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We evaluated emerging biopolymer horticultural products that provide fertilizer nutrients to plants (fertilizing biocontainers, pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, and biopolymer fertilizer spikes) for their effectiveness during greenhouse production and garden growth of floriculture crops, and during postproduction culture of container ornamentals. Greenhouse experiments (in 4.5-inch containers) and garden trials were performed with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), and marigold (Tagetes patula). Postproduction experiments were performed with 12-inch hanging baskets containing lobelia (Lobelia erinus), trailing petunia (Calibrachoa ×hybrida), and petunia, and with 13-inch patio planters containing zonal geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum), spikes (Cordyline indivisa), bidens (Bidens ferulifolia), and trailing petunia. Although slightly less effective than synthetic controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), all three nutrient-containing biopolymer horticultural products were sufficient and suitable for providing fertilizer nutrients to plants grown in containers and in garden soil. Results of the postproduction experiment provided proof-of-concept for the effectiveness and potential of biopolymer fertilizer spikes as a sustainable method for providing fertilizer nutrients to containerized plants. The current formulation of pelletized biopolymer fertilizer was somewhat more effective for vegetable crops (pepper and tomato) than for floriculture crops (marigold and petunia). For plants produced in 4.5-inch containers, the combination of the fertilizing biocontainer with no additional fertilizer in the greenhouse, then burying the fertilizing container beneath the plant to degrade and provide nutrients in the garden was very effective. Biopolymer horticultural products represent a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastic containers and synthetic fertilizers. Adoption of some or all of these technologies could improve the environmental sustainability of the horticulture industry without reducing productivity or efficiency, and without increasing labor intensity.
The extensive use of petroleum-based containers and synthetic fertilizers in horticulture provides unparalleled effectiveness (McCabe et al., 2014; Schrader et al., 2016), but this level of effectiveness is achieved through heavy consumption of finite fossil resources and with a disproportionate impact on the environment (Broschat, 1995; Montalbo-Lomboy et al., 2016; Wilson et al., 2010). Petroleum-based plastic containers are lightweight, strong, water-resistant, durable, and impact-resistant, and they can be molded into numerous shapes and colors for marketing of the plants grown in them (Schrader, 2016a). If environmental impact and consumption of finite resources were not a concern, petroleum-based plastics would be nearly perfect materials for horticulture containers. However, these materials are both nonrenewable and nonbiodegradable, issues that make their use unsustainable and a poor choice for single-use items such as horticulture containers. From a sustainable-design perspective, durable materials such as petroleum-based plastics are best used for durable goods, and when possible, single-use items should be made from materials that are less durable and come from renewable resources (Bhamra and Lofthouse, 2007). Horticulture containers must fulfill the functional requirements for effectively and efficiently growing plants under greenhouse and nursery conditions, but there is no need for the discarded, single-use containers to persist for hundreds of years in the environment.
Although some horticulturists have made efforts to recycle or reuse petroleum-based plastic containers, it is currently estimated that 98% of containers end up in the solid waste stream after only one use (Chappell and Knox, 2012; Kratsch et al., 2015). This practice results in the consumption and landfill disposal of more than 1 million tons of petroleum-based plastic in the form of horticulture containers each year in the United States (Schrader, 2013, 2016a). In a recent life cycle assessment comparing the cradle-to-gate environmental impacts of petroleum-based containers and nine types of biopolymer and biopolymer-composite containers, Montalbo-Lomboy et al. (2016) found that on a per-weight basis, the manufacture of petroleum-based plastic containers consumes between 86% and 171% more fossil fuel resources and produces between 3.5% and 35% higher global warming potential than does the manufacture of biocontainers made with formulations based on polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic produced from carbohydrate biomass. When considering these percentages on a scale of 1 million tons of plastic used per year, it is apparent that the potential for improving the sustainability of horticulture by adopting biopolymer containers is substantial. Along with the potential for strong improvements in sustainability for the containers themselves, biopolymer containers made from blends of PLA and soy (Glycine max) polymer can provide fertilizer nutrients to the plants growing in them, thereby reducing the amount of supplemental fertilizer required during plant culture and possibly after transplant if the container is crushed and buried near the plant roots (McCabe et al., 2016a; Schrader et al., 2013).
