Investigating the Response of Dracaena marginata and Physical Characteristics of Growth Medium to Different Levels of Zeolite in Replacement to Peat

Due to the econemic and envaironmental limitiation in the use of peat moss as a growth medium of ornamental plants, researchers seek an apporiate alternative in flower and plants industry. Zeolite because of the high capacity of water holding and cations enchange, has an ability in the replacement  of peat moss. At this research, the posibility subtitution of peat moss by zeolite as a growth medium of Dracaena marginata was investigated. The control medium was a ratio 2:1 of peat: perlite that six levels of zeolite (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 % v/v) in replacement with peat were used in a compeletly randomized design. Some chemical  and physical charactristics of growth media were measured including EC, pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon, C/N ratio, available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bulk density, porosity and field capacity. The plant growth parameters were also measured including height, stem diameter, leaf number, fresh weight of leaves, root and stem. The results showed the highest height of stem obtained in 10% v/v treatment of zeolite  and stem height had not significant difference in compared with control in 40 and 50% v/v zeolite. Fresh weight of leaves was more than in the control in all zeolite treatments, and in other growth indices, 10% v/v treatment caused a better response of plant. The bulk density increased and the porosity decreased proportional to the increase in zeolite. Prosty, EC, aeration porosity and field capacity had the highest effect on the growth indices in 10-20% v/v zeolite.