The Application of date palm fibers as growth medium and optimization of moisture content and holding capacity by response surface methodology

摘要

In this study, possibility of substituting date palm fibers, as a growth medium, for coco peat was investigated. First, moisture absorption, retention and loosing rate in date palm fibers, coco peat, peat moss, perlite and soil were examined by completely randomized blocks design in two time periods (3 and 5 days), with two groups of materials (date palm fibers- peat moss- perlite and coco peat-peat moss-perlite) in 11 treatments and 3 replications. To find the best treatment in each group, the response surface methodology and desirability function were used, and finally the optimized treatments for capability of holding moisture in the medium were statistically compared to other treatments. Results indicated that potential of absorption and loosing rate of moisture in coco peat, peat moss, date palm fibers, perlite and soil was decreased, respectively. Maximum amount of water holding capacity occurred in date palm fibers’ group by combination of 65-20-15% in 3 days and 75-10-15% in 5 days and in coco peat group with combination of 75-20-5% in 5 days. Keywords: Date palm fibers, Coco peat, Perlite, Peat moss, Response Surface Methodology Full-Text Type of Study: Research | Subject: Container Production and Growth Media Received: 2015/03/3 | Accepted: 2015/03/3 | Published: 2015/03/3 Send email to the article author Related Websites Scientific Publications Commission - Health Ministry Scientific Publications Commission - Science Ministry Yektaweb Company Site Keywords ?????, Academic Journal, Scientific Article, ???? ????? ??, ???? ????? ??, ???? ????? ??, ???? ????? ??, ???? ????? ??, ???? ????? ??, ???? ?? Vote ? 2015 All Rights Reserved | Journal of Science and Technology of Greenhouse Culture -Isfahan University of Technology