The issues with sustainability that result from extensive use of synthetic fertilizers are equally problematic. Synthetic water-soluble fertilizers are extremely effective for the production of horticulture crops but the amount of fossil fuel resources used to produce the fertilizer is very high, and because they are water soluble, the fertilizer nutrients are easily leached into runoff (Broschat, 1995; Wilson et al., 2010). Natural gas (a fossil fuel) is the resource most often used to provide hydrogen for making ammonia and other synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers. In fact, most modern ammonia production facilities use natural gas as both “feed and fuel” for making fertilizer, and overall, N fertilizer production consumes ≈1% of the world’s energy used each year (LeCompte, 2013). Along with extensive consumption of fossil fuel resources, worldwide ammonia fertilizer production is responsible for ≈5% of global carbon emissions, releasing 2 t of carbon dioxide (CO2) for every ton of ammonia produced (LeCompte, 2013). The biopolymer fertilizers evaluated in our research are made from nearly 100% biorenewable materials (McCabe et al., 2016b), meaning that almost none of the carbon or hydrogen comes from fossil resources. Likewise, when the carbon is released during use of the biopolymer fertilizer, there is little or no net increase in atmospheric CO2 because the original source of the carbon was CO2 harvested from the atmosphere by the corn (Zea mays) and soybean (G. max) plants whose seed is the feedstock for the production of the biopolymer nutrient materials. The energy savings realized by using the soy-based N source is substantial. Instead of using fossil fuels and/or electricity to fix atmospheric N (N2) to make ammonia (the Haber–Bosch process), the N2 fixation for biopolymer fertilizer is performed in the root nodules of soybean plants through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobia bacteria, and the energy for this natural process is provided by the sun through photosynthesis (Calabria et al., 2012; McCabe et al., 2016b; Sawyer et al., 2010; Schrader et al., 2013).
Leaching of synthetic water-soluble fertilizers is a growing concern for the greenhouse and nursery industries (Broschat, 1995; Wilson et al., 2010), and investigations of production practices have demonstrated that leaching of fertilizer nutrients can be reduced by using CRFs in place of water-soluble, solution fertilizers (Yeager et al., 1993). The soy-based biopolymer fertilizers, fertilizer spikes, and fertilizing biocontainers evaluated in this report are novel types of CRF. Unlike standard CRFs that are prills of synthetic fertilizer coated with petroleum-based plastics, biopolymer fertilizers are made from homogenized, nutrient-containing bioplastic material that is either molded into a container or spike, or is pelletized into a granular form (Fig. 1). Like standard CRFs, biopolymer fertilizers release nutrients slowly, and thus reduce nutrient loss in leachate compared with water-soluble fertilizers (Calabria et al., 2012; McCabe et al., 2016a, 2016b).
Citation: HortTechnology hortte 28, 3; 10.21273/HORTTECH03992-18
In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of sustainable biopolymer horticultural products (fertilizing biocontainers, pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, and biopolymer fertilizer spikes) for meeting the nutrient requirements of plants during production and postproduction. The four main objectives of our research were to 1) determine the effectiveness of biopolymer horticultural products for meeting the needs of select specialty crops through greenhouse production, garden growth, and fruit/vegetable harvest; 2) determine the effectiveness of granular biopolymer fertilizer and biopolymer fertilizer spikes for postproduction performance (period after consumer purchase) of select ornamental crops; 3) quantify nutrient uptake by plants when using biopolymer products; and 4) compare the effectiveness of the biopolymer products to that of the current standard products and practices (petroleum-based plastic containers and synthetic CRF).
We evaluated the effectiveness of biopolymer horticultural products in two experiments. The first experiment examined the performance of biopolymer containers and pelletized biopolymer fertilizer during greenhouse production and garden growth of two common garden crops (pepper and tomato) and two common bedding crops (marigold and petunia). The second experiment examined the performance of pelletized biopolymer fertilizer and biopolymer fertilizer spikes on the postproduction growth and health of container ornamentals in 12-inch hanging baskets and 13-inch patio planters. Control treatments for both experiments included a treatment with no fertilizer and treatments with standard synthetic CRF.
