Mixture Of Peat Research Articles

Micropropagation of Juniperus phoenicea from adult plant explants and analysis of ploidy stability using flow cytometry

We report here the successful micropropagation of adult Juniperus phoenicea L. with respective ploidy stability studies. Microcuttings with axillary buds were grown on five media supplemented with different growth regulator combinations. Best elongation rates were achieved on Driver and Kuniyuki (DKW) medium supplemented with kinetin alone or with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), while Rugini olive (OM) medium stimulated the development of new branches. Shoots growing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium browned and showed necrotic zones. Shoots of second to fourth subcultures usually had higher elongation rates than those of the first culture. For rooting assays, half strength DKW and OM media, different concentrations of growth regulators, auxin continuous exposure vs. dipping and the type of solid matrix were assessed. During rooting assays, two morphotypes were observed with one type having well developed internodes and the other showing hyperhydratation and no internode development. High rooting rates (40 %) were only obtained in the first morphotype shoots exposed for 5 min to 2.4 µM IBA and then transferred to OM medium without growth regulators. Plants were acclimatized in pots containing a mixture of peat and Perlite (3:2) in greenhouse with progressive reduction of relative humidity. A flow cytometric screening for major ploidy changes revealed no differences among the morphotypes and between them and the mother plant. Also the nuclear DNA content of this species was estimated for the first time using flow cytometry (2C = 24.71 pg).

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based compost formulas using wheat chaff as activator material

This study was designed to determine the pin head formation time and yield values of Agaricus bisporus on some casing materials. Composts were prepared basically from wheat straw and waste tea leaves by using wheat chaff as activator substance. Temperatures of the compost formulas were measured during composting at various depths in order to determine the compostability level. Results showed that in both compost types, maximum temperature values were recorded in the second turning stage. Composting was completed in 21 days for both composts. While the fastest pin head formation (12.50 days) was obtained on wheat straw based compost using peat of Bolu (PB) and peat of Agacbasi (PA) (50+50; in volume); waste tea leaves based compost using peat of Caykara (PC) and forest soil (FS) mixture (50+50; in volume) as casing material gave the fastest pin head formation (13.25 days). In terms of yield, a mixture of peat of Bolu and peat of Agacbasi (PA) (50+50; in volume) gave the highest yield for wheat straw based compost, a mixture of peat of Agacbasi and perlite (P) (80+20; involume) had the highest yield for waste tea leaves based compost.

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts using poplar leaves as activator material

This study was carried out to determine pin head formation time and mushroom yield of Agaricus bisporus on some casing materials. Composts were prepared basically from wheat straw and waste tea leaves using poplar leaves as activator material. In this study, moreover, in order to follow the evolution of the composting process, daily temperature measurements were taken. According to the results of the study, in both compost types, maximum temperature values were observed in the second turning stage. While in the first and second turning stages, inner-pile temperature of the compost was in a tendency of exhibiting steady increase, they are prone to decrease in the following turning stages. In both composts, the period of composting has finished in 19 days. While the fastest pin head formation (13 days) was obtained on wheat straw based compost using peat of Caykara (PC) and forest soil (FS) (50+50; in volume); waste tea leaves based compost using peat of Bolu (PB) and peat of Caykara (PC) mixture (50+50; in volume) as casing material gave the fastest pin head formation (13.30 days). While, a mixture of peat of Agacbasi (PA) and perlite (P) gave the highest yield for wheat straw based compost, peat of Bolu shows the highest yield for waste tea leaves based compost.

Development and application of an analytical protocol for evaluation of treatment processes for landfill leachates. II. Evaluation of leachate treatment efficiency of different steps in a constructed pilot plant

Different methods for treatment of leachate from a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill were tested in a pilot plant. Raw leachate was pre-treated with aeration and sedimentation, followed by several parallel individual steps such as bioremediation, chemical oxidation, ozonation, and geo-bed filters. The efficiency of different treatment steps was evaluated according to one previously developed protocol, which includes measurements of several parameters such as conductivity, pH, nutrients, chloride, metals, organic compounds, and acute toxicity before and after a treatment step. The treatment steps which showed the highest efficiency towards organic pollutants in leachate were ozone treatment and chemical oxidation. The use of an adsorption filter, a geo-bed with a mixture of peat and bottom ash with ca 10% remaining carbon, also had good effects. A combination of pre-treatment and a geo-bed filter with peat and carbon ash gave the best overall treatment results when water-quality parameters such as total organic carbon and ammonia-nitrogen were also considered.

