%0 Journal Article
%T Anaerobically Digested Dairy Fiber in Soilless Potting Media for Herbaceous Perennials
%A John R. Lamont
%A George C. Elliott
%J American Journal of Plant Sciences
%P 288-295
%@ 2158-2750
%D 2016
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ajps.2016.72028
%X Sphagnum peat moss has been a primary component of soilless potting media for decades; however, concerns over the sustainability of harvesting peat have fostered a search for renewable media components. Anaerobically digested dairy fiber (ADDF), a by-product of methane production, shows promise as an alternative to peat. Herbaceous nursery crops including ¡°Jack Frost¡± brunnera (<i>Brunnera macrophylla</i> I.M. Johnst), ¡°Moonbeam¡± coreopsis (<i>Coreopsis verticillata</i> L.), ¡°Whoops-a-Daisy¡± Shasta daisy (<i>Leucanthemum</i> ¡Á <i>superbum</i> Bergmans ex J.W. Ingram), ¡°Kobold Original¡± liatris (<i>Liatris spicata</i> (L.) Willd.) and ¡°David¡± phlox (<i>Phlox paniculata</i> L.) were grown in media containing bark-peat-perlite or bark-ADDF-perlite in a 4:2:1 proportion. All leachate was collected from pots to evaluate cumulative nitrogen and phosphate leaching. Brunnera grew to a similar size and quality in both mixes, although brunnera in the bark-ADDF-perlite mix had slightly chlorotic leaf margins. Coreopsis grew to a similar size and quality in both mixes but was slightly etiolated and chlorotic in bark-ADDF-perlite. Shasta daisy grown in bark-ADDF-perlite were larger than those grown in bark-peat-perlite. Both mixes produced similar growth and quality liatris and phlox. More ammonium, nitrate and phosphate were recovered from leachate from bark-ADDF-perlite than from bark-ADDF-perlite.
%K Peat Substitution
%K Substrate
%K Nursery Crops
%K Ornamentals
%K Nutrient Leaching
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=63616