A. Mohammadi Torkashvand, A. Karami, A. Mahboub Khomami,
Volume 4, Issue 2 (Journal of Science and Technology of Greenhouse Culture 2013)
Abstract
Dut to econemic and envaironmental limitiations of peat moss as a growth medium for ornamental plants, researchers seek an apporiate alternative in flower and plants industry. Zeolite, due to its high potential in water holding capcity and cation enchange capacity, has the ability to replace peat moss. To investigate the posibility of subtituting peat moss by zeolite as a proper medium for growth of Dieffenbachia amoena ornamental plant, an experiment was conducted with zeolite at six levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % v/v), two levels of nutrient solution (with and without solution) in base substrate of 2:1 ratio of peat: perlite, a factorial experiment in a compeletely randomized design (12 treatments, three replications and three pots per treatment) in Greenhouse of Flower and Plant Terminal of Mazandaran province, Salmanshahr, Iran. Results showed that the highest dry weight of leaves and roots, number of leaves and stem height were obtained in 20% zeolite treatment with nutrient solution. Plants had the lowest growth in 40 and 50% zeolite treatments. Substrate bulk density was increased and porosity was decreased proportional to the applied zeolite in the substitution system. Zeolite had the greatest effect on dieffenbachia plant growth at 10-20% concentration. In general, application of zeolite caused better growth of dieffenbachia plants, improvement of growth indices such as dry weight of leaves, stem and roots, number of leaves, diameter and length of stem and also improvement of nutrient uptake by plants in comparison with peat moss, which is a common substrate in hydroponics.
M. Shahakarami, S. Marofi, Gh. Rahimi,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (Journal of Science and Technology of Greenhouse Culture 2016)
Abstract
One of the main anxieties in application of wastewater and compost in agricultural lands is their salinity and uptake of heavy metals by plants. To envestigate the effects of wastewater and compost on yield and accumulation of lead and nickel in the basil shoots, as well as electrical conductivity (EC) and pH in soil profile and its leachate, a factorial test was conducted, based on completely randomized design with three replications, in 48 lysimeters. The factors included four types of watering [raw wastewater (W1), treated wastewater (W2), combination of 50% raw wastewater and fresh water (W3) and fresh water (W4)] and four compost levels [0 (C1), 40 (C2), 80 (C3) and 120 (C4) ton/ha]. Totally, 11 waterings were applied during the growing season. Basil plants were harvested at three stages. After the third harvest, soil samples were taken from 10, 20, 40, 65, 85 and 105 cm depth in the lysimeters. Results showed that application of wastewater and compost, compared to the control treatment, significantly increased (p≤ 0.05) fresh and dry weights, concentration of lead and nickel in the shoots of basil, as well as EC of the soil, relative to type of irrigation water and level of compost. But, wastewater and compost application significantly decreased (p< 0.05) pH in the leachate water. The lead and nickel concentration was increased during the last harvests. The soil EC was decreased in the lower depths. The lead and nickel concentration in shoots ranged between 0.09-0.36 and 0.12- 0.44 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Variation of EC in soil was 0.72- 2.5 dS/m and pH range of the leachate was 7.5-7.8.