Improved salt tolerance of melon ( Cucumis melo L.) by the addition of proline and potassium nitrate

A pot experiment was carried out under glasshouse conditions with melon ( Cucumis melo) cv. “Tempo F1” in a mixture of peat, perlite and sand (1:1:1) to investigate the effects of external proline and potassium nitrate applications to salinity-treated (150 mM) plants with respect to fruit yield, plant growth, some physiological parameters and ion uptake. Treatments were—(i) control (C): plants receiving nutrient solution, (ii) salinity treatment, as for control plus 150 mM NaCl. Salinity treatment was combined with or without either 5 mM supplementary KNO 3 or 10 mM proline. The salt treatment (150 mM NaCl) led to significant decreases in plant growth, fruit yield, relative water content (RWC), stomatal density, uptake of Ca 2+, K + and N, and chlorophyll a and b contents, accompanied by significant increases in Na + uptake, proline concentration and membrane permeability. Supplementary KNO 3 and proline treatments significantly ameliorated the adverse effects of salinity on plant growth, fruit yield and the physiological parameters examined. This could be attributed to the effects of all the external supplements in maintaining membrane permeability, and increasing concentrations of Ca 2+, N and K + in the leaves of plants subjected to salt stress.

Good Yields of Common Purslane with a High Fatty Acid Content Can Be Obtained in a Peat-based Floating System

Interest in cultivating common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) as a food crop has grown since its identification as an exceptionally rich source of bioprotective substances considered essential for normal human growth, health promotion, and disease prevention. However, little is known about the suitable cultural systems, substrates, and irrigation systems for common purslane's commercial production. In this study, we examined the effects of various substrates in a floating system on common purslane's yield and fatty acid content during 2003 and 2004. We carried out three experiments using peat, vermiculite, coir, perlite, and mixtures of peat and perlite (3:1 and 1:1 v/v). In 2003, highest yields were obtained in plants grown in either peat (1806 g·m−2) or vermiculite (1982 g·m−2) and far exceeded those grown in coir (1254 g·m−2) or perlite (834 g·m−2). In 2004, plants grown in peat or 3 peat:1 perlite mixture yielded the best (2000 g·m−2), whereas the lowest yields were obtained in plants grown in either coir or perlite (534 and 601 g·m−2, respectively). Plants grown in peat substrate had the highest total fatty acid content, alpha-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid, whereas the highest proportion of alpha-linolenic acid to total fatty acids was obtained in plants when grown in either coir or perlite.

Cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on wheat straw and waste tea leaves based composts using poplar leaves as activator material

This study was carried out to determine pin head formation time and mushroom yield of Agaricus bisporus on some casing materials. Composts were prepared basically from wheat straw and waste tea leaves using poplar leaves as activator material. In this study, moreover, in order to follow the evolution of the composting process, daily temperature measurements were taken. According to the results of the study, in both compost types, maximum temperature values were observed in the second turning stage. While in the first and second turning stages, inner-pile temperature of the compost was in a tendency of exhibiting steady increase, they are prone to decrease in the following turning stages. In both composts, the period of composting has finished in 19 days. While the fastest pin head formation (13 days) was obtained on wheat straw based compost using peat of Caykara (PC) and forest soil (FS) (50+50; in volume); waste tea leaves based compost using peat of Bolu (PB) and peat of Caykara (PC) mixture (50+50; in volume) as casing material gave the fastest pin head formation (13.30 days). While, a mixture of peat of Agacbasi (PA) and perlite (P) gave the highest yield for wheat straw based compost, peat of Bolu shows the highest yield for waste tea leaves based compost.

