scholarly journals Evaluation of Media Consisting of a Cotton Waste for the Production of Tropical Foliage Species

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-115
Author(s):  
Yin-Tung Wang

Abstract Media consisting of composted cotton waste (CW) alone and CW in combination with bark or peat moss or both were evaluated for producing two tropical foliage species. Asian bell tree (Radermachera sinica (Hance) Hemsl.) grew satisfactorily in media with 25% or 50% CW, but had less dry weight when produced in CW-amended media with 50% bark. Australian umbrella tree (Brassaia actinophylla Endl.) had less dry weight when produced in media having 50% or more CW. Australian umbrella tree responded the most favorably to the medium containing 25% CW, 50% bark and 25% peat moss which resulted in the poorest Asian bell tree. Plant response to media consisting of CW appeared to be species dependent. Although there were differences in the initial pH of leachates collected from potting media, the differences were small at the termination of this experiment. The electrical conductivity of the leachate varied considerably among various media.

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 455B-455
Author(s):  
Robert R. Tripepi ◽  
Mary W. George

De-inked paper sludge from a newsprint mill was evaluated as a substitute for softwood bark in container media. Whips, 1.2 m tall, of `October Glory' red maple (Acer rubrum L.), European birch (Betula pendula Roth), and `Royalty' crabapple (Malus L.) were planted in 15-L plastic pots that contained potting media amended with 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 90% paper sludge and 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 0%, or 0%, respectively, bark (by volume). All media contained 10% sand. After 22 weeks, plant heights, trunk diameters, and shoot dry weights were determined. Initial pH of media increased as the amount of paper sludge in the media increased, with the 90% sludge mix having pH 7.2. Paper sludge had a low initial CEC. Physical properties of all sludge-amended media were suitable for tree growth, but media containing 80% or more paper sludge shrank in volume by 10% to 12% by the end of the study. All maple and crabapple trees grown in all sludge-amended media grew as well as those in 80% bark (control mix). In fact, maple and crabapples trees in 40% sludge produced at least 10% and 36% more total shoot biomass, respectively, than trees in 80% bark. Although birch trees grown in 40% or 60% paper sludge grew as well as control plants, those grown in 80% or more sludge were at least 11% shorter and produced 24% less total shoot biomass (leaves, stems, and trunk dry weight) than control trees. These results demonstrated that de-inked paper sludge was a worthy substitute for up to 40% of the bark in a container medium for the three species tested.


1985 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 176-180
Author(s):  
R.L. Ticknor ◽  
D.D. Hemphill ◽  
D.J. Flower

Composted sewage sludge was blended with pumice and either bark, peat moss, or sawdust to form 6 potting media. Increasing the proportion of compost in media from 25 to 50% caused increased initial pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and airfilled pore space (AS) in all media, and increased growth of Photinia x fraseri Dress. and Thuja occidentalis L. ‘Pyramidalis.’ Sawdust-containing media had the highest pH, EC, and AS; sphagnum peat-containing media the highest water holding capacity and greatest shrinkage; bark-based media the highest bulk density. Plant growth in compost-based media containing peat or bark was equal to or better than that in two commercial media composed primarily of bark or peat.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 867B-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert R. Tripepi

Paper sludge is a fibrous material that may be suitable as a replacement for peat moss in potting media. The goal of this study was to compare the growth of potted `Iridon' mums (Dendranthema × grandiflora Tzvelev.) grown in sludge-amended media against that of plants in two peat-based commercial mixes. Paper sludge from a newsprint mill was composted 6 weeks. Plants were grown in a European pot mum regime with three rooted cuttings planted in square 10-cm pots containing either a commercial mix or a sludge-amended medium [75% sludge: 15% perlite: 10% vermiculite; or 50% sludge: 33% peatmoss: 17% perlite (by volume)]. Plants were grown for 12 weeks and not disbudded before plant growth indices were determined. Mums grown in sludge-amended media appeared similar to those grown in the commercial mixes. Plants grown in either sludge-amended medium were slightly shorter (1.5 cm) and narrower (2.5 cm) than those grown in the commercial mixes. In addition, mums grown in sludge-amended media produced eight fewer flowers and 4 g less shoot dry weight (per pot) compared to plants in commercial mixes. Composted paper sludge appears to be suitable for production of `Iridon' pot mums, even though plants grown in this material grew slightly less than those in commercial media.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Pedro García-Caparrós ◽  
Cristina Velasquez Espino ◽  
María Teresa Lao

