A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production

The search for suitable organic growing media substitutes for pine bark based media combinations has been prompted by concerns over high costs and lack of availability to smallholder farmers coupled with increasing demand for soilless media in Zimbabwe. A trial was conducted for 12 weeks to investig...

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Main Authors: Johnson Masaka, Noel Chimwanda, Ignatius Chagonda, Misheck Chandiposha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2016-01-01
Series:Advances in Agriculture
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5650290
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spelling doaj-a1541bcd4a994c83bd7ed1b257eac2542020-11-24T21:24:40ZengHindawi LimitedAdvances in Agriculture2356-654X2314-75392016-01-01201610.1155/2016/56502905650290A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling ProductionJohnson Masaka0Noel Chimwanda1Ignatius Chagonda2Misheck Chandiposha3Department of Land and Water Resources Management, Midlands State University, Private Bag 9055, Gweru, ZimbabweDepartment of Agronomy, Midlands State University, Private Bag 9055, Gweru, ZimbabweDepartment of Agronomy, Midlands State University, Private Bag 9055, Gweru, ZimbabweDepartment of Agronomy, Midlands State University, Private Bag 9055, Gweru, ZimbabweThe search for suitable organic growing media substitutes for pine bark based media combinations has been prompted by concerns over high costs and lack of availability to smallholder farmers coupled with increasing demand for soilless media in Zimbabwe. A trial was conducted for 12 weeks to investigate the suitability of tea tree compost-based substrates for tobacco seedling production as a substitute of the traditional pine bark growing media. The use of composted tea tree growing media in float trays significantly (p<0.05) increases the bulk density of the media by 23–59% when compared with pine bark media. The cation exchange capacity of the native pine bark growing media was 14 to 95% lower than that for the composted tea tree media. The use of the composted tea as media for tobacco seedling nursery reduced seed germination by 10–37%, seedling stem height by 4–34%, and seedling stem girth by 6–175%. While the nutrient holding and supplying potential of the growing media in seedling production is important for normal seedling growth, its effect on seedling growth vigor is less important than that exerted by the presence of suitable physical conditions in the media.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5650290
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Johnson Masaka
Noel Chimwanda
Ignatius Chagonda
Misheck Chandiposha
spellingShingle Johnson Masaka
Noel Chimwanda
Ignatius Chagonda
Misheck Chandiposha
A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production
Advances in Agriculture
author_facet Johnson Masaka
Noel Chimwanda
Ignatius Chagonda
Misheck Chandiposha
author_sort Johnson Masaka
title A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production
title_short A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production
title_full A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production
title_fullStr A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production
title_full_unstemmed A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production
title_sort comparative evaluation of the physical and chemical characteristics of composted tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia l.) with pine bark growing media in tobacco (nicotiana tabucum l.) seedling production
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Advances in Agriculture
issn 2356-654X
2314-7539
publishDate 2016-01-01
description The search for suitable organic growing media substitutes for pine bark based media combinations has been prompted by concerns over high costs and lack of availability to smallholder farmers coupled with increasing demand for soilless media in Zimbabwe. A trial was conducted for 12 weeks to investigate the suitability of tea tree compost-based substrates for tobacco seedling production as a substitute of the traditional pine bark growing media. The use of composted tea tree growing media in float trays significantly (p<0.05) increases the bulk density of the media by 23–59% when compared with pine bark media. The cation exchange capacity of the native pine bark growing media was 14 to 95% lower than that for the composted tea tree media. The use of the composted tea as media for tobacco seedling nursery reduced seed germination by 10–37%, seedling stem height by 4–34%, and seedling stem girth by 6–175%. While the nutrient holding and supplying potential of the growing media in seedling production is important for normal seedling growth, its effect on seedling growth vigor is less important than that exerted by the presence of suitable physical conditions in the media.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5650290
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