Nutrient and Chemical Characterization of Aging Golf Course Putting Greens: Establishment and Rootzone Mixture Treatment Effects

ABSTRACTNutrient retention and dynamics with time in turfgrass sand‐based rootzone mixtures (RZMs) are not well documented. This study was conducted to determine chemical properties of putting greens as impacted by (i) RZM, (ii) establishment (EST), and (iii) putting green age. United States Golf Association (USGA) specification greens were constructed and established with creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) sequentially from 1997 to 2000. Treatments included two RZMs [i.e., 80:20 (v–v) sand and sphagnum peat mixture and an 80:15:5 (v–v–v) sand, sphagnum peat, and soil] and two EST procedures (i.e., accelerated vs. controlled). The accelerated treatment received 2.6‐, 3.0‐, and 2.6‐fold N, P, and K, respectively, when compared with the controlled treatment during the EST year. Soil samples were taken and analyzed annually. The RZM generally had no effect on soil chemical properties during the EST year or beyond. All but five of the chemical properties investigated were significantly greater for the accelerated treatment compared with the controlled during the EST year. Soil pH in the accelerated treatment was lower than the controlled treatment, pH 6.7 vs. 7.4. Establishment treatments did not have an effect on chemical properties beyond the EST year, except for Bray1‐P. All soil chemical properties investigated, excluding pH and available K, decreased after the EST year, but began to increase several years later.

EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE, AUXIN SOURCE AND AUXIN OVERPRODUCING MUTANTS OF ECTOMYCORRHIZA HEBELOMA CYLINDROSPORUM ROMAGNESI IN ROOTING OF TWO QUINCE CLONES (EM A AND BA 29) MICROSHOOTS

The effect of strength of solid growth media (WPM, MS), porous substrates (vermiculite or mixtures of perlite and peat, 3:1 ratio) enriched with liquid 1/4 WPM, presence of auxins (IBA, NAA, IAA) for various periods, as well as the inoculation of media with cultures of auxin overproducing mutants of ectomycorrhiza Hebeloma cylindrosporum on rooting of two clones of quince (EM A and BA 29) microshoots was studied. Rooting of EM A microshoots proved to be very much affected by salt and auxin concentration. Rooting percentage of EM A microshoots reached 100% in perlite/peat (3/1 ratio) supplemented with liquid 1/4 WPM containing 0.1 mg/L NAA and transferred to free auxin media after 1 week, whereas BA 29 succeeded the best rooting percentage (50%) in the same media containing 1 mg/L NAA for 4 weeks. Rooting percentage of EM A noticed in vermiculite reached 100%, irrespective of the auxin source (1 mg/L IBA, 0.1 mg/L NAA, 0.1 mg/L IAA), while that of BA 29 reached only 42% with 0.1 mg/L IAA. Survival of rooted plantlets in vermiculite during acclimatization was very high (93,3%) for EM A, lower (70%) for BA 29. Growth media (1/4 WPM) inoculated with the mutants of Hebeloma cylindrosporum HC1, D117 or 331, resulted in 60, 13 and 20% rooting, respectively, for EM A but much lower percentage for BA 29 (13% for HC1).

Response of Zonal and Ivy Geraniums to Root Medium pH

Three cultivars each of zonal geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum `Candy Lavender', `Fireball', and `Patriot Red') and ivy geraniums (Pelargonium pelatum `Global Deep Lilac', `Global Salmon Rose', and `Global Soft Pink') were grown in root media with pHs varying from 4.3 to 7.8. In Expt. 1, a mixture of sphagnum peat, fine perlite, and fine pine bark was modified with limestone and hydrated lime at the following rates: 0, 1.2, 3.0, 4.7, and 11.9 kg·m–3 limestone; 11.9 limestone plus 5.9 hydrated lime; 11.9 limestone plus 8.3 hydrated lime; and 11.9 kg·m–3 limestone plus 10.7 kg·m–3 hydrated lime to give the various root medium pH treatments. Plants were grown for 11 weeks in glass greenhouses. In Expt. 2, plants were grown in two commercial soilless mixes with one being modified with the addition of 0 kg·m–3 limestone, 6.0 kg·m–3 limestone plus 0.6 kg·m–3 hydrated lime, and 6.0 kg·m–3 limestone plus 2.4 kg·m–3 hydrated lime. In both experiments, greatest dry weight was recorded in zonal and ivy geraniums plants grown at root medium pHs above 6.4. This study showed a root medium pH of 6.4 to 6.5 should be recommended for the greenhouse production of both zonal and ivy geraniums.

