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Four concentrations of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and two application methods (foliar spray–soil drench) were tested on 3-month-old container-grown cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings. Shoot height was affected by PBZ concentration and application technique. Time course of height was modelled by nonlinear mixed model analysis. Reduced shoot height was the result of shortened and fewer internodes. A 25 to 625 ppm soil drench or 625 to 15,000 ppm foliar spray controlled over vegetative growth, resulting in a reduction between 13% and 90% in plant size relative to untreated controls. Seedlings responded to soil drench at a lower PBZ concentration than for a foliar spray, but the danger of irreversible overdosing seems greater for a soil drench. Soil drench—and foliar spray to a lesser extent—also affected other shoot and root growth traits. PBZ dose decreased root volume and dry weights in a quadratic fashion with increasing dose, but decreased diameter and number of leaves linearly.
The limited availability of peat-based substrates, a nonrenewable resource, and the negative environmental impacts associated with their extraction require the conservation of this resource. We assessed the use of cattle dung compost as a stand-alone nursery substrate, replacing peat substrate for the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings. A completely randomized design was employed, using cattle dung compost (C) and commercial peat (P, control treatment) in various combinations (100% P; 25% C/75% P; 50% C/50% P; 75% C/25% P; 100% C) to assess their effects on different growth parameters of lettuce. Twenty-eight parameters (e.g., seed germination, seedling survival, diameter, height, biomass growth) were assessed, corresponding to the time when the seedlings are transplanted. All treatments achieved 100% seed germination and seedling survival; indicating the successful establishment of lettuce seedlings across all tested substrates. However, seedling growth was found to be significantly influenced by substrate type. Seedling diameter was significantly increased by 10.8% in the 50% C/50% P substrate, while seedling height was significantly increased by 7.7, 6.8, and nearly 10%, respectively, within the 25% C/75% P, 50% C/50% P and 100% C substrates, relative to the control. Other substrate treatments were not significant. Similar or significantly higher values than the control were also observed for biomass growth under the tested substrates, indicating the beneficial effect of cattle dung on the initial growth of plants during the nursery phase. Cattle dung compost, used as a growing substrate, demonstrated similar or superior results to commercial peat, suggesting its potential as a viable alternative potting medium for sustainable horticulture.