Author
Garcia Arcos, Marcos, 1963-Issue Date
1997Advisor
Tipton, Jimmy L.
Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
Each year the horticultural industry is demanding increasing amount of high quality soilless media. To meet the need this study evaluated coconut coir as an organic component in substrates. Asian and different Mexican coir-based media were compared to sphagnum peat to characterize coir suitability in tobacco transplant growth. These organic components were combined in different proportions with inorganic constituents to create three water holding capacity levels. The organic components, standardized in their capability to hold water, were evaluated by four growth parameters: leaf area, transplant height, dry weight, and total nitrogen concentration. Uncompressed, aged, and leached coir-based media produced transplants equivalent to those produced in peat-based media and were superior to those of either compressed or unleached coirs. Both extreme compression and high chloride concentration appear to affect coir suitability in growing transplants. Two Mexican leached coir and sand combinations produced the highest transplant quality under the conditions of this study.Type
textThesis-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree Name
M.S.Degree Level
mastersDegree Program
Graduate CollegePlant sciences