Growing Tomato Plantlets on Various Mixtures of Peat and Sand or Peat and Perlite. Note 1

Given the considerable interest in use of substrates derived from various mixtures in the nursery sector and in light of the enormous variety of possibilities offered by this technique, in contrast with the still small number of researches dedicated to this theme, this study was set out to examine in-depth the growing of tomato plantlets on peat-based substrates. Two series of peat mixtures were produced, one with sand and the other with perlite, with a volume ratio of the other two components with respect to the peat of 1:0, 2.5:1, 1:1 and 1:2.5. Tomato seedlings were cultivated for 30 or 25 days in small perforated pots containing these mixtures. The irrigation was calculated by weighing each pot daily, measuring the water lost by evaporation-transpiration, then just past an established lower threshold value bringing the water back up to a defined upper threshold. Two water regimes were compared in the sand series and three in the perlite series.

Centrifuge Modeling of Solid Waste Landfill Systems—Part 1: Development of a Model Municipal Solid Waste

Abstract This paper presents the development of a model waste that has physical properties similar to those reported by investigators for municipal solid waste (MSW). The model waste was developed using a mixture of peat, E-grade kaolin clay and fraction-E fine sand. Unit weight, compressibility, and shear strength characteristics of the model waste were experimentally determined and shown to match well with those reported for MSW.

Fouling tendency of ash resulting from burning mixtures of biofuels. Part 2: Deposit chemistry

Mixtures of peat with bark and peat with straw were burned in a lab-scale entrained flow reactor under controlled conditions, and deposits were collected on an air-cooled probe at a temperature of 550 °C. The fuel and deposit compositions were compared using chemical fractionation analysis and SEM/EDX. Chemical fractionation analysis was capable of explaining the relative fouling tendency of peat, bark, and straw. The composition of deposits obtained from firing peat, bark, and straw individually resembled the composition of their ashes. When firing peat–bark and peat–straw mixtures, it was found that the deposition rate only started to increase when the Cl/S molar ratio in the feed ash exceeded 0.15. The composition of the ensuing deposits resembled the deposits obtained from burning either bark or straw individually. For peat–bark mixtures it was concluded that the presence of S in the feed suppresses deposition by sulfating chloride compounds, leading to deposits that contain less Cl and have less molten phase. For peat–straw mixtures it was concluded that the deposition behaviour is governed by other mechanisms than the interaction of Cl and S.

The effects of calcium sulphate on growth, membrane stability and nutrient uptake of tomato plants grown under salt stress

A pot experiment was carried out with tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. “Target F1” in a mixture of peat, perlite, and sand (1:1:1) to investigate the effects of supplementary calcium sulphate on plants grown at high NaCl concentration (75 mM). The treatments were: (i) control (C), nutrient solution alone; (ii) salt treatment (C + S), 75 mM NaCl; (iii) salt plus calcium treatment 1 (C + S + Ca1), 75 mM NaCl plus additional mixture of 2.5 mM CaSO 4 in nutrient solution; (iv) salt plus calcium treatment 2 (C + S + Ca2), 75 mM NaCl plus additional mixture of 5 mM CaSO 4 in nutrient solution. The plants grown under salt stress produced low dry matter, fruit weight, and relative water content than those grown in standard nutrient solution. Supplemental calcium sulphate added to nutrient solution containing salt significantly improved growth and physiological variables affected by salt stress (e.g. plant growth, fruit yield, and membrane permeability) and also increased leaf K +, Ca 2+, and N in tomato plants. The effects of supplemental CaSO 4 in maintaining membrane permeability, increasing concentrations of Ca 2+, N, and K + and reducing concentration of Na + (because of cation competition in root zone) in leaves could offer an economical and simple solution to tomato crop production problems caused by high salinity.

