Substrate culture in quality flower production

Substrate culture in quality flower production

Naveen negi(36101)Msc .Ag Horticulture(Flori&Landscaping)

History of Growing Media and Soil Improvers

Plants have been grown in containers from Victorian times but large-scale raising of plants in containers or modules only really started in the 1950s. Young plants for commercial vegetable, salad, fruit and flower growers are now commonly raised in modules or blocks, as are amenity plants for gardeners and landscapers. Early growing media in the UK were based on the John Innes mixes developed in the 1930s. These were mixes made from blends of loam (composted grass turves), peat and sand.In the 1970s lightweight mixes based on peat took over the market as good quality peat was readily available from Northern England,Somer set and Ireland. After this time the popularity of gardening and the advent of garden centres caused a huge increase in the use of growing media as more and more plants were sold in containers. The amateur gardening market accounts for more than two thirds of sales of growing media in the UK.

In indian historySHRIVARDHAN BIO - TECH, is Cut flower project established during the year 1997-98 byShri Appasaheb S. R. Patil Charman of most successful Co-operative sugar factory of the country. "Quality and Shrivardhan" are synonymous in the cut-flowers business in India.Qualitatively this project can be completed to any best Cut flower project in the World.As on today Shrivardhan Bio-Tech having capacity 22.00Ha. ( 2,20,000 Sqm.) under greenhouse / shed-house cultivation of Roses, Gerbera, Camation, Dendrobium, Anthurium, Chrysanthemum and Capsicum (vegetables).

The farm, about seven and half hours run from Mumbai Internatopnal Airport, is ideally located at Village -Kondigre, Taluka- Shirol, Dist -Kolhapur in the state of Maharashtra.Substrate culture substrate-A substrate is a solid substance or medium to which another substance is applied and to which that second substance adheres.

or Substrate (biology)In biology, a substrate is the surface on which a plant or animal lives. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock (its substrate) can be itself a substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae.Substrate culture-the culturing or growing a plants on the growing media having a different substrates presence,bt without a soil.it may be organic or inorganic in nature.E.g.-cocopeat,sand ,rockwool,gravels,cocopeat,etcOrganic substratesCocopeatRice hullsFymLeaf peatmossCompostSheep woolWood fibreInorganic substratesRockwoolPerliteGravelsGrowstonesVermiculitePumiceBrick shardPacking pea nuts

freshness after storegeDisease freeConsumer satisfactionconvenient to storeFragrant and scentFlower dia,lengthDiversification and uniform in natureHealthy in nature colour

cocopeat

Coco peat is a natural fibre derived from coconut husks. It has tremendous water retention capacity and cannot be easily over-watered. It helps soil aeration and provides for a healthy root system. Because it is lightweight, it's a good option for rooftop gardens housed on roofs that haven't been treated to bear the extra weight.Organic substrates

Perlite

Perlite is a volcanic rock that has been superheated into very lightweight expanded glass pebbles. It is used loose or in plastic sleeves immersed in the water. It is also used in potting soil mixes to decrease soil density. Perlite has similar properties and uses to(vermiculite)but, in general, holds more air andless water. If not contained, it can float if flood and drain feeding is used.

Wood fibre, produced from steam friction of wood.it is a very efficient organic substrate for hydroponics. It has the advantage that it keeps its structure for a very long time. Wood fibre has been shown to reduce the effects of "plant growth regulators.

Wood fibre

pumiceLike perlite, pumice is a lightweight, mined volcanic rock that finds application in hydroponics.

Brick shardBrick shards have similar properties to gravel. They have the added disadvantages of possibly altering the pH and requiring extra cleaning before reuse.

Pea nutsPolystyrene packing peanuts are inexpensive, readily available, and have excellent drainage. they can be too lightweight for some uses. They are used mainly in closed-tube systems. Note that polystyrene peanuts must be used; biodegradable packing peanuts will decompose into a sludge. Plants may absorb styrene and pass it to their consumers; this is a possible health risk.

Sheep woolWool from shearing sheep is a little-used yet promising renewable growing medium. In a study comparing wool with peat slabs, coconut fibre slabs, perlite and rockwool slabs to grow cucumber plants, sheep wool had a greater air capacity of 70%, which decreased with use to a comparable 43%, and water capacity that increased from 23% to 44% with use. Using sheep wool resulted in the greatest yield out of the tested substrates, while application of a biostimulator consisting of humic acid, lactic acid and Bacillus subtilis improved yields in all substrates.

sandSand is cheap and easily available. it is heavy, does not hold water very well. it must be sterilized between use.

Gravel

The same type that is used in aquariums, though any small gravel can be used, provided it is washed first. Gravel is inexpensive, easy to keep clean, drains well and will not become waterlogged. However, it is also heavy, and, if the system does not provide continuous water, the plant roots may dry out.

Vermiculite

Like perlite, vermiculite is a mineral that has been superheated until it has expanded into light pebbles. Vermiculite holds more water than perlite and has a natural "wicking" property that can draw water and nutrients in a passive hydroponic system. If too much water and not enough air surrounds the plants roots, it is possible to gradually lower the medium's water-retention capability by mixing in increasing quantities of perlite.

Rock woolRock wool (mineral wool) is the most widely used medium in hydroponics. Rock wool is an inert substrate suitable for both run to waste and recirculating systems. Rock wool is made from molten rock, basalt or 'slag' that is spun into bundles of single filament fibres, and bonded into a medium capable of capillary action, and is, in effect, protected from most common microbiological degradation. Rock wool has many advantages and some disadvantages. The latter being the possible skin irritancy (mechanical) whilst handling (1:1000). Flushing with cold water usually brings relief. Advantages include its proven efficiency and effectiveness as a commercial hydroponic substrate. Most of the rock wool sold to date is a non-hazardous, non-carcinogenic material, falling under Note Q of the European Union Classification Packaging and Labeling Regulation (CLP).[citation needed]

Growstones

Growstones, made from glass waste, have both more air and water retention space than perlite and peat. This aggregate holds more water than parboiled rice hulls.[17]

Expanded clay aggregate

Baked clay pellets, are suitable for hydroponic systems in which all nutrients are carefully controlled in water solution. The clay pellets are inert, pH neutral and do not contain any nutrient value.The clay is formed into round pellets and fired in rotary kilns at 1,200 C (2,190F). This causes the clay to expand, like popcorn, and become porous. It is light in weight, and does not compact over time. The shape of an individual pellet can be irregular or uniform depending on brand and manufacturing process. The manufacturers consider expanded clay to be an ecologically sustainable and re-usable growing medium because of its ability to be cleaned and sterilized, typically by washing in solutions of white vinegar, chlorine bleach.

Rice hullsParboiled rice hulls (PBH) decay over time. Rice hulls allow drainage, and even retain less water than growstones.A study showed that rice hulls didn't affect the effects of plant growth regulators. Rice hulls are an agricultural byproduct that would otherwise have little use.

Advantages-No soil is needed The water stays in the system and can be reused - thus, a lower water requirementIt is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety - thus, lower nutrition requirementsNo nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled systemStable and high yieldsPests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container's mobilityEase of harvestingNo pesticide damagePlants grow healthierIt is better for consumption

disadvantagesWithout soil as a buffer, any failure to the hydroponic system leads to rapid plant death. Other disadvantages include pathogen attacks such as damp-off due to Verticillium wilt caused by the high moisture levels associated with hydroponics and over watering of soil based plants. Also, many hydroponic plants require different fertilizers and containment systemApplication of substrate cultureIn hydroponics systemPotting mediaSoil less culture

Hydroponics? A Resource Guide for understanding and using Hydroponics.Hydroponics Grow Shop includes a wide array of gardening supplies and products keyed to making gardening easier, safer, clean and more efficient. Hydroponics, growing plants without soil, is just one method modern growers use to grow more in less space and less time!Hydroponics is all about enriching water by creating and maintaining a perfect nutrient solution that is perfectly balanced for the plant. When the plants get exactly, everything they need, all the time, it will grow as fast, and provide the best flavor and nutritional value, that it possibly can. Hydroponics is growing plants without soil. Absolutely anything that can be grown in soil can be grown hydroponically. The key is determining the precise, ideal, nutrient solution for the specific plant, and consistently providing it to the roots. Typically, by using a general purpose hydroponic nutrient, plants will outperform soil grown plants in the same environment. Hydroponics Grow Shop is a complete guide to building and operating your own indoor garden. Includes detailed instructions, photos and step-by-step set up.