The materials for pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, biopolymer fertilizer spikes, and fertilizing biopolymer containers were blends of PLA and soy polymer with adipic acid plasticizer (SP.A). The blend ratio for both the pelletized fertilizer and fertilizer spikes was 60% SP.A to 40% PLA. The blend ratio for the bioplastic material used for fertilizing biocontainers was 55% PLA, 35% SP.A, and 10% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The granular DDGS material is a nutrient-containing coproduct of corn ethanol production that blends well with bioplastics. Detailed formulations and descriptions of pilot-scale manufacture of biopolymer containers and pelletized fertilizer are available in McCabe et al. (2016a, 2016b), respectively. Biopolymer fertilizer spikes were manufactured by using methods similar to those used for making containers, but were formed with a different injection mold.
This experiment had two phases, a greenhouse production phase and a garden growth phase. Pelletized biopolymer fertilizer was evaluated in both phases as was the fertilizing biocontainer made of soy-based material that releases nutrients and can biodegrade in soil. The experimental design for both phases was a randomized complete block design (blocked by species). Species grown in Expt. 1 were pepper, tomato, marigold, and petunia. The treatment design for both phases was a factorial, with treatments for container type crossed with treatments for fertilizer type. In the greenhouse phase, plants were grown in 4.5-inch-diameter round containers filled with peat-based soilless substrate (Sunshine® LB‒2; Sun Gro Horticulture, Agawam, MA) for 6 weeks, at which time four replications (individual plants) from each factorial treatment combination were harvested for dry weights and nutrient content measurements, and the remaining eight replications for each factorial treatment were transplanted into the garden plot and grown for 9 weeks. The greenhouse phase was performed in a glass-glazed greenhouse without supplemental lighting from 13 Apr. to 25 May, and experimental units were hand-irrigated as needed. Air temperature was maintained at 25 ± 6 °C, relative humidity (RH) ranged from 28.4% to 79.8% (mean = 59.8%), and the mean photosynthetically active radiation measured at 1200 hr was 635 μmol·m−2·s−1 during the greenhouse phase. The garden phase was performed from 26 May to 28 July at a research farm near Ames, IA. The soil was a Clarion loam, fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludoll, and plots were irrigated uniformly with overhead irrigation to provide ≈1 inch of water per week to supplement naturally occurring rainfall. Temperature ranged from 9.9 to 34.3 °C (mean = 23.3 °C) during the garden experiment, and RH ranged from 27.9% to 100% (mean = 75.9%).
Three types of containers were used as treatments in the greenhouse phase: a fertilizing biocontainer (PLA-SP.A-DDGS 55/35/10), a nonfertilizing (NF) biocontainer (PLA only), and a standard petroleum-based plastic container (polypropylene). The three container types are described and illustrated in Fig. 2. A partial factorial was used to cross the three container treatments with three fertilizer treatments (pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, synthetic granular CRF, and no-fertilizer control). The synthetic fertilizer for Expt. 1 was 18N–2.6P–6.7K synthetic CRF (Nutricote® 18–6–8; Florikan, Sarasota, FL). The amount for both fertilizer types was based on the N supplied and was chosen according to the recommended application amount for the synthetic CRF. This enabled the application of the two fertilizers at the same standard amount of N. The amounts of elemental N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) applied per 4.5-inch container for synthetic CRF were (in grams) 0.32 N, 0.05 P, and 0.12 K; and the amounts applied per 4.5-inch container for biopolymer fertilizer were 0.32 N, 0.03 P, and 0.09 K. The granular fertilizers (both synthetic CRF and pelletized biopolymer fertilizer) were incorporated into the peat-based substrate by mixing the granules with the substrate individually for each experimental unit, inserting the plug seedling, and then irrigating to container capacity.
