| heal.abstract |
Research was carried out in order to evaluate compost from cotton gin trash as a peat substitute in Codiaeum variegatum (L.) production. Rooted cuttings were grown for eight months in media containing cotton gin trash compost (CGC), peat and perlite in 1:3:4,1:1:2 and 3:1:4 ratios, respectively, and their growth was compared to a control medium of 1 peat : 1 perlite (by volume). At the end of the experiment, the plant height, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, and the dry weight of the roots were measured. Even when 75% of peat in the control medium was replaced by CGC, foliage and root growth was not affected negatively, while root dry weight was increased in the medium with 25% peat replacement. There was however an effect of CGC on the colour of plant foliage. The anthocyanin concentration in basal, middle and apical leaves was measured, at the end of the experiment, and it was found that the gradual increase of CGC level in the growth medium caused a gradual increase of the anthocyanin concentration in the leaves. This effect is discussed in relation to chemical properties of the media. The gradual increase of CGC level caused a gradual increase of N, P and K concentrations in the medium. Also, media with CGC had high electrical conductivity at the beginning of the culture period, related to CGC level, which it was reduced to values similar to that in the control medium after 50 days of culture. The Na concentration in the media ranged similarly to electrical conductivity. The pH of media with high CGC level was increased during the whole culture period. |
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