ISHS Acta Horticulturae 779: International Symposium on Growing Media
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES ON GLOXINIA (SINNINGIA SPECIOSA LOOD. HIERN.) GROWTH |
| Authors: | E.D. Salvador, K. Minami |
| Keywords: | Sinningia speciosa, gloxinia, substrate, physical analysis |
| Abstract:
Experiments on gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa Lood. Hiern.) culture were carried out with the objective of formulating suitable substrates to its cultivation. In the first phase, an experiment was conducted in greenhouse, where the adequate physical characteristics to the cultivation of this plant were evaluated. The treatments consisted of mixtures of carbonized rice hull and sand and treatments differed among one another as to the proportion of their components, so as to obtain substrate densities of 0.15; 0.35; 0.55; 0.75 and 0.95 g.cm-3. The treatment presenting 0.5 g.cm-3 density, 77.60% total porosity, 26.93% air space, 18.75% available water and 16.36% easily available water, was found to be superior in relation to the other treatments. In a second stage, different substrates were elaborated, the physical characteristics were determined. In a third phase, a new experiment was conducted, where data obtained from a first experiment were used to define the treatments. Substrates presenting 75 to 79% total porosity, 24 to 28% air space, 16 to 20% available water and 14 to 18% easily available water were sought. Four substrates showing suitable physical characteristics were found and compared to a control. Treatments consisted of pine bark : earthworm humus : perlite (1:1:0,2), vermiculite : earthworm humus : perlite (1:2:0,5), conventional peat : eucalyptus bark (1:1), cultivated peat : carbonized rice hull (1:2) and control (substrate used by the grower, a mixture of mineral soil and xaxim dust). At the end of the experiment it was observed that the vermiculite : earthworm humus : perlite had the best results in plant commercial quality and phytotechnical characteristics. | |
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