EFFECT OF PHSICO-HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES ON TOMATO NURSERY

Zabady, F. I.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2012.102574

EFFECT OF PHSICO-HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES ON TOMATO NURSERY

Document Type : Original Article

Author

F. I. Zabady

Asst. Prof. Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Cairo, Al-Azhar Uni., Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2012.102574

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to find the best mixture (growth media) for planting tomato nursery by mixing sand, peatmoss, and vermiculite. The mixtures were devided to three groups (sand + peatmoss), (sand + vermiculite), and (sand + peatmoss + vermiculite). Each group contains different ratio of sand and other component. Also, one sample was (40% petmoss + 60% vermiculite) as a control. Laboratory experiments were conducted to quantify real density (g/cm3), bulck density (g/cm3), hydraulic conductivity (cm/min), total porosity (%), and water holding capacity (g/g) as affected by different mixtures. The tomato nursery was planted into trays in greenhouse. The results show that in the media of ''sand + peatmoss'' increased sand ratio gave an increase in total porosity and a decrease in water holding capacity. At mixtures of ''sand + vermiculite'', the total porosity decreased with increase in sand ratio and water holding capacity decreased with an increase in sand ratio. The highest values of total porosity and water holding capacity were at mixture of (70% peatmoss + 30% sand). Also, the highest growth parameter of nursery as seedling weight and length was obtained with the same mixture.

Main Subjects

Agricultural Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

References

FAO, (1989). Production year. Vol: 43 . FAO.Rome.

James, A., (2011). Physical properties of container media. Ph.D. North Willamette Res and Ext Center, Oregon State U. http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery- weeds/feature

Klute, A., (1988). Methods of soil analysis part 1 ''physical mineralogical methods'' 2^rd Ad., Am Society Agrony monograph N9 Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Prasad, M., (1978). Physical properties of media for container-grown crops. II. Peat mixes. Hort Res Center, Res. Div. Mini Ag. and fisheries, Levin New Zealand.

Stolte, J., (1997). Determination of the saturated hydraulic conductivity using the constant head method. Manual for soil physical measurments. Version:3,pp77. DLO, winand staring center. Wageningen. The Nether Lands.

Thompson A. M., A. C. Paul, and N. J. Balster, (2008). Physical and hydraulic properties of engineered soil media for Bioretention Basins. Trans. of th ASABE. Vol: 51 (2): 499-514.

Villareal, R.L., (1978). First international Symposium on Tomato AVRDC,shahua, Tainan, Taiwan, China.

Yusef, S., (2011). Effect of mixing date palm leaves compost (DPLC) with vermiculite, perlite, sand and clay on vegetative growth of dahlia (Dahlia pinnata), Marigold (Tagetes erecta), Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) and Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) Plants. J. of Env Sc 5(7): 655-665.