Pig manure vermicompost as a component of a horticultural bedding plant medium: effects on physicochemical properties and plant growth

Water deficiency compromises plant performance and yield in many habitats and in agriculture. In addition to survival of the acute drought stress period which depends on plant-genotype-specific characteristics, stress intensity and duration, also the speed and efficiency of recovery determine plant performance. Drought-induced deregulation of metabolism enhances generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) which in turn affect the redox regulatory state of the cell. Strong correlative and analytical evidence assigns a major role in drought tolerance to the redox regulatory and antioxidant system. This review compiles current knowledge on the response and function of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide under drought stress in various species and drought stress regimes. The meta-analysis of reported changes in transcript and protein amounts, and activities of components of the antioxidant and redox network support the tentative conclusion that drought tolerance is more tightly linked to up-regulated ascorbate-dependent antioxidant activity than to the response of the thiol-redox regulatory network. The significance of the antioxidant system in surviving severe phases of dehydration is further supported by the strong antioxidant system usually encountered in resurrection plants.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/4/94/pdf

The Role of the Plant Antioxidant System in Drought Tolerance.

Greenhouse Tomato Fruit Quality

Vermicompost as a substitute for peat in potting media: Effects on germination, biomass allocation, yields and fruit quality of three tomato varieties

Achieving environmentally sustainable growing media for soilless plant cultivation systems – a review

Visions of the future for container nursery irrigation were collected from twelve nursery irrigation scientists, growers and nursery organization leaders. The amount of water available for nursery irrigation unanimously is forecasted to decline over the next decade. Along with declining availability, the cost of water for irrigation is predicted to increase substantially for most nurseries. Limited availability, higher direct cost, and irrigation runoff issues are projected to compel the container nursery industry to adopt procedures and technology that will increase irrigation water use efficiency. Evidence in support of these prognoses, current solutions and suggested options are discussed.

/pdf/strategic-vision-of-container-nursery-irrigation-in-the-next-1w68bpb5fl.pdf

Strategic Vision of Container Nursery Irrigation in the Next Ten Years

Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. CV. Vedettos and Lycopersicon chmielewskii Rick, LA 1028, were exposed to two CO2 concentrations (330 or 900 µmol·m -3 ) for 10 weeks. The elevated CO2 concentration increased the relative growth rate (RGR) of L. esculentum and L. chmielewskii by 18% and 30%, respectively, after 2 weeks of treatment. This increase was not maintained as the plant matured. Net assimilation rate (NAR) and specific leaf weight (SLW) were always higher in C02-enriched plants, suggesting that assimilates were preferentially accumulated in the leaves as reserves rather than contributing to leaf expansion. Carbon dioxide enrichment increased early and total yields of L. esculentum by 80% and 22%, respectively. Carbon exchange rates (CER) increased during the first few weeks, but thereafter decreased as tomato plants acclimated to high atmospheric CO 2. The relatively constant concentration of internal C02 with time suggests that reduced stomatal conductance under high CO 2 does not explain lower pho- tosynthetic rates of tomato plants grown under high atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. Leaves 5 and 9 responded equally to high CO2 enrichment throughout plant growth. Consequently, acclimation of CO 2-enriched plants was not entirely due to the age of the tissue. After 10 weeks of treatment, leaf 5, which had been exposed to high CO 2 for only 10 days, showed the greatest acclimation of the experiment. We conclude that the duration of exposure of the whole plant to elevated CO2 concentration, rather than the age of the tissue, governs the acclimation to high CO 2 concentrations.

/pdf/duration-of-co2-enrichment-influences-growth-yield-and-gas-3hav6hcde5.pdf

Duration of CO2 enrichment influences growth, yield, and gas exchange of two tomato species.

Weighing lysimeter systems for quantifying water use and studies of controlled water stress for crops grown in low bulk density substrates

Rhododendron indicum (L.) Sweet ‘Due du Rohan’ and Pittosporum tobira variegata Ait. were produced in 10.2 liter (#3) containers in substrates consisting of 20, 40, 60, and 80% (v/v) composted yard waste mixed with pine bark and coarse sand. Plant growth, substrate physical properties, and N and P leachate were compared with a control substrate of pine bark fines:sledge peat:sand (3:1:1 by vol). Shoot growth of plants in compost substrates was similar or better than control plants and greater with daily irrigation compared to alternate day irrigation. Root growth and percent air porosity declined as compost composition and waterholding capacity increased. Total porosity was generally consistent throughout the study. Irrigation regime had no effect on root growth nor substrate physical properties. Ammonium, NO3-N, and P concentrations in leachates varied with substrate and time following topdressing with controlled release fertilizer. Both species grew best in the 40% compost, 50% pine bark, and 1...

/pdf/composted-yard-waste-as-a-component-of-container-substrates-4ch7w8vz6y.pdf

Composted Yard Waste as a Component of Container Substrates

Trunk growth rates one year after transplanting 5 cm (2 in) caliper laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia Michx.) from above-ground plastic containers, from in-ground fabric containers or from th...

Richard C. Beeson

Papers

Strategic Vision of Container Nursery Irrigation in the Next Ten Years

Duration of CO2 enrichment influences growth, yield, and gas exchange of two tomato species.

Weighing lysimeter systems for quantifying water use and studies of controlled water stress for crops grown in low bulk density substrates

Composted Yard Waste as a Component of Container Substrates

Production Method Affects Tree Establishment in the Landscape