Citation: HortTechnology hortte 28, 3; 10.21273/HORTTECH03992-18
At the end of the greenhouse phase of the experiment (after 6 weeks of growth), all experimental units were ascribed a visual rating for plant health (blind rating by two experienced horticulturists on a scale of 0 = worst/dead to 5 = best). Indicators of poor health that resulted in lower ratings included chlorosis, necrosis, and stunted growth. Four randomly selected replications were harvested from each container-fertilizer factorial treatment, plants were washed of medium, and samples were prepared and dried at 67 °C for 3 d. Dried plants were held for 24 h in ambient conditions before measuring total plant dry weight (shoot + root dry weight) of each sample. After recording dry weights, samples of dry tissue were prepared and submitted to a commercial laboratory (AgSource Harris Laboratories, Lincoln, NE) for analysis of nutrient concentration (N, P, and K). Because all foliage nutrient concentrations, except those of plants in the no-fertilizer control treatments, were within established standards for quality bedding plant production according to Bryson et al. (2014), we focused our analyses on plant nutrient content (uptake) rather than nutrient concentration. Plant nutrient content (milligrams) was calculated by multiplying the concentration of each nutrient (milligrams per gram) in dried tissue by the dry weight of the plant (grams).
In the garden phase of the experiment, the treatment design was a partial factorial that crossed greenhouse treatments (container type + fertilizer treatment) with the fertilizer treatments applied in the garden plot. Similar to the greenhouse phase, the amount for both granular fertilizer types was based on the N supplied and was chosen according to the recommended application amount for synthetic CRF. This enabled the application of the two fertilizers at the same standard amount of N. The amounts of elemental N, P, and K applied per plant for synthetic CRF were (in grams) 0.84 N, 0.12 P, and 0.31 K; and the amounts applied per plant for biopolymer fertilizer were 0.84 N, 0.09 P, and 0.25 K. The granular fertilizers (both synthetic CRF and pelletized biopolymer fertilizer) were incorporated into the soil directly adjacent to the root system of the transplant by first mixing the granules with the soil in the planting hole and then installing the plant and irrigating with ≈2 L of water. Treatments that had supplemental nutrients provided by the used fertilizing biocontainer material were established by crushing the used container, mixing the broken pieces of the container into the soil in the bottom of the planting hole, and then installing the plant and irrigating as previously described. After 9 weeks of growth, all experimental units were ascribed a visual rating for plant health as described in methods for the greenhouse phase. For pepper and tomato, fruit production was measured by counting the number of fruit greater than 1 inch in diameter on each plant. Likewise, flower production was quantified on marigold and petunia by counting the number of flowers that were fully open on each plant. The shoot of each plant was severed at the soil surface, dried, and measured for dry weight as described in methods for the greenhouse phase.
This experiment was performed with two types of containers (12-inch diameter hanging baskets and 13-inch diameter patio planters), each holding multiple herbaceous species that were purchased at marketable size and quality. The 12-inch hanging baskets contained petunia, lobelia, and trailing petunia. The 13-inch patio planters contained spikes, geranium, bidens, and trailing petunia. Treatments included two application amounts each for the pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, the biopolymer fertilizer spikes, and the synthetic CRF. The application amounts were calculated to be 100% of the recommended application amount of N and 75% of the recommended application amount of N. Synthetic fertilizer for Expt. 2 was 15N–3.9P–10K synthetic CRF (Osmocote® Plus 15–9–12; Everris, Geldermalsen, The Netherlands). As with Expt. 1, application amounts for the two granular fertilizers were based on the N supplied at the recommended application amount for synthetic CRF, which enabled the two fertilizers to be applied at the same standard amount of N. For hanging baskets, the amounts of elemental N, P, and K applied per container for synthetic CRF were (in grams) 3.8 N, 1.0 P, and 2.5 K for the 75% application; and 5.4 N, 1.4 P, and 3.6 K for the 100% application. The amounts of elemental N, P, and K applied per container for biopolymer fertilizer were (in grams) 3.8 N, 0.4 P, and 1.1 K for the 75% application; and 5.4 N, 0.6 P, and 1.6 K for the 100% application. For patio planters, the amounts of elemental N, P, and K applied per container for synthetic CRF were (in grams) 6.2 N, 1.6 P, and 4.1 K for the 75% application; and 9.2 N, 2.4 P, and 6.1 K for the 100% application. The amounts of elemental N, P, and K applied per container for biopolymer fertilizer were (in grams) 6.2 N, 0.6 P, and 1.8 K for the 75% application; and 9.2 N, 0.9 P, and 2.7 K for the 100% application. Because the biopolymer fertilizer spikes were prototypes being evaluated for the first time, there were no recommendations available for application amounts (number of spikes). The numbers of spikes for treatments were chosen arbitrarily to be four and six spikes for the patio planter and two and four spikes for the hanging baskets.