The reuse of drainages for cultivating more salt tolerant crops can be a useful tool especially in arid regions, where there are severe problems for crops water management. Dracaena deremensis L. plants were cultured in pots with sphagnum peat-moss and were subjected to three fertigation treatments for 8 weeks: control treatment or standard nutrient solution (D0), raw leachates from Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl plants (DL) and the same leachate blending with H2O2 (1.2 M) at 1% (v/v) (DL + H2O2). After harvesting, ornamental and biomass parameters, leaf and root proline and total soluble sugar concentration and nutrient balance were assessed in each fertigation treatment. Plant height, leaf and total dry weight had the highest values in plants fertigated with leachates with H2O2, whereas root length, leaf number, RGB values and pigment concentration declined significantly in plants fertigated with leachates from C. lutescens with or without H2O2. The fertigation with leachates, regardless of the presence or absence of H2O2 increased root and leaf proline concentration. Nevertheless, root and leaf total soluble sugar concentration did not show a clear trend under the treatments assessed. Regarding nutrient balance, the addition of H2O2 in the leachate resulted in an increase in plant nutrient uptake and efficiency compared to the control treatment. The fertigation with leachates with or without H2O2 increased nitrogen and potassium leached per plant compared to plants fertigated with the standard nutrient solution. The reuse of drainages is a viable option to produce ornamental plants reducing the problematic associated with the water consumption and the release of nutrients into the environment.


1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvon Cormier ◽  
Anne Mériaux ◽  
Gilles Brochu

We studied the microflora of Quebec sphagnum peat moss samples taken from five different locations in a peat moss processing plant: soil, drying stacks, sedimented dust (walls and floor), and in bagged peat moss. Large numbers of microorganisms were found; the predominant ones were of the genus Monocillium (up to 112 × 106 colonies/g of dry peat) and the genus Penicillium (320 × 104 colonies/g dry weight). These moulds were more abundant in the processed peat moss than in the peat soil (e.g., Monocillium: soil, 138 × 103; processed peat, 112 × 106). Aspergillus spp. were absent in all five sample sites. We conclude that Quebec peat moss contains large quantities of microorganisms and that moulds become more concentrated during the processing of the peat from the soil to the final product.


Author(s):  
Chol Jong ◽  
MyongIl Jin ◽  
YongChol Ju ◽  
DeTian Li ◽  
HaiFeng Zhu ◽  
...  

Liquid spawn, an important technical support for industrial production of edible fungi, has some advantages, such as fast growth, strong activity, uniform quality and easy inoculation. However,the study of the fermentation parameters of Pleurotus eryngii liquid spawn is less, which cannot effectively guide the production practice. Therefore, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the production of liquid spawn and industrial production of Pleurotus eryngii, response surface analysis was used to optimize the liquid spawn formula and conditions. The best carbon and nitrogen source of liquid medium was glucose and yeast extract, respectively. The optimum formula of medium was obtained by response surface analysis. Combined with the practical operation, the formula was modified to 29.00 g/L glucose, 2.90g/L yeast extract, 0.90g/L KH2PO4 and 1.00g/L MgSO4. The effects of various factors on the dry weight of mycelia were analyzed, the results indicated that the influence follow the sequence: glucose, KH2PO4, yeast extract and MgSO4, among them, the first two factors had significant effect. The interaction between glucose and KH2PO4 had obviously effects on the dry weight of mycelia. The interaction between glucose and yeast extract had a certain effect. The optimum culture conditions of liquid spawn were obtained by response surface analysis. Combined with the actual situation, the conditions were modified to liquid volume 106.00mL/250mL, rotating speed 165.00r/min, temperature 23.60℃, initial pH 6.70. The effects of various factors on the dry weight of mycelia was analyzed, the results indicated that the influence follow the sequence: initial pH, liquid volume, temperature and rotating speed, among them, the first three factors had extremely significant effect. The interaction of liquid volume and rotating speed, temperature and initial pH had obviously effects on mycelial dry weight.


Author(s):  
Leandro de P. Souza ◽  
Reginaldo G. Nobre ◽  
Evandro M. da Silva ◽  
Geovani S. de Lima ◽  
Francisco W. A. Pinheiro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the growth and formation of fresh and dry weight of ‘Crioula’ guava rootstock irrigated with waters of different saline levels and nitrogen (N) doses, in an experiment conducted in plastic tubes under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme with four replicates, and the treatments consisted of five levels of water electrical conductivity - ECw (0.3, 1.1, 1.9, 2.7 and 3.5 dS m-1) and four N doses (70, 100, 130 and 160% of the N dose recommended for the cultivation of guava seedlings, cv. ‘Paluma’). The dose referring to 100% corresponds to 773 mg of N dm-3. The highest growth of ‘Crioula’ guava rootstock was obtained with ECw of 0.3 dS m-1 and fertilization of 541.1 mg N dm-3 of soil; increasing N doses did not reduce the deleterious effect of the salt stress on the growth and phytomass formation of ‘Crioula’ guava rootstock; irrigation with water of up to 1.75 dS m-1, in the production of guava rootstocks, promotes acceptable reduction of 10% in growth and quality of the seedlings.


Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Sargeant ◽  
C. Tang ◽  
P. W. G. Sale

Landholder observations indicate that the growth of Distichlis spicata in saline discharge sites improves the soil condition. An extensive soil sampling survey was conducted at the Wickepin field site in Western Australia, where D. spicata had been growing for 8 years, to test the hypothesis that this halophytic grass will make improvements in chemical and physical properties of the soil. Soil measurements included saturated hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregates, root length and dry weight, electrical conductivity, pH, and soil nitrogen and carbon. Results confirm that marked differences in soil properties occurred under D. spicata. For example, a 12-fold increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity occurred where D. spicata had been growing for 8 years, compared to adjacent control soil where no grass had been growing. There were also improvements in aggregate stability, with the most notable improvements in the top 0.10 m of soil, again with the greatest improvements occurring where 8 years of growth had occurred. Soil nitrogen and carbon increased under the sward, with the biggest increases occurring in the top 0.10 m of soil. Electrical conductivity measurements were more variable, mostly due to the large spatial and temporal variation encountered. However, the findings generally support the proposition that the growth of D. spicata does not lead to an accumulation of salt within the rooting zone.


2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro García-Caparrós ◽  
Alfonso Llanderal ◽  
Maribela Pestana ◽  
Pedro José Correia ◽  
María Teresa Lao

Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J. Scott is a dicotyledonous halophyte that grows in areas with an arid climate such as the marshes of southern Spain. The species has potential uses for saline agriculture and biofuel production, but the effects of salt stress on its nutrition and physiology remain unclear. Plants of S. fruticosa were grown in pots with a mixture of sphagnum peat-moss and Perlite. In order to evaluate the effects of different levels of salinity, five treatments using different NaCl concentrations (10 (control), 60, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl) were applied over a period of 60 days. At the end of the experiment, the dry weight, the biomass allocation and the tissue water content were measured for each salinity treatment. The net uptake of various nutrients and their translocation rates were calculated for each salt treatment. Salt loss, shedding of plant parts and succulence in shoots were evaluated together with the K+/Na+ ratio, K-Na selectivity, concentrations of osmolytes and their estimated contributions to the osmotic potential. Our results showed that S. fruticosa can maintain its major physiological processes at 60 mM NaCl without significant dry weight reduction. Higher salinity resulted in negative values for net uptake and translocation rates from roots to shoots of N and P. As might be predicted from other dicotyledonous halophytes, S. fruticosa plants increased Cl– and Na+ uptake using both as osmotica instead of organic osmolytes. However, to survive salinity, this species has also evolved others mechanisms such as shedding old shoots, increased succulence in shoots at higher salt concentrations and the ability to maintain a lower K+/Na+ ratio and higher K-Na selectivity in all organs.


1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. PENSALA ◽  
A. NISKANEN ◽  
S. LINDROTH

Unsweetened and sweetened (20 and 44% sucrose) black currant, blueberry and strawberry jams with spores of Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 were incubated at different temperatures and atmospheres for 0.5, 1, 2, and 6 months. Hyphal dry weight, pH of medium and aflatoxin production were examined. Also, the aflatoxin distribution between mold and jam layers was examined in jam with uncontrolled and controlled pH (initial pH 3.1–3.6 and 5.6 respectively) and in 20% yeast extract sucrose broth (initial pH 5.6) after 2 weeks of incubation. Aflatoxin was observed in black currant and strawberry jams stored at 22 and 30 C, but not in blueberry jam. Addition of sugar prevented production of aflatoxin in detectable amounts, although it enhanced fungal growth. Storage at 4 C resulted in a marked reduction in fungal growth. The high CO2 atmosphere prevented production of aflatoxin in detectable amounts in black currant and blueberry jams but not in strawberry jam. Raising the initial pH of the stored jam caused an increase in aflatoxin synthesis, although the amount of fungal mycelium, in contrast was reduced. Aflatoxin synthesis as a function of fungal growth was significantly weaker in the jams than in the yeast extract sucrose broth. The results imply that the jam raw materials, particularly blueberry, contain substances inhibiting production of atlatoxins. Alternatively, it is also possible that the jam materials contain only small amounts of nutrients necessary for synthesis of aflatoxin.


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