Survival of Total Coliforms in Lawn Irrigated with Secondary Wastewater and Chlorinated Effluent in the Mediterranean Region

Pregrown, two-month-old lawn was layered in 12 large square pots with an area of 0.25 m2 each, filled with a mixture of topsoil, peat, and sand. In late July, in the heart of the Mediterranean summer, the pots were divided into two groups, with six pots per group. On four different occasions, the pots in each group were sprinkled (surface irrigation) with 2 L of either secondary-treated wastewater (STW, group A) or chlorinated effluent (CHE, group B). Wastewater application always took place at 0700 hours. Samples of the surface soil and grass from each pot were collected at the following times: before irrigation, immediately after irrigation, two hours later (0900 hours), and four hours later (1100 hours). In the samples collected, the number of total coliforms per gram was measured using standard microbiological analyses. Temperature and sunlight intensity were also monitored. There was an increase in the coliforms population in soil and grass samples of both groups immediately after the wastewater application. In group A, the mean number of coliforms recorded in the soil samples reached mean values higher than 5000 cfu/g compared to 312 cfu/g recorded before application. The increase in group B was smaller but still significant. Two hours later, the number of coliforms was reduced substantially in all samples (e.g., group A, soil samples 477 cfu/g). Coliform inactivation is thought to result from the effect of temperature and mainly sunlight. However, four hours after application (1100 hours), there was a noticeable increase in the coliform number again, in all sample categories of both groups. Coliform reactivation could be a result of shadowing effect resulting from the thick foliage of the grass, where the microorganisms were protected by the sunlight radiation and regrowth in a friendly environment (especially of the soil) where moisture and nutrients were present. This, in addition to the fact that coliforms seemed to retain a sizable population between applications, results in three conclusions: (1) coliforms can survive in grass and soil for a substantial period of time, recovering from the destructive effect of chlorination, (2) use of STW, even during the Mediterranean summer, could result in a substantial "contamination" of lawns, without any proof that sun and temperature can reduce the coliform number, and (3) intense sunlight (up to 68 000 lux) was far more effective in coliform suppression than elevated temperature (up to 38 degrees C).

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis of Elymus sibiricus cv. ‘chuancao No. 2’

The mature seeds, mesocotyls, and young leaf tips of Elymus sibiricus L. cv. ‘chuancao No. 2’ were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) and 0.05 mg/L kinetin in the dark at 26°C, the calluses were produced. The rate of callus regeneration depended on the explants source and plant growth regulators. Plants regenerated from whitish-yellow-coloured compact nodular callus formed after subculturing for 8 weeks. Higher frequency (54%) of shoot differentiation was obtained from the embryo tissues of mature seed than from either mesocotyls (24%) or young leaf tip tissues (6%) when these calluses from different types of explants were cultured on plant regeneration medium containing half strength MS salts supplemented with 0.1 mg/L kinetin, 1.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 20 g/L sucrose. The green plants were rooted within 6 weeks in the root regeneration medium, and over 97% of these soil-established plants were obtained in the greenhouse when potted in a sand and peat mixture medium.

Composted and natural organic materials as potential peat-substituting media in green pepper growing

Peat is the most favourable and usable medium in vegetable and ornamental plant forcing but because of the intensive exploitation peat resources decreased significantly all around the world. As peat-reserves run out the use of pine bark, composts and other organic materials spread in horticultural growing. In this study we compared the suitability of peat-based media to pine bark and two types of composts. We examined the effect of different organic materials on the growth and yield of green pepper (Capsicum annum L., variety Danubia). We found that the most developed plants were grown in peat-based media and pine bark. The average fruit weight was the highest in low moor-high moor peat mixture and pine bark. The plants which were grown in composts fell short of our expectations.

