Culture of plug seedlings and pot plants with nutrient solution amended with calcium nitrate compound extracted from pearl shell with HNO_3

摘要

The study was conducted to examine the possibility of replacing commercial calcium nitrate [Ca(NO_3)_24H_2O, the control] with calcium nitrate compound (CNC) solution extracted from pearl shells for growing plug seedlings and pot plants. Mineral composition of nutrient solutions was adjusted by CNC after analysis of ion concentrations of CNC. Nutrient solutions containing calcium nitrate or CNC were used to compare the growth and development of plug seedlings of 'Seokwang' tomato and 'Majestic Yellow' pansy, and pot plants of "Majestic Yellow' pansy and 'Indian Meillandina' miniature rose. Plant height, leaf area, total dry weight, T/R ratio, and chlorophyll concentration of tomato seedlings cultured in 200-cell plug trays were not significantly different between the two treatments at 34 days after sowing. Length of longest root was greater in the CNC treatment than in the control. Plant height and total dry weight after transplanting from plug trays to 72-cell plug irays were significantly smaller in the CNC treatment than in the control at 10 days after transplanting. Plant height, root length, root dry weight, and chlorophyll concentration of pansy were much worse in the CNC treatment than in the control at 44 days after sowing in 200-cell plug trays. Growth of pansy was not significantly different between the two treatments when the pansy seedlings were grown for additional 27 days after transplanting to plastic pots of 10 cm in diameter. Growth of miniature rose was not significantly different between the two treatments. It was concluded that calcium nitrate can be replaced with CNC as a source of inorganic nutrients.