Physical characterization of substrates for plants and its evaluation in hydroponics strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.)

• Grant number: 10/02880-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2010
• End date: April 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Sonia Carmela Falci Dechen
• Grantee: Thais Queiroz Zorzeto Cesar
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil the amount of published studies on substrate physical attributes is rare, with few papers and scarce standardization through MAPA Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply). This project is developed in two phases: the first phase consists of a physical characterization of the substrates for plants in the laboratory; and the second phase focus on the evaluation of three of the fertilizers physically characterized for the growth of strawberries in pots. The substrates are: coconut fiber, pines bark, stabilized rice shell, citrus lupa (pines bark with peat and vermiculite) and mixtures of coconut fiber and citrus lupa, both with stabilized rice shell. The experimental design of the first phase is complete randomized with six treatments and five replications. The second phase consists of eighteen treatments in randomized block design, three types of substrates, three volumes of substrate per plant and two irrigation frequencies, with five replications. The study aims to (a) physically characterize the six types of substrates in relation to the attributes volume density, bulk density, particle density, particle size distribution size and capacity to retain water, (b) evaluate data on yield, dry weight of the roots and dry matter and chemical composition of shoots of strawberry grown in pots. The project began in January 2009 and the data obtained so far are available in the attached file entitled "ResultadosParciaisTQZ". As a result of the work is intended to suggest to the MAPA, methods of physical characterization of substrates and for the production of strawberries, in the conditions proposed in the project, to indicate the most suitable substrate.