Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production
IntroductionProduction of strawberries in greenhouses and polytunnels is gaining popularity worldwide. This study investigated the effect of reuse of coir and peat, two substrates commonly adapted to soilless strawberry production, as well as stand-alone wood fiber from Norway spruce, a promising su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1307240/full |
| _version_ | 1827383199421956096 |
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| author | Tomasz Woznicki Krzysztof Kusnierek Bart Vandecasteele Anita Sønsteby |
| author_facet | Tomasz Woznicki Krzysztof Kusnierek Bart Vandecasteele Anita Sønsteby |
| author_sort | Tomasz Woznicki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionProduction of strawberries in greenhouses and polytunnels is gaining popularity worldwide. This study investigated the effect of reuse of coir and peat, two substrates commonly adapted to soilless strawberry production, as well as stand-alone wood fiber from Norway spruce, a promising substrate candidate.MethodsThe experiment was performed in a polytunnel at NIBIO Apelsvoll, Norway, and evaluated both virgin substrates, as well as spent materials that were used in one or two years. Yield, berry quality and plant architecture of the strawberry cultivar ‘Malling Centenary’ were registered. In addition, chemical and physical properties of virgin and reused substrates were investigated.ResultsWhile plants grown in peat and wood fiber had highest yield in the first year of production, the berry yield was slightly reduced when these substrates were utilized for the second and third time. However, yield was comparable to the yield level attained in new and reused coir. Interestingly, berries grown in wood fiber had a tendency to a higher sugar accumulation. This substrate also produced the highest plants. Stand-alone wood fiber was the substrate with the highest accumulation of nitrogen during the three consecutive production cycles. All three investigated materials revealed a trend for decreased potassium accumulation. Wood fiber is characterized by the highest percentage of cellulose, however after three years of production the cellulose content was reducedto the same levels as for coir and peat.DiscussionImplementation of wood fiber as a growing medium, as well as general practice of substrate reuse can be therefore an achievable strategy for more sustainable berry production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:36:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-edf74b06031040c2992903d5401ae06d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:36:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-edf74b06031040c2992903d5401ae06d2024-01-12T04:41:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2024-01-011410.3389/fpls.2023.13072401307240Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry productionTomasz Woznicki0Krzysztof Kusnierek1Bart Vandecasteele2Anita Sønsteby3Department of Horticulture, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Kapp, NorwayDepartment of Agricultural Technology and System Analysis, Center for Precision Agriculture, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Kapp, NorwayPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, BelgiumDepartment of Horticulture, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Kapp, NorwayIntroductionProduction of strawberries in greenhouses and polytunnels is gaining popularity worldwide. This study investigated the effect of reuse of coir and peat, two substrates commonly adapted to soilless strawberry production, as well as stand-alone wood fiber from Norway spruce, a promising substrate candidate.MethodsThe experiment was performed in a polytunnel at NIBIO Apelsvoll, Norway, and evaluated both virgin substrates, as well as spent materials that were used in one or two years. Yield, berry quality and plant architecture of the strawberry cultivar ‘Malling Centenary’ were registered. In addition, chemical and physical properties of virgin and reused substrates were investigated.ResultsWhile plants grown in peat and wood fiber had highest yield in the first year of production, the berry yield was slightly reduced when these substrates were utilized for the second and third time. However, yield was comparable to the yield level attained in new and reused coir. Interestingly, berries grown in wood fiber had a tendency to a higher sugar accumulation. This substrate also produced the highest plants. Stand-alone wood fiber was the substrate with the highest accumulation of nitrogen during the three consecutive production cycles. All three investigated materials revealed a trend for decreased potassium accumulation. Wood fiber is characterized by the highest percentage of cellulose, however after three years of production the cellulose content was reducedto the same levels as for coir and peat.DiscussionImplementation of wood fiber as a growing medium, as well as general practice of substrate reuse can be therefore an achievable strategy for more sustainable berry production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1307240/fullstrawberries (Fragaria x ananassa)growing mediasustainabilitycircular economysoilless culture systemsubstrate properties |
| spellingShingle | Tomasz Woznicki Krzysztof Kusnierek Bart Vandecasteele Anita Sønsteby Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production Frontiers in Plant Science strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) growing media sustainability circular economy soilless culture system substrate properties |
| title | Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production |
| title_full | Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production |
| title_fullStr | Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production |
| title_short | Reuse of coir, peat, and wood fiber in strawberry production |
| title_sort | reuse of coir peat and wood fiber in strawberry production |
| topic | strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) growing media sustainability circular economy soilless culture system substrate properties |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1307240/full |
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