Use of Composted Greenhouse Waste as a Growing Medium Component Will Contribute to a Sustainable Waste Management Solution for Vegetable Greenhouses

As part of a study in sustainable greenhouse waste management, a growing medium component made from composted greenhouse waste was investigated and compared with the conventional sawdust growing medium used in most vegetable greenhouses in British Columbia, Canada. The compost provided higher moistu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological agriculture & horticulture 2003, Vol.21 (4), p.321-335
Main Authors: Cheuk, William, Lo, K. Victor, Fraser, Bud
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural and farming systems
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
composts
disease control
fruit quality
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping
General agronomy. Plant production
Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development
greenhouse experimentation
greenhouses
growing media
irrigation
Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries
porosity
Protected cultivation
recycling
sawdust
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
Soilless cultures. Protected cultivation
tomatoes
wastes
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Summary:As part of a study in sustainable greenhouse waste management, a growing medium component made from composted greenhouse waste was investigated and compared with the conventional sawdust growing medium used in most vegetable greenhouses in British Columbia, Canada. The compost provided higher moisture retention and density, and lower porosity; for optimal growing conditions, irrigation should be adjusted to take this into account. In a commercial tomato greenhouse trial setting, a mixture of 2:1 sawdust to compost by volume was found to be suitable as a growing medium, providing similar yield, crop health and fruit quality, and additional pH buffering compared with the conventional system. Since the waste processing is carried out on site, quality and consistency of the compost can be ensured. Successful application of compost in the growing medium can help provide a more sustainable waste management strategy through on-site recycling and conservation of organic resources, and may offer the grower disease suppression benefits.
ISSN:0144-8765
2165-0616
DOI:10.1080/01448765.2003.9755276