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Introduction:. Soil is used for plant propagation and in horticulture nursery from ages. However, different plant growth media are prepared and used successfully in modern nurseries. Coco peat, leaf mould and sphagnum moss are amongst the most popular growth media. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Soil is used for plant propagation and in horticulture nursery from
ages. However, different plant growth media are prepared and
used successfully in modern nurseries. Coco peat, leaf mould and
sphagnum moss are amongst the most popular growth media.
Plant Growth Media: They are Organic or inorganic material
which is used for growing plants as it provides nutrients, physical
support and moisture to the plant during its growing period.
Introduction:
• Good medium must be firm to hold the plant and volume of
media should be fairy constant under wet or dry condition.
• Media should be porous, drain out excess water and provide
aeration and at the same time retain sufficient moisture in it.
• Media should be free from weed seeds, nematodes and must
have a neutral pH level.
• Media must be capable of being sterilized without deleterious in
porosity, structure and Texture.
Properties of good growth Medium:
The plant growth media are classified as soil media and soil less
media.
Soil Media: Soil media can be in solid, liquid and gaseous state.
Media can provide physical and nutritional support to plant growth
and should be available in plenty. Media should be Solid
constituents of organic or inorganic forms. Liquid part is soil solution
contains minerals in dissolved form.
Classification of Plant Growth Media
Sand: Sand is soil less plant propagation media which contains
stone and rock grains of 0.05 to 2.0 mm in diameter.
Sphagnum Moss: Sphagnum moss is light weight dehydrated residue of plants called Sphagnum papillosum and Sphagnum palustre which has a high water absorption and holding capacity almost 20 times to its weight.
Soil less Media
Peat: Peat is residue of aquatic, marsh or swamp vegetation
which is preserved under water in partially decomposed state.
Composition of different peat deposit varies depending upon
vegetation and rate of decomposition like acidic peat, alkaline
peat, muck peat, baled peat, etc
Vermiculite: It is mica based hydrated magnesium, aluminum, iron
silicate mineral material which expands significantly on heating. It is
very light in weight can absorb 4 liter water per cubic feet.
Soil less Media
Perlite: It is a gray white material of volcanic origin and light in
weight which absorbs 210 to 280 liters water per cubic meter.
Leaf Mould: Leaf mould is prepared by mixing soil added with
small amount of ammonium sulphate with layers of leaf, water
well and allow the material to decompose to form leaf mold.
Wood Ash: Wood ash is a rich source of potash which can be
produced by burning fire wood and tree branches.
Soil less Media
Coco Peat: It is byproduct of coconut fiber industry which is
rich in potassium and boron. It has high electrical
conductivity, pH between 5.5- 5.8 and the C:N ratio is 110:1.
Coco peat has 95 % porosity and 250kg/m3.bulk density.
Pumice: It is silicon dioxide and Aluminum Trioxide with small
amount of Fe, Ca, Mg, Na in oxide form.
Soil less Media
Bone Meal: It is extensively used in potted plants and
flower beds as a rich source of calcium and phosphorus.
Oilcakes: it is residues from extraction of oil from oilseeds
like Groundnut, Castor, Cotton which contain 2- 5 %
nitrogen, 1-2 % phosphorus and are best for use in potted
plants.
Bark, Saw Dust and Wood Shavings: They are the
byproducts of saw mills and available at reasonable cost.
Soil less Media