FINE CHARCOAL AS A COMPONENT OF SUBSTRATES FOR THE GROWTH OF PETUNIA (Petunia hybrida) AND CALIBRACHOA (Calibrachoa hybrida) IN POTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29393/CHJAAS40-42CCEM40042Keywords:
biochar, ornamentals, soilless growing mediaAbstract
Fine charcoal is a residue from charcoal production, with potential to be used as a substrate component. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the addition of fine charcoal to the substrate on the growth of Petunia hybrida and Calibrachoa hybrida. For this, substrates were formulated by mixing peat with 20, 30, 40 and 50% fine charcoal. The substrates were incubated for five weeks to determine pH and electrical conductivity (EC) stabilization time. Substrates and components were characterized physicochemically. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with twelve replications to evaluate growth parameters of both species grown in the formulated substrates and in a commercial substrate, as well as pH and EC at the end of the culture. pH and EC increased and stabilized after three weeks of incubation. pH, aeration and K content increased, while water retention decreased with increasing amounts of charcoal in the mixture. The highest aerial mass values, growth rates and SPAD index occurred in the substrate with 20% fine charcoal and the commercial substrate in both species. Growth was reduced with fine charcoal applied at higher than 20%. At the end of the culture, pH in the substrates with fine charcoal was higher than that recommended for both species, while the commercial substrate maintained values close to the initial ph. In conclusion, fine charcoal can be included at a rate of up to 20% in the substrate without affecting the growth of Petunia hybrida and Calibrachoa hybrida.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2024 Esteban Julián Rubio, Alejandra Bernárdez, Lorena Alejandra Barbaro, Mónica Alejandra Karlanian
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.