, the petunia and impatiens SCC root ball coverage percentages were greater on the bottom of the container, whereas those of impatiens SSL and salvia were reduced. The WR-SMC increased petunia postproduction quality by increasing the flower number. Lantana and impatiens SCC inflorescence/flower and/or bud number were reduced with WR-SMC. The impatiens SSL flower number was unaffected by SMC treatment. Salvia grown with WR-SMC had increased postproduction quality. WR-SMC reduced postproduction water potential in petunia, lantana, and coleus, suggesting that plants with WR-SMC during production were acclimated to reduced irrigation administered during postproduction. WR-SMC saved labor due to less frequent watering and overhead-associated costs due to reduced bench space, with the exception of coleus and impatiens SSL, which used the same bench space as NR-SMC. Considering production and/or postproduction quality, using WR-SMC during greenhouse production is beneficial as an irrigation method for coleus, petunia, impatiens SSL, and salvia, but not for impatiens SCC or lantana grown in 1.67-L containers.


HortScience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Bingham Jacobson ◽  
Terri W. Starman ◽  
Leonardo Lombardini

Wilting during shelf life is a major cause of postharvest shrink for bedding plants shipped long distances from production greenhouses to retail outlets. The objective of this research was to determine if irrigation at lower, constant substrate moisture content (SMC) during greenhouse production would be a feasible way to acclimate plants for reduced shrinkage during shelf life while potentially conserving irrigation water. In two separate experiments conducted in the fall and spring seasons, rooted plugs of Angelonia angustifolia ‘Angelface Blue’ (angelonia) were grown in greenhouse production until a marketable stage in substrates irrigated at SMC levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% using a controlled irrigation system. At the end of the greenhouse production stage, plants were irrigated to container capacity and subjected to a simulated shipping environment in shipping boxes in the dark for 2 days. After shipping, plants were placed back in the greenhouse and watered minimally to simulate a retail environment. Data were taken at the end of each stage, i.e., greenhouse production, simulated shipping, and simulated retail. Results indicated that as SMC decreased from 40% to 10%, plants were shorter in height but had proportional and more compact flowering sections. The volume of water received by the 40% SMC plants was three times greater (fall) and 12 times greater (spring) than the 20% SMC plants during greenhouse production and two times greater (fall) and nine time greater (spring) during simulated retail. During production, midday water potentials decreased as the SMC levels decreased, but at the end of the simulated retail, the midday water potentials were the same, suggesting that plants that were drought-stressed during production were acclimated to lower water levels experienced in retail settings. Overall, the 20% SMC treatment produced the best postharvest quality plant resulting from reduced plant height without detrimental effects on flowering. The results demonstrate that while conserving water, controlled irrigation at a lower SMC can produce high-quality plants that have equal shelf life to those that are irrigated at high levels.


2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-79
Author(s):  
Wenliang Lu ◽  
Xiaomei Yang ◽  
Jeff L. Sibley ◽  
Charles H. Gilliam ◽  
James S. Bannon ◽  
...  

Abstract Mixed municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) was evaluated as a soilless potting mix component for greenhouse production using four floricultural crops: dusty miller (Senecio cineraria), hybrid petunia (Petunia × hybrida), Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum), and begonia (Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum). Dusty miller and petunia plugs were transplanted into 36-cell trays filled with MSWC based substrates and grown for two months. Petunia only grew well in the blend with the lowest MSWC ratio (33%), while dusty miller grew well in all MSWC blends. Japanese holly fern and begonia liners were transplanted into 15 cm (6 in) azalea pots and grown for 12 weeks in five substrates: 100% pine bark (PB), 3: 1 PB: MSWC, 1: 1 PB: MSWC, 1: 3 PB: MSWC, and commercially available Fafard 3B Mix. In addition to substrate, a controlled-release fertilizer was applied at two rates to form a two-way factorial completely randomized design. Replacement of PB with MSWC resulted at least equal plant quality and growth of begonia in the aspects of growth index, leaf greenness (SPAD value), flower number, visual rating, and shoot fresh and dry weight. For Japanese holly fern, replacement of PB with MSWC resulted in a lower visual rating, but without other negative responses in plant. For the four greenhouse crops tested, plant growth and quality were seldom negatively affected at low ratios of MSWC (25 to 33%o). However, our studies indicate the impact of blending traditional pine bark with higher than 50% MSWC is species specific.


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