Hydroponic systems

Soil and Soilless Growing MediaThe Dynamic Nature of Soil and Growing Media

Most soils on the average are composed of 46-49% mineral particles (often called separates), 1-6% organic matter and 50% air and water.

The mineral particles of soil are sand, silt and clay.

When the plantlets are large enough, they can be removed from the tissue culture container and transferred into pots with potting soil. The young plants are grown in a greenhouse just like you would any young seedling or cutting.

When the small plant clones are removed from the culture containers, they must be transplanted into some type of acclimation container or kept under a mist system until the acclimate to the ambient environment. After acclimation, the young plants can be transplanted and grown in pots in a greenhouse to produce new plants.

Research work onEffect of Different Substrates on Growth and Flowering ofDianthus caryophyllus cv. Chauband Mixed(Yasmeen et al., 2012)Effect of Different Substrate on plant heightTreatmentPlant heightGarden soil37.77Leaf compost + silt + FYM(1:1:1)26.66Leaf compost +silt(1:1)21.55Farm Yard Manure15.55Silt42.55Leaf Compost + Sand (1:1)43.33Effect of Different Substrate on plant height(Yasmeen et al., 2012)40Comparison of mean values for number of flowers/plantTreatmentNo of flowers/plantGarden soil76.77Leaf compost + silt + FYM(1:1:1)52.21Leaf compost +silt(1:1)24.88Farm Yard Manure10.22Silt79.33Leaf Compost + Sand (1:1)89.55Effects of different nutrient solution formulations on yield and cut flower quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) grown in soilless culture systemUur Sirin 2011

Uur Sirin. (2011)The effects of NSFs on cut flower quality parametersapplication traitsNo.of nsfFSL(cm)FHD(cm) FSBD(mm)FSUD(mm) FSFW(g)FSDW(g) VL(day)I37.04310.5606.0186.02617.0593.04110.0Ii39.29010.9105.8565.70917.2522.3259.2Iii36.47710.8675.4895.42114.3252.86011.7Iv36.37310.6806.0106.09816.5463.37913.0v38.34011.4506.0306.59220.5693.21212.3Uur Sirin 2011The effects of nutrient solution formulations on growth performances of gerbera plants.

Uur Sirin 2011

Results findings of

Two Substrates for Cut Flower Heliconia in Soilless Culture This is done between comparison of organic and inorganic subststrates or soil less media in case of heliconia flowerRelation between shoot and flower production. Name of varietyShoots/m2

Inflorescences/m2

Flower abortion %

Guajara

Coconut Fibre

127.5

72.0

40.4

Tuff

91.3

49.0

41.4

Teide

Coconut Fibre 63.8

35.6

40.4

Tuff 38.3

25.0

31.0

Daz,et.ol.,2004 Effect of substrate on accumulative inflorescence production (left) and total number of inflorescences (right), for the studied cultivars of Heliconia

Daz,et.ol.,2004 Influence of substrate on inflorescence length, weight and mass-to-length ratio for both cultivars of Heliconia

Daz,et.ol.,2004 SUBSTRATES EFFECTS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF ROSA HYBRIDA L.Future difficulties for attempting this tecniques in indiaThe Expert Consultation enabled an assessment of the inherent strengths as well as thechallenges in realizing the true worth of this global business. The major constraints/obstacles include: lack of authentic information/databases to plan appropriate developmental initiatives; poor access to production inputs, particularly quality planting material; inadequate research and development support in most parts of the region; weak floriculture extension services and technology dissemination programmes; low awareness of quality certification in production such as Good AgriculturalPractices (GAP), integrated pest management (IPM) etc. and post-harvest management; poor/unorganized market infrastructure and absence of market intelligence; andlack of harmonization in plant quarantine regulations affecting the marketing in the region.

conclusion