THECOMMERCIALGREENHOUSEGROWER
•
JANUARY 2017
6
•
N
EWS
Anaerobically digested dairy
fiber in soillessmedia
For the full story andmore, go to:
solufeed.com
Barnham,WestSussexPO220BT
01243 554090
CompetePlus
Solufeedand thewavyparallelogramdeviceare trademarksof SolufeedLtd. Compete isa trademarkof Plant HealthCureBV.
Top quality speciality fertilizers
Healthy roots, healthy crops...
... healthymargins!
Contains beneficial microorganisms andother key ingredients
proven to create ahealthier root environment leading tobetter
plants and improved cropperformance.
RHIZOSPHERE INOCULANT
Klasmann-Deilmann is nowmarketing
an innovative plant propagation
system called ‘Growcoon’.
The company has signed an
agreement withDutch producerMaan
BiobasedProducts and through the
Klasmann-DeilmannGroup, Maanwill have direct access to
European and international markets.
The benefits foKlasmann-Deilmann are in distributing a
propagation systemwhere the advantages are directly linked to
the use of growingmedia in horticulture.
Growcoon is a 100%biodegradable elasticmeshwhich, in
combinationwith propagation substrates, forms a stable root
plug. The product’s elastic and open structure holds the
substrate, promotes root development in youngplants and
aids in their healthy growth. The result is shorter propagation
times and enhanced young-plant performance. TheGrowcoon
can be used in all establishedpropagation systems; its size is
tailored toprecisely fit trays of different sizes. Growcoons are
placed in traysmanually or automatically usingdispensers
upstream from the tray-fillingmachine (the product being
suitable for all standardmachines).
Innovative plant propagation
system
Sphagnumpeatmoss has been a primary component of
soilless pottingmedia for decades; however, concerns over the
sustainability of harvestingpeat have fostered a search for
renewablemedia components. Anaerobically digesteddairy
fiber, a by-product of methane production, shows promise as
an alternative topeat. In studies at University of Connecticut
herbaceous nursery crops including “Jack Frost” brunnera,
“Moonbeam” coreopsis, “Whoops-a-Daisy” Shasta daisy,
“KoboldOriginal” liatris and “David” phloxwere grown inmedia
containingbark-peat-perlite or bark- digesteddairy fiber-perlite
in a 4:2:1proportion.
All leachatewas collected frompots to evaluate cumulative
nitrogen andphosphate leaching (American Journal of Plant
Sciences).
Brunnera grew to a similar size andquality in bothmixes,
although brunnera in the bark- digesteddairy fiber-perlitemix
had slightly chlorotic leaf margins. Coreopsis grew to a similar
size andquality in bothmixes but was slightly etiolated and
chlorotic in bark- digesteddairy fiber-perlite. Shasta daisy
grown in bark-digesteddairy fiber -perlitewere larger than
those grown in bark-peat-perlite. Bothmixes produced similar
growth andquality liatris andphlox.