The experimental design for Expt. 2 was a randomized complete block design (blocked by container size), and there were seven treatments applied to each block (two application amounts of three fertilizers and a control with no fertilizer). The granular fertilizers were applied as a top dressing, and the fertilizer spikes were spaced evenly around the inside of the containers, inserted vertically into the root substrate ≈7 cm from the inside wall of the container. Experimental units were arranged randomly on expanded metal platforms raised 15 cm from the ground and located between two greenhouses. Experimental units received unobstructed sunlight each day from ≈1000 to 1300 hr. Units were irrigated uniformly with water as needed. The daily light integral during the experiment was 38.5 ± 12.3, and the mean daily temperature was 24.3 ± 5.8 °C. After 16 weeks (20 May to 9 Sept.), units were ascribed a visual rating for plant health, and plants were harvested, dried, measured for dry weight, and analyzed for nutrient content as described in methods for Expt. 1.
Means for measured parameters were quantified to characterize and compare the effectiveness of experimental treatments for meeting the nutrient requirements of plants. Data were analyzed for main effects, interactions, and means separation by using JMP® Pro statistical software (version 11.0.0; SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Means separation analyses were conducted by using Tukey–Kramer honestly significant difference model (P ≤ 0.05). Factorial interactions were significant in both experiments; therefore results for factorial treatments are presented in full cross-classification. For Expt. 1 results, interaction analysis showed P = 0.0009 for the greenhouse phase and P = 0.0013 for the garden phase. For Expt. 2 results, interaction analysis showed P = 0.0024. Because of the complexity of factorial treatments for the garden phase of Expt. 1, we simplified our results for presentation by combining results for the two ornamental bedding crops (marigold and petunia) and combining the results of the two garden crops (pepper and tomato). Individual values were normalized separately for each species to provide unweighted means on a scale of 0 to 100 (Pyle, 1999). This function yielded scores for effectiveness based on the three measured parameters and allowed results to be presented as grouped columns in the same bar chart. Normalization of individual values was accomplished by using the formula: a + (X − A) (b − a)/(B − A) where A = minimum of original data set, B = maximum of original data set, a = minimum of normalized data set (0), b = maximum of normalized data set (100), and X = the original individual value (Pyle, 1999).
In the greenhouse evaluations of Expt. 1, all results for plants grown with pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, fertilizing biocontainers, and synthetic CRF treatments were superior to those of plants grown in the no-fertilizer control treatment for all four species used in the evaluation (Table 1). These results demonstrate that pelletized biopolymer fertilizer and fertilizing biocontainers both provide nutrients to plants during greenhouse production. In general, plants provided with synthetic CRF were slightly larger and healthier than plants that received biopolymer fertilizer. For tomato and marigold, plant health rating was slightly higher for plants grown with synthetic CRF than for those grown with pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, but for pepper and petunia, there was no difference between health ratings for plants that received these two treatments (Table 1). The greater effectiveness of synthetic CRF was more evident with results of plant dry weight, in which plants grown with synthetic CRF accumulated greater dry weights than those grown with pelletized biopolymer fertilizer or fertilizing biocontainers for all four species (Table 1). For pepper and tomato, health ratings were slightly better for plants grown with pelletized biopolymer fertilizer than for those grown with the fertilizing biocontainer and no additional fertilizer, but this was the only comparison that showed the fertilizing biocontainers to be slightly less effective than the other biofertilizer treatments (Table 1). In all other comparisons of plant growth and health, the results for fertilizing biocontainers were similar to those of the pelletized biopolymer fertilizer under greenhouse conditions.
