There has been a considerable amount of interest in alternative substrates for both nursery and greenhouse crop production in recent years. This is due primarily to a decrease in domestic production of pine bark (PB), from which the primary
-rich by-product of pyrolysis, can reduce substrate pore size by nesting between larger particles of pine bark and providing greater water-holding capacity. This reduction in substrate pore size has been demonstrated to increase the amount of available
Abstract
The external surfaces and internal structures of particles of milled pine bark (Pinus taeda L. and P. elliottii Engelm.) were examined with scanning electron microscopy. Numerous external openings, cracked cell walls and internal cellular connections, that might allow water penetration were observed. Periderm surfaces were without pores, and contained rough surfaces and apparently waxy substances that might resist water penetration or absorption.
) (Agusti et al., 1998; Fernandez-Escobar et al., 1987 ) and loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica) ( Agusti et al., 2005 ). However, bark girdling may impair trees and vine health if callusing is slow or inadequate ( Fallahi et al., 2017 ; Fernandez-Escobar et al
( Evans and Stamps, 1996 ; Frenkel et al., 2017 ). Many alternatives exist that are arguably more sustainable, including coconut fiber (coir) and milled tree bark. Pine bark has been used in Mexico and the United States for several decades ( Madrid
evaluate the effect of storage duration, storage temperature, and filtration before storage on pH, EC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and nutrient ion concentrations of PT samples of pine bark– and peat-based substrates
Nursery producers create their own substrates by mixing two or more components. Components are often regional and based on available resources local to the nursery operation. Outdoor container nurseries use bark as the primary component mixed with
Abstract
Physical properties of various hardwood bark-soil mixes for containers were compared to a soil-peat-perlite mix. Bark-soil mixes containing a wide range of bark particle sizes were found to possess superior physical properties initially and remained satisfactory after a 13-month incubation period. However, bark-soil mixes were much less stable and deteriorated to a significantly greater extent. For golf greens, physical properties of hardwood bark or peat and soil and sand mixes were studied following compaction at 40 cm moisture tension. Initially, the bark mixes were superior and this was postulated to be due to a more uniform distribution of bark within the mixes. Based on the deterioration that occurred in bark-soil mixes for containers, it is concluded that use of hardwood bark in golf green mixes does not appear feasible.
Crapemyrtle bark scale [CMBS ( Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae )] is a sap-sucking hemipteran native to some Asian countries ( Kozár et al., 2013 ). Since initially detected and identified in Texas in 2004 ( Merchant et al., 2014 ), the CMBS has
). Of these, research and development of new substrates to replace conventionally used peatmoss and pine bark (PB) substrates have increased in recent years. In addition to developing and using new substrates, much work has focused on managing fertility