Glycyrrhizic residues substrates as component of growing media for the growth of pepper (capsicum annuum) plug seedling
2013
Ming, Diao | Weimin, Shi | Xinmin, Fan | Xiaofeng, Tang | Huiying, Liu
An experiment was conducted to study the possible utilization of glycyrrhizic residues (GR) as a substitution for widely using expensive peat in growth media for plug seedlings production of pepper (Capsicum annuum). The research was arranged in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and four replications. These treatments were T1-GR: vermiculite=1:1 (v/v), T2-GR: pearlite=1:1, T3-GR: vermiculite:pearlite=1:1:1, T4-GR: pearlite=2:1:1, T5-GR:vermiculite:pearlite= 3:1:1, T6-glycyrrhizic alone. A mixed substrate of peat with perlite (1:1; v:v) was used as the control (CK). The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of all mixed GR-based media were better than glycyrrhizic residues-only (T6) medium and satisfied for the general requirements of growing media. The medium of T5 (GR:vermiculite:pearlite=3:1:1; v/v/v) gave higher leaf chlorophyll content and root activity of the pepper seedlings than the other GR-based media. This medium was also the best medium for the growth of pepper seedling as it gave the highest parameters in terms of plant height, roots-top ratio and healthy seedling index and the lowest root plum collapse rate. This result suggested that GR:vermiculite:pearlite (v/v/v)=3:1:1 is an appropriate media for pepper seedlings with suitable physicochemical properties, availability and low cost, following by the media of T1 (GR:vermiculite=1:1; v/v) and T5 (GR:vermiculite:pearlite=2:1:1; v/v/v). Therefore, glycyrrhizic residues should be considered as an alternative for the widely used but expensive and resource-limited peat in plug seedlings production of vegetables and soilless cultivation.
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