Agronomía Colombiana (Dec 2013)

Biomass distribution efficiency of rose cv. Charlotte grown in soil and substrates at second production peak

  • María Y González G,
  • Yubelly del P Sánchez T,
  • Víctor J Flórez R,
  • Bernardo Chaves C

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 3
pp. 304 – 313

Abstract

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Growing plants in substrates is an alternative for the production of roses under unfavorable soil conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the biomass distribution efficiency of rose cv. Charlotte grown in soil and substrates under greenhouse conditions until second production peak. In this trial, soil and substrates with 100% burned rice husk (100BR H); 65% burned rice husk: 35% coconut fiber (65BR H); 35% burned rice husk: 65% coconut fiber (35BR H); and 100% coconut fiber (100CF) were used. The experimental design consisted of a randomized complete block design with three repetitions. Destructive sampling was carried out using whole plants and flowering stems at previously determined bud stages. Leaf area and dry matter in organs were measured and growth rate and physiological indexes were calculated. The assessed variables were fitted to logistic and exponential models. The plants grown in substrates with BR H (burned rice husk) showed similar values regarding dry matter and fresh weight accumulation in organs. Plants in the soil treatment were the last ones to reach the different development stages of the flowering buds, while those that were grown in 100CF were the first ones. The treatments 35BR H and 100CF showed less growth of flowering stems, which was expressed in terms of relative dry matter increase per day. The plants grown in soil showed more dry matter in leaves and stems but less in flower buds. The 65BR H treatment showed some of the highest dry matter accumulations in leaves, stems and flower buds and also showed the highest leaf area ratio, leaf weight ratio, and specific leaf area values

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