New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Use of willow (Salix sp.) sawdust as a potting medium for calendula (Calendula officinalis) and marigold (Tagetes erecta) plant production
N. F. Gariglio
M. A. Buyatti
C. A. Bouzo
M. E. Weber
R. A. Pilatti
Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal
Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
P. Kreder 2805, (3080) Esperanza (Santa Fe)
Argentina
email: ngarigli@fca.unl.edu.ar
Abstract Growth of ‘Fiesta Gitana’ calendula (Calendula officinalis) in growth medium prepared from 75% (vol.) composted willow (Salix sp.) sawdust (WS), with or without additional nitrogen (N) (4% w/w) during composting, and 25% (vol.) perlite was examined. Total plant dry matter, dry matter partition to flowers, and plant height at 77 days after planting were similar in media containing composted WS to values in achieved in a sphagnum peat:perlite (75:25, vol.) control medium. Relative to these media, non-composted WS:perlite (75:25, vol.) resulted in average reductions of total dry matter (57%), dry matter partition to flowers (50%), plant height (43%), flower diameter (73%), and flower buds per plant (82%). In a further study, increasing the proportion of N-enriched composted WS in perlite from 25% to 75% did not affect total dry matter, plant height, or flower number per plant of ‘Fiesta Gitana’ calendula or ‘Perfection Gold’ marigold (Tagetes erecta) compared to values achieved in the sphagnum peat:perlite (75:25, vol.) control medium. Since flower diameter decreased in both species when the N-enriched composted WS exceeded 50%, we suggest that this “waste” product can substitute for all the sphagnum peat, but should not exceed 50% volume in a perlite mixture.
Keywords calendula; marigold; willow sawdust; alternative substrate; growing media
H03017; Online publication date 17 March 2004; Received 27 February 2003; accepted 1 October 2003
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2004, Vol. 32: 147-151
0014-0671/04/3201-0147 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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