Based on the results for nutrient content of plants at the end of greenhouse production, both biopolymer fertilizer products (pelletized fertilizer and fertilizing biocontainer) were effective for providing primary macronutrients (Table 1). Although N, P, and K contents were generally greater for plants grown with synthetic CRF than for those grown with biopolymer fertilizer, the differences were often not significant and some of the biopolymer fertilizer treatments yielded higher nutrient contents than synthetic CRF for particular species. Pepper, for example, had the highest N and P contents when grown in fertilizing biocontainers and provided pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, and tomato had the highest N content when grown in petroleum-based PP containers and fertilized with pelletized biopolymer fertilizer (Table 1). Of the three macronutrients, P was the one most often lower in plants grown with biopolymer fertilizer compared with those grown with synthetic CRF. However, this is not unexpected considering that the formula for the biopolymer fertilizer provided 29% less P than that of synthetic CRF. In 4.5-inch containers, unrounded values of P applied per container were 0.0328 and 0.0465 g from biopolymer fertilizer and synthetic CRF, respectively. As described in the methods section, the amounts of the biopolymer and synthetic fertilizers were chosen to provide the same amount of N from both fertilizers because N is commonly required in greater quantities by crops than any of the other essential nutrients (Mengel and Kirkby, 2001). Therefore, the lower proportions of P and K in biopolymer fertilizer was a condition of our experimental design and could explain many of the lesser results received for plants provided with biopolymer fertilizer compared with those provided with synthetic CRF. Even though our choice to match the N content of the two fertilizers was valid and justified, it is probable that plants would have responded better to biopolymer fertilizer if it had been provided at an amount that supplied more P and K.
There were no noteworthy differences between the effects of NF biocontainers and those of the petroleum-based polypropylene (PP) containers (Table 1), providing further confirmation that NF PLA biocontainers can be used as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based containers during greenhouse production, requiring no changes to cultural practices (McCabe et al., 2016c; Schrader, 2016b). Comparing the results of the PP container with no fertilizer with the results for the fertilizing biocontainer with no fertilizer demonstrates that the fertilizing biocontainer provided nutrients to plants and facilitated good health and growth for all four species (Table 1). Compared with treatments with pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, fertilizing biocontainers with no supplemental fertilizer were only slightly less effective at promoting growth and should be considered as a viable option for production of short- and medium-cycle greenhouse crops. Although plants grown in fertilizing biocontainers with no supplemental fertilizer were slightly smaller and slightly lighter green, nutrient uptake was sufficient (Table 1). Use of fertilizing biocontainers for greenhouse crops could be among the most sustainable ways to both hold the plants (provide the containers) and provide them with nutrients, achieving both functions with one sustainable product.
The garden evaluations of Expt. 1 were designed to provide results of the cumulative effects of the greenhouse treatments and the garden treatments. The plants were first grown in the greenhouse under randomly assigned treatments and then the plants were transplanted into the garden plots and randomly assigned fertilizer treatments for nutrient provision during garden culture. Results of these cumulative effects from greenhouse through garden harvest are presented in Fig. 3, with greenhouse treatments in parentheses (container type + fertilizer type), followed by the garden treatment (fertilizer type). To reduce the size of the factorial results so they could be more easily understood, the results for the two garden crops (pepper and tomato) were combined and the results for the two ornamentals (marigold and petunia) were combined.
Citation: HortTechnology hortte 28, 3; 10.21273/HORTTECH03992-18
For pepper and tomato, all of the treatments that included a bio-based component were equally or more effective than the synthetic control treatment [(PP container + Synthetic fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer] in facilitating health, growth, and fruit production (Fig. 3). There were no differences in scores of the health rating for any of the treatments, but only treatments that included a bio-based fertilizer (crushed fertilizing biocontainer or biopolymer fertilizer) in the garden phase received the highest possible mean score (100) for health rating. For shoot dry weight, the synthetic control [(PP container + Synthetic fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer] earned a lower score than two of the treatments that included bio-based fertilizer, the [(Fertilizing biocontainer + Biopolymer fertilizer) + Biopolymer fertilizer] treatment and the [(NF biocontainer + Synthetic fertilizer) + Biopolymer fertilizer] treatment (Fig. 3). All other treatments yielded shoot dry weights that were not different from other treatments that were provided either bio-based fertilizer or the synthetic control fertilizer. There were no differences in fruit production across treatments, except that plants in the treatment that used only the fertilizing biocontainer for nutrient provision in the greenhouse [(Fertilizing biocontainer + No fertilizer) + Biopolymer fertilizer] had a slightly lower score for fruit yield than the treatment that used the fertilizing biocontainer and biopolymer fertilizer in the greenhouse [(Fertilizing biocontainer + Biopolymer fertilizer) + Fertilizing biocontainer].
