Abstract

BARBARO, LORENA ALEJANDRA; ILLA HEALY, VICTORIA; KARLANIAN, MÓNICA ALEJANDRA  and  MAZZONI, ARIEL. CENIZA VOLCÁNICA COMO ALTERNATIVA A LA PERLITA EN LA FORMULACIÓN DE SUSTRATOS PARA PLANTINES FLORALES. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2015, vol.33, n.2. ISSN 1850-2067.

The components used in the formulation of substrates can be organic or inorganic. Among the latter, expanded perlite is most frequently used but it presents disadvantages such as it not being a renewable resource, its lack of biodegradability and its loss of granulometric stability, as well as its high cost. Consequently, alternatives are sought for replacement. In June 2011, the Puyehue volcano expelled large amounts of ash that proved to be viable as substrate component. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the volcanic ash (VC) as an alternative to expanded perlite (EP). Both materials were analyzed for their chemical and physical characteristics and substrates were formulated with 20% or 50% of these materials with Sphagnum peat, and seedlings of pansy (Viola tricolor L.) and impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.) were grown on each substrate. For each material and substrate pH, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (dap.) air porosity (PA), water holding capacity (CRA) and total porosity (EPT) was analyzed. Aerial and root dry mass was measured on each species. Both materials (PE and VC) were characterized by presentinga low EC (0.01 and 0.02 dS m^-1) and a high percentage of PA (63% and 55%); volcanic ash showed more density than perlite. The substrates formulated with the same ratio of PE or VC did not differ in most of the evaluated properties. Seedlings grown onsubstrates with 20% PE or CV presented more dry matter than those grown on substrates with 50% PE or CV. The use of volcanic ash showed to be a good alternative to the use of expanded perlite in formulated substrates.

Keywords : Pyroclastic material, container, pansies, impatiens.

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