Experiment Design
•5 – 4” pots were filled with each test media –Densu coir –Pro mix –Metro mix –Atlas mix
•1 impatiens plug was placed into each pot
•All pots were fertilized with 1 tsp of Osmocote 14-14-14
•All plants were placed in a greenhouse and watered daily
•Approximately 4 weeks after planting, plant height and width were recorded to calculate plant growth
Impatiens grown in Densu Coir
Impatiens grown in Pro mix
Impatiens
Densu Coir |
Metro Mix |
Pro Mix |
Impatiens
Densu Coir |
Metro Mix |
Pro Mix |
Impatiens
Densu Coir |
Metro Mix |
Pro Mix |
Impatiens Growth
Impatiens
Densu Coir |
Metor Mix |
Pro Mix |
Atlas Mix |
Media Chemical Properties
Media |
pH |
Soluble Salts
(mmhos/cm)
|
CEC
(MEQ/100g) |
| Densu Coir |
6.2 |
0.37 |
2.2 |
| Pro Mix |
6.6 |
0.26 |
3.9 |
| Metro Mix |
4.9 |
0.86 |
6.1 |
| Atlas Mix |
7.1 |
0.19 |
2.9 |
Physical Media Properties
Media |
|
Air Filled Porsity
%
|
Water Holding Capacity
%
|
| Densu Coir |
64.26 |
26.00 |
38.26 |
| Pro Mix |
92.00 |
23.00 |
69.00 |
| Metro Mix |
66.00 |
47.00 |
19.00 |
| Atlas Mix |
61.00 |
22.00 |
39.00 |
Densu coir Physical Properties
| Property |
Value |
| Total Perosity |
64.26% |
| Air Space |
26.00% |
| Container Capacity |
38.26% |
| Moisture Content |
76.59% |
| Bulk Density |
0.12 |
Grow Media Study
1. Three growing substrates
a. Atlas mix (5 pine bark: 4 sedge peat: 1 sand mixture)
b. Peat mix (60% sphagnum peat:25% vermiculite: 15% perlite)
c. Densu Coir mix (100% coir – ground coconut husks)
2. Fertilization (Osmocote Plus 15-9-12) incorporated into the growing substrate at one of three rates
a. 3 lbs/cu yard (low)
b. 6 lbs/cu yard (medium)
3. 10 lbs/cu yard (high) Replicates (5 )
4. Petunia plugs were transplanted into 4” pots on March 20, 2007. The experiment was terminated on April 10, 2007.
Petunia final shoot dry weight, rating and chlorosis rating.
Substrate |
Fertilization |
Shoot dry wt |
Rating |
Chlorosis |
Atlas |
3 lb |
0.156 |
1.75 |
1.7 |
|
6 lb |
0.473 |
2.50 |
1.1 |
|
10 lb |
0.446 |
2.40 |
1.1 |
|
|
0.358 |
2.22 |
1.3 |
Densu Coir |
3 lb |
0.421 |
2.65 |
2.0 |
|
6 lb |
0.640 |
3.20 |
2.0 |
|
10 lb |
1.077 |
3.60 |
2.0 |
|
|
0.713 |
3.15 |
2.0 |
Peat |
3 lb |
0.492 |
2.70 |
1.6 |
|
6 lb |
0.975 |
3.70 |
1.8 |
|
10 lb |
0.115 |
0.15 |
1.8 |
|
|
0.677 |
2.18 |
1.7 |
Rating was based on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 = excellent, 3 = OK and saleable, 1 = poor
Chlorosis
If a plant showed signs of chlorosis it received a 1 if no chlorosis was present is received a 2.
Initial substrate pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and
water-holding capacity (WHC ).
Substrate |
Fertilization |
pH |
EC (dS/m) |
WHC (%) |
Atlas |
3 lb |
6.51 |
1.76 |
49.0 |
|
6 lb |
6.45 |
2.68 |
56.4 |
|
10 lb |
6.54 |
3.94 |
45.2 |
|
|
6.50 |
2.79 |
50.2 |
Densu Coir |
3 lb |
5.49 |
1.46 |
72.6 |
|
6 lb |
5.30 |
1.83 |
67.2 |
|
10 lb |
5.14 |
2.41 |
81.8 |
|
|
5.31 |
1.90 |
73.9 |
Peat |
3 lb |
4.87 |
0.35 |
73.6 |
|
6 lb |
3.82 |
1.01 |
78.3 |
|
10 lb |
3.62 |
2.40 |
66.5 |
|
|
4.10 |
1.25 |
72.8 |
Final substrate pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and water-holding capacity (WHC).
Substrate |
Fertilization |
pH |
EC (dS/m) |
WHC (%) |
Atlas |
3 lb |
6.12 |
1.75 |
43.95 |
|
6 lb |
5.95 |
2.81 |
37.00 |
|
10 lb |
5.99 |
3.75 |
48.10 |
|
|
6.02 |
2.77 |
43.02 |
Densu Coir |
3 lb |
5.77 |
0.90 |
50.75 |
|
6 lb |
5.36 |
1.50 |
61.10 |
|
10 lb |
5.29 |
2.58 |
55.55 |
|
|
5.47 |
1.66 |
55.80 |
Peat |
3 lb |
6.42 |
0.67 |
53.20 |
|
6 lb |
5.07 |
1.60 |
60.05 |
|
10 lb |
5.35 |
1.78 |
50.60 |
|
|
5.61 |
1.35 |
54.62 |
Here are some interesting things we found out from these studies
At the 10lbs fertilization level the Densu Coir plants performed well.
The Peat Moss Mix plants did not make it!!!
Densu Coir is much more forgiving and tolerant of grower's error.
Densu Coir is both plant and grower friendly
And Yes 100% Densu Coir is Superior to the more expensive Peat Mix
Substrate |
Fertilization |
Shoot dry wt |
Rating |
Chlorosis |
Atlas |
3 lb |
0.156 |
1.75 |
1.7 |
|
6 lb |
0.473 |
2.50 |
1.1 |
|
10 lb |
0.446 |
2.40 |
1.1 |
|
|
0.358 |
2.22 |
1.3 |
Densu Coir |
3 lb |
0.421 |
2.65 |
2.0 |
|
6 lb |
0.640 |
3.20 |
2.0 |
|
10 lb |
1.077 |
3.60 |
2.0 |
|
|
0.713 |
3.15 |
2.0 |
Peat |
3 lb |
0.492 |
2.70 |
1.6 |
|
6 lb |
0.975 |
3.70 |
1.8 |
|
10 lb |
0.115 |
0.15 |
1.8 |
|
|
0.677 |
2.18 |
1.7 |
Rating was based on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 = excellent, 3 = OK and saleable, 1 = poor
Chlorosis
If a plant showed signs of chlorosis it received a 1 if no chlorosis was present is received a 2.
CONCLUSION
Densu Coir Medium-Vs-Peat Moss Mix Results
-Plants had 5% More Weight and were 30% more Saleable
and judged to be 15% fresher looking.
.
