Stratified Substrates Can Reduce Peat Use and Improve Root Productivity in Container Crop Production

Peat use in horticulture continues to be scrutinized as consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental sustainability concerns associated with peat. Thus, horticultural industry is driven search for peat alternatives. Substrate stratification (i.e., vertical layering unique media atop another a singular container) has been studied nursery substrates and demonstrated improved resource efficiency regard water fertilizer inputs. However, minimal research evaluated using concept stratified an attempt reduce inputs greenhouse production. Hence, objective this study was identify if stratifying costly floriculture low-cost pine bark can use, reliance, cost within industry. A crop, Petunia hybrid ‘Supertunia Honey’, grown two distinct substrate treatments: 1) nonstratified (commercial peat-based substrate) 2) layered aged (1:1 by volume) under different irrigation schedules. Crop growth evaluated, including indices, shoot physiological responses, root measurements. hydraulic properties such matric potential volumetric content were monitored over time. The results that petunia crop produced systems yield similarly sized quality crops traditionally plants. Furthermore, substrate-produced had productivity, yet less bloom, when compared nonstratified-grown crops.