| heal.abstract |
The equilibrium moisture profiles of the peat, perlite and their mixtures with peat 75%, 50% and 25%, used as potting media were studied and compared. The study included two different water regimes resulted a) from surface irrigation and draining and b) by wetting from the bottom, in relation to the height of the pots. The equilibrium draining profiles determined experimentally from substrate columns placed into divided plastic tubes almost coincide with those derived in different ways from the moisture characteristic curves. The initial moisture contents previous to the wetting procedure were achieved by using a special constructed tension table. The comparison of the experimentally determined draining and wetting equilibrium profiles up to the height of 40 cm showed that all moisture profiles gave more moisture content at the base than the top. In all cases the peat as a potting medium gave a greater moisture profile than that obtained with the perlite. In their mixtures the moisture content is decreased as the percentage of the peat is decreased too. As far as the shape of the pot is concerned, the moisture content is decreased with increasing the height of the pot. Finally, the equilibrium draining moisture profiles are greater than the corresponded wetting profiles. © ISHS. |
en |