For marigold and petunia, health ratings were not different across treatments except that the plants that were grown in a fertilizing biocontainer without supplemental fertilizer in the greenhouse, then provided biopolymer fertilizer in the garden [(Fertilizing biocontainer + No fertilizer) + Biopolymer fertilizer] were slightly less healthy than plants grown in the full control treatment [(PP container + Synthetic fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer] (Fig. 3). Treatments that produced the highest scores for shoot dry weight were [(Fertilizing biocontainer + No fertilizer) + Fertilizing biocontainer], [(PP container + Biopolymer fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer], and [(PP container + Synthetic fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer]. However, only one treatment [(Fertilizing biocontainer + No fertilizer) + Biopolymer fertilizer] resulted in scores that were significantly lower than these (Fig. 3). There were more differences across treatments for scores of flower production than for the other two metrics. Two of the control treatments, [(PP container + Biopolymer fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer] and [(PP container + Synthetic fertilizer) + Synthetic fertilizer], had higher scores for flower production than did four of the other treatments that had a bio-based fertilizer type applied during the garden phase.
Based on results collected after the garden phase, it appears that the bio-based fertilizers (fertilizing biocontainers and pelletized biopolymer fertilizer) evaluated in our research may be slightly more effective with pepper and tomato than they are with marigold and petunia. The greatest differences between the results for the bio-based fertilizer types and the synthetic CRF control were seen in the number of flowers produced by the end of the garden phase, with some of the bio-based treatment combinations leading to fewer flowers (Fig. 3). Results of most other measurements indicate that the biopolymer-based fertilizers are similarly effective as synthetic CRF for providing nutrients to garden and bedding crops (Table 1, Fig. 3).
In Expt. 2, evaluations of pelletized biopolymer fertilizer and biopolymer fertilizer spikes demonstrated the potential for using these products to provide nutrients for container ornamentals after production and sale, when consumers would be maintaining the plants for aesthetic uses. In both container sizes (13-inch planter and 12-inch hanging basket), all treatments that included fertilizer (pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, biopolymer fertilizer spikes, and the synthetic CRF) facilitated better health and size (shoot dry weight) than did the no-fertilizer control treatment (Table 2). Results specific to 13-inch planters show that there were no differences between the health and shoot dry weights of plants provided with biofertilizer pellets and those provided with synthetic CRF at either application amount. Health ratings and shoot dry weights of plants treated with biofertilizer spikes were lower than those treated with synthetic CRF, and health ratings were slightly lower for plants that were fertilized with biofertilizer spikes than for those that were treated with biofertilizer pellets applied at 100% of the recommended application amount (Table 2). Results for nutrient contents of shoots confirm the uptake of N from the fertilizers, with shoots of plants in all treatments provided with fertilizer showing higher N content than those receiving the no-fertilizer control treatment. The uptake of N from biofertilizer pellets was almost as high as that from the synthetic CRF. Nitrogen uptake from the biofertilizer spikes was lower than that from pellets. The P and K contents of plants that received the two biofertilizer types (pellets or spikes) were lower compared with those in the synthetic CRF treatments, results that were expected and consistent with the known lower ratio for these two nutrients in the biopolymer fertilizer.
