Use of the High Performance Growth Mat Hydro-Switch in Ornamental and Forestry Nurseries in Quebec

摘要

One of the most important environmental challenges of the modern grower will be the optimal use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. For this, new water management approaches need to be developed. The actual project focused on methods to reduce water and fertilizer use in nursery production. During summer and fall 2004, 11 nurseries have tried the new capillary mat Hydro-Switch~(TM) growth mat in their own growing conditions. These trials gave the opportunity to see how the capillary mat performedunder different water management and crops. The first goal of these trials was to measure plant growth under conventional water managements compared with the growth with the new capillary mat Hydro-Switch growth mat. The second goal was to compare the water use with different water treatments.