Influence of Peats of Different Origins and Decomposition Degree on Germination and Early Growth of Chinese Cabbage

• Published in: European journal of horticultural science 2012-10, Vol.77 (5), p.211-218
• Main Authors: Bohne, H., Kluge, K., Amha, Y., Gerhard, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cabbages; Germination; Growing media; Oxygen; Peat; Plant growth; Plant roots; Plants; Root growth; Seedlings
• ISSN: 1611-4426; 1611-4434

Germination and early growth (21 days) of Chinese cabbage (.Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr.) were investigated under controlled and standardized conditions using 20 peats from different countries and decomposition degrees. As control, a commercially available growing media for propagation was used. In the peats, some chemical and physical properties as well as CO2-evolution were determined. Differences in germination between the substrates appeared only in the early stage but not at the end. After 21 days, only seven peats had lesser shoot growth compared to the control, while root growth was reduced for 16 out of 20 peats up to 70 %. Apart from P in plants growing on the peat with worst root growth, N-, P-, and K-concentration in the dry matter of shoots was not smaller compared to the control; partly N- and K-concentrations were higher. It turned out that none of the usually analyzed chemical and physical parameters could explain root and shoot growth satisfactorily. Instead, the CO2-evolution from the microbial activity in the peats in combination with air volumes was a better indicator for the root growth of the seedlings, though not for all peats. Reasons and consequences are discussed.