Valorization of sieved crushed bricks as a component of compost-based substrates
2017
Sousa, G. | Monteiro, F. G. | Vasconcelos, E. | Ribeiro, H. M.
The present work aimed to study the possible use of “sieved crushed bricks” (a waste from bricks manufacturing) as a substrate component for the production of potted herbs. Two main substrate components were used: pine bark-based compost and a mixture of coir and pine bark-based compost (1:1 by volume). Each of these “main” substrate components was mixed with “sieved crushed bricks” in the following proportions by volume: 0, 5, 10 and 20%. A total of 8 different substrates were studied. Physical and chemical properties on those substrates were evaluated as well as plant growth of 2 different species of herbs (coriander and parsley). Crushed bricks significantly affected the physical properties of the media, increasing bulk density and water retention, while reducing porosity and aeration. The addition of 5% crushed bricks proved to be beneficial for the production of potted herbs, because the positive effect on the physical properties of the substrate resulted in an improvement of some parameters of plant growth, mainly in the only-pine bark compost substrate.
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