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The physical properties of container-growing substrates, particularly air space, container capacity, and bulk density, have a significant impact on plant growth, and knowledge of these properties is essential in properly managing nursery

Research in agricultural soils has shown benefits of incorporating organic amendments in improving soil physical properties, including reduced bulk density ( Foley and Cooperband, 2002 ; Tester, 1990 ), increased infiltration rate ( Cox et al

(1989) attempted to validate Eq. [1] . They found that linear relationships between measured and predicted properties of bark:sand and bark:perlite substrates were good for bulk density (D b ) but mixed or poor for other parameters such as total

phytotoxic levels of one more mineral nutrients. Other materials evaluated as potential alternatives to perlite are either too expensive or have unacceptably high bulk densities (e.g., calcined clay aggregates, gravel), which resulted in unacceptably high

with native soil and vice versa, pore spaces in both soil sources can become compromised. Macropores in sand can be filled by finer soil particles, reducing porosity, increasing bulk density, and reducing necessary water movement through the profile

-filled pore space, water-filled pore space, water-holding capacity, and bulk density of sphagnum peat-based substrates amended with feather fiber. The substrates were air-dried in a greenhouse at 32 to 35 °C until they no longer lost weight over a 24-h period

) were calculated from P 2 O 5 and K 2 O, respectively ( Brady and Weil, 1996 ). Two additional laboratory tests measured bulk density and particle size distribution. Laboratory test methods and procedures are based on the Test Methods for Evaluation of

); increase EC ( Chirenji and Ma, 2002 ); and increase waterholding capacity and reduce soil bulk density of a fine sand ( Chirenji and Ma, 2002 ). Although some studies have demonstrated that ash applications have negative or no effects on plant growth

. Urea formaldehyde resin foam (UFRF) is produced by inflation of a resin with the addition of urea and formaldehyde. This foam has a porous structure and has the capacity to absorb water (up to 60% v/v) depending on the bulk density of the final product

substrate physical properties include TPS, AFP, WHC, and bulk density. Air-filled pore space is particularly important because air-filled pores allow for gas exchange between the root environment and the outside atmosphere ( Bunt, 1988 ). Various materials