ISHS Acta Horticulturae 779: International Symposium on Growing Media
EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE AND NUTRIENT SOLUTION REUSE ON RANUNCULUS AND ANEMONE PLANT PRODUCTION IN A CLOSED SOILLESS SYSTEM |
| Authors: | E. Rea, A. Salerno, F. Pierandrei |
| Keywords: | bulbous crops, ornamental plants, nutrient solution disposal, marketable production |
| Abstract:
Anemone (Anemone cv. Monnalisa) and ranunculus (Ranunculus cv. White elegance) plants were grown in a soilless closed system. Sprouted bulbs were transplanted in pots containing perlite and peat in a ratio 3:1 (v/v). The substrate was used in a previous cycle of chrysanthemum plants. Two nutrient solutions, (A and B) with different nutrient content were used. Solution A and solution B (more and less concentrated respectively) were obtained from two previous cycles, performed in succession, of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) and chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × morifolium cv. Euro). A growing cycle of about 150 days in autumn-spring seasons was realized, with a total of 14 harvests. In both species, the leaves N, P and K content was higher in treatment A compared with B, and an equal level for all other elements was determined, particularly a low Mn concentration resulted. Moreover, in anemone some flowers with small corollas and thin stems were harvested. Marketable production of both species of treatment A was in agreement with standard ones (484 and 682 flowers for ranunculus and anemone respectively). A 38% reduction of marketable production was observed for thesis B with respect to thesis A. At the end of growing cycle both solutions resulted depleted of the major nutrient elements, including the pollutants ones, and unsuitable for a further crop system cultivation. Even though a not optimal production was expected, this depletion strategy of exhaust solutions, allowed their disposal in the environment without hazard pollution. | |
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