Results specific to the 12-inch hanging baskets indicate that the biofertilizer spikes were more effective with this container size and group of species compared with other treatments than they were with the 13-inch planters (Table 2). There were no differences in health rating for plants in 12-inch hanging baskets for any of the treatments that were provided with fertilizer (pelletized biopolymer fertilizer, biopolymer fertilizer spikes, and the synthetic CRF), but health ratings for these treatments were all higher than those of the control with no fertilizer provided. Results for shoot dry weight of plants in 12-inch hanging baskets show that average dry weights were greater for plants provided with synthetic CRF at the 100% application amount than for those that received biofertilizer pellets at 75% and 100% amounts and biofertilizer spikes at the lower application amount (two spikes). Dry weights of plants that received biofertilizer spikes at the higher application amount (four spikes) were not different from those that received the synthetic CRF at 100%. All of the biofertilizer treatments (pellets and spikes at both application amounts) facilitated growth that was comparable with that of plants provided with synthetic CRF at the 75% application amount (Table 2). The pattern of results for nutrient contents of shoots was similar for plants in 12-inch hanging baskets compared with those in the 13-inch planters. In 12-inch hanging baskets, all plants provided with fertilizer showed greater shoot N content than those receiving the no-fertilizer control treatment. Shoot N content was much higher for plants that received synthetic CRF at the 100% application amount than for plants in any other treatment (Table 2), possibly indicating that the synthetic CRF provided at this application amount may lead to luxury consumption of N, which would constitute an inefficient and potentially wasteful level of nutrient provision (Ingestad, 1974). This seems especially likely considering that the health ratings of plants in this treatment were not higher than the ratings of plants that received other treatments containing fertilizer (both application amounts of biofertilizer pellets and spikes, and the synthetic CRF at 75%).
Results of our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of biopolymer horticultural products for sustainable production of quality greenhouse crops, and demonstrate for the first time the effectiveness of pelletized biopolymer fertilizer for providing nutrients to plants in a garden setting (Table 1; Fig. 3). Favorable results with plants in hanging baskets and patio planters constitute proof-of-concept that pelletized biopolymer fertilizer and biopolymer fertilizer spikes are effective for providing nutrients to containerized plants during postproduction growth and maintenance culture (Table 2). One of the factors that must be considered when comparing the effectiveness of biopolymer fertilizers to that of synthetic fertilizers in our study is that fertilizer treatments were set to provide equal amounts of N. By setting the treatments in this way, the experiments arbitrarily caused biopolymer fertilizers to be applied at lower amounts of P and K. This factor may explain some, or perhaps most, of the lower results obtained for plants provided with biopolymer fertilizers compared with those provided with synthetic CRF. Although the biopolymer fertilizer materials used in this study have been improved from their original form by making small changes to the formulations (McCabe et al., 2016a, 2016b; Schrader et al., 2013), at this time the fertilizers are still considered to be in early stages of product development. It is likely that future research and development will produce formulations that will be equally effective to that of synthetic CRF for growing horticulture crops in containers and in the garden, while still being much more sustainable than synthetic fertilizer (Montalbo-Lomboy et al., 2016).
For growers and consumers that are interested in being as sustainable as possible with culture and growth of bedding plants, use of fertilizing biocontainers with no additional fertilizer may be the best approach. Although plants grown in fertilizing biocontainers with no additional fertilizer were sometimes smaller and slightly less healthy at the end of greenhouse production, plants grown by this method and installed in the garden with only the used container to provide additional nutrients [(Fertilizing biocontainer + No fertilizer) + Fertilizing biocontainer] were equally healthy and of equal size (shoot dry weight) to those that received synthetic fertilizer in the greenhouse and garden (Fig. 3). For certain crops (short- to medium-cycle bedding plants, for example), the fertilizing biocontainers could simplify plant production, reduce inputs, and eliminate landfill disposal of the container. They could eliminate the labor and cost of supplemental fertilizer application, they could provide additional fertilizer nutrients in the garden or flower bed when the container is removed, crushed, and installed under the plant, and they could divert the end-of-life disposal of the containers from the landfill to the garden soil where they could degrade to organic matter. All of these features and functions could potentially improve both efficiency and sustainability during the culture of vegetable and floriculture crops.
Contributor Notes
Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
Associate Scientist.
Assistant Professor.
Research Assistant.
Professor.
Corresponding author. E-mail: jschrade@iastate.edu.