Fouling tendency of ash resulting from burning mixtures of biofuels. Part 3. Influence of probe surface temperature

Mixtures of peat with bark and peat with straw were burned in a large lab-scale entrained flow reactor under controlled conditions, and deposits were collected on an air-cooled probe controlled at four to six different probe surface temperatures between 475 and 625 °C. The results show that the probe surface temperature has no effect on the deposition rate when peat is burned. When burning bark, either alone or in mixtures with peat, the deposition rate decreases with increasing probe surface temperature. When burning straw, either alone or in mixtures with peat, the deposition rate increases with increasing probe surface temperature up to 550 °C and remains constant at higher temperatures. The Cl content in the deposits decreases with increasing probe surface temperature, regardless of the mixture composition. In deposits obtained from burning peat–bark mixtures, K appears as K 2SO 4 when the deposition rate is low and as KCl when the deposition rate is high. In deposits obtained from burning peat–straw mixtures, no clear relationship is found between the deposition rate and the contents of Cl, S and K in the deposits.

Effect of fertilization with wastewater sludge on the development of Betula pendula seedlings under experimental conditions

The aim of the experiments was to elucidate the influence of the treatment of alvar and peaty soils with different doses of wastewater sludge on the development of seedlings of silver birch (Betula pendula) under experimental conditions. Sludge from Tallinn Wastewater Treatment Plant used had passed methane fermentation and centrifugal drying. The content of dry matter in the sludge was 50.7%. The concentration of nutrients in the sludge was high: N 2.06%, P 2.76%, and K 0.28%. The experiments were conducted on the territory of Tallinn Botanical Garden. For experiments 10 L plastic pots containing soil and peat mixtures with different concentrations of wastewater sludge (8.9; 26.6, and 44.3 kg/m 2 d.m.) and control variants were used. As a rule, treatment with sludge causes stress in seedlings during the period after planting inhibiting their growth and development. As compared to peat substrates, mineral soils are notably more sensitive towards treatment with wastewater sludge, and stress in plants in the first year is caused by considerably smaller doses of sludge. In spring 2005 the variant with 5 kg wastewater sludge added to soil per pot died completely; also the variants with 3 kg sludge added to soil and 5 kg sludge added to peat should be regarded as dead. In the second year a positive effect of wastewater sludge was observed in the peat variants. By the end of the second year of growth the morphological parameters of different variants changed significantly. The dry mass was the greatest in the variants with 1 kg and 3 kg wastewater sludge added to peat, exceeding the control variant 4.1 and 3.7 times, respectively. In all the variants the proportion of roots in the total dry mass increased.

NON-COMPOSTED GRAIN-BASED SUBSTRATES FOR MUSHROOM PRODUCTION (AGARICUS BISPORUS)

Non-composted grain-based substrates were evaluated for the cultivation of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) withthe goal of eliminating the need for the lengthy and often malodorous composting process. Millet grain, millet grain mixedwith soybean, and commercial rye grain spawn were used as substrates. Treatments included different proportions (100%,75%, 50%, and 25%) of millet grain, or grain spawn with perlite as an inert bulking material. For the millet and soybeanmixtures, the biological matter (millet and soybean) was set at 75% by volume, while the ratios of millet to soybean werevaried. To induce fructification, all substrates were overlain with a sterilized mixture of peat and calcium carbonate (casing)containing 25% activated charcoal (v/v), which was shown to be as effective as a commercial non-sterile casing. Among thevarious treatments, the highest mushroom yield among all three grain treatments was recorded for the 100% millet/0% perlitetreatment (8.7 kg/m2), which was comparable to that of compost (7.7 kg/m2). In contrast, the millet/soybean mixtures failedto produce any mushrooms when soybean was added to the substrate. The highest recorded mushroom yield for commercialgrain spawn was 5.3 kg/m2 for the 100% spawn/0% perlite treatment. This yield was lower when compared to the millet grainand compost substrates. However, biological efficiency (fresh weight of mushroom divided by dry weight of substrates 100)was 117% for the 25% spawn/75% perlite treatment, while that of compost and the 75% millet/25% perlite treatment were98% and 55%, respectively. The results suggest that mushrooms can be grown in a non-composted substrate, but furthereconomic analysis will need to be performed to determine economic viability of alternative substrates.