Corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) yield response to cell size of plug trays

Abstract

The research was undertaken to determine if the plug tray cell size had an impact on plant characteristics and yield of corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.). Seeds of four cultivars ('Ljubljanski', 'Holandski', 'Flavor' and 'Masse') were sown in styrofoam plug trays with 40 cells (60 ml cell-1), 84 cells (35 ml cell-1) and 160 cells (20 ml cell-1). Plants growth generally increased with cell size, though the effect varied with different cultivars. An increase in cell volume resulted in an increase in leaves height, leaves number and leaves fresh mass, as well as percentage of dry matter. Cv. 'Holandski' was obtained the highest leaves fresh mass regardless of cell volume.