dc.contributor.author | Masaka, Johnson | |
dc.contributor.author | Chimwanda, Noel | |
dc.contributor.author | Chagonda, Ignatius | |
dc.contributor.author | Chandiposha, Misheck | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2018-07-19T07:21:45Z | |
dc.date.available | 2018-07-19T07:21:45Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2016-02 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Advances in Agriculture Volume 2016, Article ID 5650290, 11 pages | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5650290 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1950 | |
dc.description.abstract | The search for suitable organic growingmedia substitutes for pine bark basedmedia combinations has been prompted by concerns
over high costs and lack of availability to smallholder farmers coupled with increasing demand for soilless media in Zimbabwe. A
trial was conducted for 12 weeks to investigate the suitability of tea tree compost-based substrates for tobacco seedling production
as a substitute of the traditional pine bark growing media. The use of composted tea tree growing media in float trays significantly
(𝑝 < 0.05) increases the bulk density of the media by 23–59% when compared with pine bark media.The cation exchange capacity
of the native pine bark growing media was 14 to 95% lower than that for the composted tea tree media. The use of the composted
tea as media for tobacco seedling nursery reduced seed germination by 10–37%, seedling stem height by 4–34%, and seedling stem
girth by 6–175%.While the nutrient holding and supplying potential of the growing media in seedling production is important for
normal seedling growth, its effect on seedling growth vigor is less important than that exerted by the presence of suitable physical
conditions in the media. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Hindawi | en_US |
dc.title | A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |