Response of Container-grown Ninebark to Crude and Nutrient-enriched Recirculating Compost Leachates

Transcription

1 HORTSCIENCE 4(5): Response of Continer-grown Ninebrk to Crude nd Nutrient-enrihed Reirulting Compost Lehtes Jonn Gils, Clvin Chong, nd Glen Lumis Deprtment of Plnt Agriulture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont., N1G 2W1, Cnd Additionl index words. fertigtion, nutrition, ornmentls, nursery prodution Abstrt. Ninebrk [Physorpus opulifolius (L.) Mxim] ws grown on troughs under greenhouse onditions in 2.5-L ontiners filled with 1% omposted pine brk nd fertigted with drip irrigtion using the following nutrient solutions: 1) omplete (ontrol) solution, eletril ondutivity (EC) of 1.75 ds m 1, nonreirulted; 2) solution s in tretment 1 but reirulted; 3) unmended muniipl solid wste ompost (MSW) lehte, EC 1.75 ds m 1, reirulted; 4) solution s in tretment 3 mended in order of priority with -N, NH 4 -N, P, K, C nd/or Mg, to mth the onentrtions in the omplete solution, EC 2.6 ds m 1, reirulted; 5) unmended turkey litter ompost (TLC) lehte, EC 1.75 ds m 1, reirulted; nd 6) solution s in tretment 5 mended s in tretment 4, EC 2.4 ds m 1, reirulted. Among the four reirulted ompost lehte tretments, shoot (stems nd leves) dry weight of ninebrk ws lest with the unmended MSW, intermedite with mended MSW, nd gretest but similr with both unmended nd mended TLC. The most growth ourred with the reirulted ontrol solution. Among the four lehte tretments, ninebrk grew eptbly well only with reirulted unmended TLC, nd ws similr to tht with the nonreirulted ontrol solution. Three tretments (nonreirulted ontrol, reirulted ontrol nd unmended TLC) showed no nutrient toxiity or defiieny symptoms. Poorer growth responses in the other tretments (mended TLC, mended MSW nd unmended MSW) were relted primrily to exess slts nd/or nutritionl disorders due to imblne(s) in one or more nutrients. Globl onerns bout wter qulity nd srity, s well s inresing environmentl regultions to prevent surfe nd ground wter ontmintion from nutrient-lden effluents, hve prompted the evlution of lterntive soures of wter for griulturl irrigtion nd the reyling of nutrients in plnt ulture (Fitzptrik, 1984; Jreki et l., 25; Poole nd Conover, 1992; Purvis et l., 2). Compost lehte is potentil soure of wter nd fertilizer for growing nursery stok (Jreki et l., 25; Shwrz, 1985). Composts suh s spent mushroom, turkey litter nd muniipl wste re rih in ertin nutrients (Bunt, 1988; Chong, 22; Shulz nd Romheld, 1997). Jreki (22) reported inresed growth of five tree nd one grss speies in field plots fertigted with nutrient-fortified pond-olleted spent mushroom ompost lehte. Mihitsh et l. (23) suessfully grew Lynwood forsythi (Forsythi intermedi Zb. Lynwood ) nd Red Prine Reeived for publition 12 Nov. 24. Aepted for publition 24 Feb. 24. This pper is portion of thesis submitted by Jonn Gils in fulfilling Mster of Siene degree requirement. Finnil support ws provided by Ontrio Ministry of Agriulture nd Food (OMAF); Nturl Sienes nd Engineering Reserh Counil of Cnd (NSE); Ntionl Reserh Counil of Cnd, Industril Reserh Assistne Progrm (IRAP); Lndspe Ontrio Hortiulturl Trdes Assoition Grower s Group; nd Lndspe Ontrio Hortiulturl Trdes Foundtion. weigel [Weigel florid (Bunge.) A. DC. Red Prine ] in greenhouse hydroponi solutions ontining both rude nd nutrient-enrihed solutions from spent mushroom nd muniipl solid wste omposts, nd lso from rude wstewter derived from nerobi digestion of muniipl solid wstes. The objetive of this study ws to evlute the response of ontiner-grown ninebrk fertigted with both rude nd nutrient-enrihed ompost lehtes from muniipl solid wste nd turkey litter omposts in reirulting system. Mterils nd Methods Compost lehtes. The ompost lehtes were prepred s desribed by Weltzien (1992). Finished muniipl solid wste ompost (MSW; Wet-Dry Reyling Centre, Guelph, Ont., Cnd) or finished turkey litter ompost (TLC; Cole Springs Frm, Thmesford, Ont., Cnd) ws mixed with deionized wter (1: 1, v/v) nd fermented with dily stirrings for 7 d t room temperture. The ompost-wter mixtures were filtered through heeseloth (28 24 threds/2.5 m 2 ) nd then through 155- mesh sreen. The rude lehtes [eletril ondutivity, EC ~ 11 nd 13 ds m 1 for MSW nd TLC, respetively] were dispensed in 3-L bthes nd frozen t 18 C. When required, bthes were thwed t room temperture nd diluted with reverse osmosis-treted wter to n EC of 1.75 ds m 1. The initil hemil omposition of the diluted or unmended ompost lehtes(umsw nd utlc) re shown in Tble 1. Plnt mteril nd ulturl onditions. Plug-rooted liners of 18 to 2 m tll ommon ninebrk [Physorpus opulifolius (L.) Mxim] were grown in 2.5-L (#1) nursery ontiners in glsshouse (93 m 2 ; nturl photoperiod) t the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont., Cnd (lt ' N, long. 8 15' W) from 26 Apr. to 19 July 22. The verge dy/night tempertures were: 21 ±.7 C/17 ±.3 C from 26 Apr. to 24 My; 22 ± 1.1 C/ 18 ±.8 C from 24 My to 21 June; nd 23 ± 1. C/19 ± 1. C from 21 June to 19 July. The verge reltive humidities during these sme periods were: 36% ± 14%; 61% ± 13%; nd 7% ± 12%, respetively. The substrte ws 1% omposted pine brk (.9 to 1.3 Tble 1. Initil hemil omposition of the six nutrient solutions. z Reommended Vrible y onn x N, umsw utlc MSW TLC EC < N NH 4 -N P K C Mg SO 4 < Cl <355 w N < HCO 3 < Zn < Mn < Cu < Fe < B < Mo < z N = nonreirulted ontrol; = reirulted ontrol; umsw = unmended muniipl solid wste; MSW = mended muniipl solid wste; utlc = unmended turkey litter ompost; TLC = mended turkey litter ompost. y All vribles expressed in mg L 1 exept for EC (ds m 1 ). x Adpted from Ayers nd Westot (1985), Southern Nurserymen s Assoition (1997), OMAF (23), Whipker (1999), Reisenuer (1976), nd Mthers (23). w Only for tolernt plnts. HORTSCIENCE VOL. 4(5) AUGUST

2 Tble 2. Chemil nlysis of the growth substrte before first fertigtion. Nutrient z (mg L 1 ) -N NH 4 -N P K C Mg SO 4 Cl N Fe Mn Zn Cu B Mo Men.6 y SE z Conentrtion mesured using pour-through nutrient extrts. y Eh dtum is the men of three smples ± stndrd error (SE). m size mix; Gro-Brk Orgnis In., Hornby, Ont., Cnd), with the following physil properties: totl porosity, 71% ±.2%; ertion porosity, 34% ± 2.6%; wter retention porosity, 37% ± 2.7%; nd bulk density,.36 ±.5 g m 3. The hemil omposition is shown in Tble 2. Tretment solutions nd smpling. Plnts were pled 45 m prt on luminum troughs (2.1 m long 2 m wide 2.5 m deep) set t 3% slope on four seprte benhes (eh 4.4 m long 1.4 m wide.8 m high; 38 m pthwys between benhes). Eh trough ws ompnied by 77 L nutrient supply tnk with 6 L of solution. All solutions were mde using reverse osmosis treted wter nd onstntly erted t rte of.7 L min 1 using the greenhouse-equipped ompressed ir. Lehte from ontiners in reirulting tretments 2 to 6 flowed into the nutrient supply tnk nd ws reirulted vi submerged pump. Lehte from tretment 1 ws direted to floor drin. The tretment solutions were (Tble 1): 1) omplete (ontrol) solution previously used for greenhouse-grown roses in reirulting system (Blom, 22), EC of 1.75 ds m 1, nonreirulted; 2) solution s in tretment 1 but reirulted; 3) unmended MSW lehte, EC 1.75 ds m 1, reirulted; 4) solution s in tretment 3 mended in order of priority with -N, NH 4 -N, P, K, C nd/or Mg, to mth the onentrtions in the omplete solution (tretment 1), EC 2.6 ds m 1, reirulted; 5) unmended TLC lehte, EC 1.75 ds m 1, reirulted; nd 6) solution s in tretment 5 mended s in tretment 4, EC 2.4 ds m 1, reirulted. The experimentl design ws rndomized omplete blok design with four bloks (benhes) nd five plnts per plot. Nutrient solutions were pplied by omputerized system (Argus Control Systems Ltd., White Rok, B.C., Cnd) t rte of.15 L min 1 per ontiner through one irulr drip emitter (1 m dimeter) nd one supply tube [(6 m long,.15 m i.d. (Drmm Corportion, Mnitowo, Wis.)]. A lehing frtion of 1% to 25% ws mintined from the ontiners (Mthers, 23). Every 2 weeks, the prtilly depleted solution in eh supply tnk ws topped up to the originl 6-L volume with fresh solution nd/or reverse osmosis treted wter t rtio tht retrgeted the EC of the solution to the originl vlues (Tble 1). The formul used to derive this rtio ws (Atul L Atul EC) + [Originl EC x (6 L Atul L Y)] = (6 L Originl EC), where Y = L reverse osmosis treted wter nd (6 L Atul L Y) = L fresh solution (Blom, 22). After eh topping, 25-mL smple of the solution ws nlysed for EC, ph, -N, NH 4 -N, P, K, C, Mg, SO 4, 158 Cl, nd N (Agri-Food Lbortories, Guelph, Ont., Cnd). The ph ws djusted to 5.5 ±.3 weekly using either 93% sulfuri id or 1 M sodium birbonte. On 26 Apr. (just before first fertigtion), triplite smples of lehte were olleted from the substrte by the pour-through proedure (Wright, 1986), nd nlysed for EC nd ph (Agri-Food Lbortories, Guelph, Ont., Cnd). Lehtes were lso olleted every 4 weeks on 24 My, 21 June, nd 19 July from ontiners in eh plot nd nlysed similrly. On 19 July (hrvest), smples of reentlymtured leves from eh plot were dried t 6 C, weighed, ground, nd nlysed for totl N, P, K, C, Mg, S, Cl, N, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, nd B (Agri-Food Lbortories, Guelph, Ont., Cnd). The shoots were removed nd seprted into leves nd stems. The substrte ws wshed from the roots. Leves, stems nd reovered roots were dried nd weighed. The weight of the leves used for folir nlysis ws dded bk to the remining lef dry weight. Sttistil nlysis. Anlysis of vrine for dry weights nd folir nutrient onentrtions ws performed using Pro GLM, fter testing for normlity nd homogeneity by Pro UNIVARIATE nd Pro PLOT. Mens between ompost lehte tretments were ompred by lest signifint differene (LSD) test, nd between the nonreirulted or the reirulted ontrol solution nd eh ompost lehte by Dunnett s test. Pro CORR ws used to test the reltionships between dry weights nd folir nutrients, between individul folir nutrients, nd between shoot dry weights nd substrte EC. Dt for solution nutrient onentrtions, EC nd ph, nd for substrte EC nd ph, were regressed over time. Using Pro GLM, the model for substrte EC nd ph represents series of regression responses, one for eh of the six tretment solutions, rditing from ommon interept (Chong nd Purvis, 24). Polynomils were fitted to ount for urved reltionships (P.5) nd stepwise ontrst nlysis ws onduted to determine if there ws ny similrity mong the reltionships (P.5). The oeffiient of determintion for eh set of responses ws expressed in terms of prtil r 2, whih mesured the strength of the response reltionship fter removing replition effets (Deveu et l., 1987). Results Growth response. Among the four reirulted ompost lehte tretments, shoot (lef nd stem) dry weight of ninebrk (Fig. 1) ws lest with unmended MSW, intermedite with mended MSW, nd gretest but similr with unmended nd mended TLC. With unmended MSW, ninebrk developed hlorosis nd sorhed lef tips within two weeks fter first fertigtion (26 Apr.). By 24 My, symptoms inluded mrginl sorh, drk brown spots nd blothes on both old nd new leves, older folige senesene nd lower lef bsission. By 21 June, lef mrgins were urled. At hrvest (19 July), leves were smll nd growth ws sprse, nd present only t the ends of slender shoots. Similr or some vrition of these symptoms developed progressively lter nd in order of deresing severity: mended MSW (leves smll but drk green; lower lef bsission bout 25% of totl nopy t hrvest); mended TLC [mild (< 5%) lef sorh by 21 June; nd some brown spots nd blothes primrily on some older leves fter this dte; sprwling growth hbit with lrger leves nd longer internodes]. In ontrst, with unmended TLC nd the two ontrol ( nd N) solutions, there were no symptoms. Plnts grew rpidly in these three tretments nd, ording to stndrds of the Cndin Nursery nd Lndspe Assoition (CNLA, 22), ttined mrketble size even before termintion of the experiment. The growth hbit ws ompt nd the plnts were ttrtive. Shoot dry weight with utlc ws omprble to tht with TLC, nd lso with the nonreirulted ontrol (N), but less thn with the reirulted ontrol () (Fig. 1). The tretment notbly produed the gretest shoot dry weight. Stem nd lef dry weights showed similr ptterns (Fig. 1), but lef dry weights for TLC nd were similr. With both TLC solutions, root dry weights (Fig. 1) were similr, omprble with those for N nd, but greter thn their MSW ounterprts. The shoot/root dry weight rtios were gretest with MSW, intermedite with TLC, N nd, nd lest with the two unmended ompost solutions (Fig. 1). Folir nutrients. More N, P, Mg, nd S tended to umulte in leves of ninebrk plnts grown with TLC thn with MSW solutions (Fig. 2). The onentrtions of these nutrients were eh onsistently nd positively orrelted with eh of the growth prmeters (Tble 3). In ontrst, most of the remining folir nutrients were negtively orrelted with one or more growth prmeters. Nutrient hnges in solution tnks. Conentrtions of -N (umsw), NH 4 -N nd P (ll reirulted tretments), K (umsw nd MSW), C (MSW) nd Mg (utlc) deresed by between 14% nd 87% over the ourse of the experiment, while onentrtions of Mg (exept N nd utlc), SO 4 (ll reirulted tretments), Cl nd N (MSW nd TLC) inresed by between 13% nd 98%. The EC vlues (exept N nd umsw) HORTSCIENCE VOL. 4(5) AUGUST 25

3 inresed lso by between 18% nd 49%. The ph in the solutions remined reltively stble, hnging <1% of initil vlues (dt not shown). Substrte. The EC in ll substrtes inresed throughout most or ll of the growing period (.3 to 7.9 ds m 1 ), exept umsw, whih hnged little in EC fter 24 My (Fig. 3). Vlues tended to be gretest with the mended lehtes, intermedite with the ontrols, nd lest with the unmended lehtes. Corresponding substrte ph deresed from 26 Apr. (7.4) to bout 24 My (5.8 to 6.3) nd then inresed, hnged little or peked (6. to 7. in mid-july) (Fig. 3). At this time (mid- July), vlues were the gretest with utlc, intermedite with TLC, umsw nd, nd lest with MSW nd N. The rnge of these ph vlues (Fig. 3) re eptble for ontinergrown ninebrk (Chong, 1999). Disussion The mjor disdvntges or limittions of using ompost lehtes in plnt ulture inlude: the presene of undesirble hemils; vribility in hemil omposition; phytoxiity due to exess slts or speifi nutrients; nd nutrient defiienies (BCMAF, 1996; Li et l., 1997; Peot nd MIntyre, 2; Shrive et l., 1994). Exess slts my restrit use to modertely or very slt tolernt speies (Shwrz, 1985) sine it is often diffiult to retify nutrient imblnes (Jreki, 22). In the present study with four reirulted ompost lehtes, two unmended nd two fortified with seleted nutrients, ontiner-grown ninebrk grew eptbly well only with the unmended reirulted TLC. Fortuitously, both the initil nd lter onentrtions of -N, P, nd K in the unmended TLC solution were lose to or within norml rnges (Tble 1; OMAF, 23), inditing resonble blned omposition of these mjor nutrients tht ould ount, t lest in prt, for the good response of ninebrk in this solution. The slightly higher -N (>147 mg L 1 ) in the reirulted ontrol tretment throughout most of the growth period ould perhps ount for the enhned performne of ninebrk in this tretment versus tht with utlc. Poorer responses with the other lehtes seemed to be relted primrily to nutritionl disorders nd/or imblnes. The unmended MSW, the worst mong the six solutions, ws the most imblned. It ontined suffiient K, but ws defiient in P nd lking substntilly in -N (18 t 1.75 ds m 1 ). As ommonly Shoot/root dry weight rtio Dry weight (g/plnt) reported in reirulting systems (Böhme, 1995; Sonneveld nd Vnderburg, 1991; Zekki et l., 1996), N, Cl nd SO 4 umulted most in the unmended MSW solution nd its mended ounterprt. Conentrtions of N nd Cl in the MSW lehtes were notble up to 3.2 times those in the TLC lehte. In the unmended MSW, defiieny ws likely nd predominntly due to lk of N (hlorosis, slender stems, older-lef bsission) (Mrshner, 1986; Rose nd Biernki, 1999) nd toxiity likely due to Cl [(lef tip nd mrginl sorh, premture yellowing nd bsission of older leves; negtive orreltion with shoot growth); (Tble 3) (Mrshner, 1986; Mthers 2)], but perhps not N due to the reltively low tissue ontent (.9%; <.3% to.5% toxi levels) (Ayers nd Westot 1985; Bergmnn 1992). Additionl lef injury symptoms were similr to those desribed for B toxiity: drk brown spots nd blothes ompnied by urling of the lef mrgins (Bergmnn, 1992). The onentrtion of B in the lef tissue of umsw plnts (78 mg kg 1 ) ws greter thn reommended (3 to 5 mg kg 1 ; Gillim nd Smith, 198) nd negtively orrelted with shoot growth (Tble 3). N umsw utlc MSW TLC N Shoots * b * For best results, using lehtes rih in ertin nutrients, it is neessry to first dilute nd then to mend or fortify with speifi nutrients, espeilly mro-nutrients, tht re defiient (Mihitsh et l., 23). In so doing, the initil EC vlues in the two mended solutions (Tble 1) were higher (MSW, 2.6 ds m 1 ; nd TLC, 2.4 ds m 1 ) ompred with the unmended or ontrol solutions (1.75 ds m 1 ). These EC vlues re not onsidered per se to be toxi to ninebrk beuse vlues in both mended TLC solutions nd the substrtes were nerly s high or higher during the experiment nd espeilly loser to hrvest. Furthermore, ninebrk is onsidered to be slt tolernt speies (Trnsporttion Assoition of Cnd, 23). While riteri provided by Reisenuer (1976) suggest tht ninebrk is slt tolernt to bout 355 mg L 1 of Cl, our dt suggest tolerne to ner 1 mg L 1 of Cl nd ner 7 mg L 1 N. Thus with mended MSW, plnts likely were stressed from N (sorhed lef tips nd mrgins; limited lef expnsion; exess mounts in the lef tissue,.65%), but perhps not Cl due to the reltively low tissue ontent (1.3%) (Mrshner, 1986; Mthers, 2). Fig. 1. Dry weight of shoots, leves, stems nd roots, nd shoot/root dry weight rtio of ninebrk in response to vrious ompost lehtes (umsw = unmended muniipl solid wste; MSW = mended muniipl solid wste; utlc = unmended turkey litter ompost; TLC = mended turkey litter ompost). Lehte tretments with different letters re signifintly different by LSD (P.5). The horizontl dotted lines represent growth with the two ontrol tretments. N = nonreirulted ontrol, = reirulted ontrol. Comprisons to the ontrols were mde using Dunnett s test t P.5. + Signifint differene from N. * Signifint differene from. N d+* Leves umsw utlc MSW TLC N Stems * Roots N umsw utlc MSW TLC * HORTSCIENCE VOL. 4(5) AUGUST

4 The dditionl -N (129 mg L 1 ) in the solution formul (Tble 1) my hve redued Cl toxiity symptoms (reltive to unmended MSW plnts) s -N tends to ompete with Cl for uptke (Mills nd Jones, 1996). The impired root growth with the MSW lehtes is interesting sine this did not our with the TLC lehtes. Although the plnt tissue ws not nlyzed for hevy metl ontents, typil symptoms of hevy metl Conentrtion (mg.kg -1 ) Conentrtion (% dry weight) N K S Fe Zn N, N N b+ N + N b+ umsw utlc MSW TLC toxiity (root dmge nd hlorosis similr to tht indued by Fe defiieny; Bergmnn, 1992) were not seen. As Cl nd N re the two mjor onstrints for plnt growth in medium to high slinity onditions, the notbly higher onentrtions of these nutrients in the MSW lehte versus the TLC lehte, my hve interfered with root development (Bligr et l., 1998; Shwrz, 1985). It is lso possible tht phytotoxi orgni ompounds, suh s P C Cl Mn Cu N d+* b* N N, d+* + N N umsw utlc MSW TLC phenols, my hve been present in the MSW lehtes (Ömn nd Hynning, 1993; Revel et l., 1999; Shrive et l., 1994). Using the sme MSW lehte soure in sttionry hydroponi solutions, Mihitsh et l. (23) found tht both unmended nd mended lehtes produed tops nd roots of forsythi nd weigel equl to or lrger thn those with ontrol solution, despite high onentrtions of N (137 to 173 mg L 1 ) nd Cl (288 to 364 mg L 1 ) in the lehte solutions. This greter tolerne to N nd Cl my be due to differene in speies or in prt to their dpttion to these slts in solution rther thn in solid medium (Zyed, 1987). With the TLC tretment, the lrge folige, exessively long internodes nd sprwling growth hbit my hve resulted from exessive fertiliztion (Blom, 22; Slisbury nd Ross, 1992). In this tretment, n essentil nutrient, C, ws dded in the form of CCl 2 Mg N B N + N, N b b umsw utlc MSW TLC Fig. 2. Folir nutrient onentrtions of ninebrk in response to vrious ompost lehtes. umsw = unmended muniipl solid wste; MSW = mended muniipl solid wste; utlc = unmended turkey litter ompost; TLC = mended turkey litter ompost). Lehte tretments with different letters re signifintly different by LSD (P.5). The horizontl dotted lines represent onentrtions with the two ontrol tretments. N = nonreirulted ontrol, = reirulted ontrol. Comprisons to the ontrols were mde using Dunnett s test t P.5. + Signifint differene from N. * Signifint differene from. 151 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 4(5) AUGUST 25

5 Tble 3. Correltions (r) between shoot, stem, lef nd root dry weights nd folir nutrient onentrtions in ninebrk. Folir nutrient Dry wt N P K C Mg S Cl N Fe Mn Zn Cu B Shoot.9 **.91 **.42 * **.83 **.78 ** *.84 ** Stem.88 **.89 ** **.79 **.75 ** *.77 ** Lef.9 **.91 **.44 * **.83 **.78 ** * *.87 ** Root.83 **.8 ** *.71 **.58 **.56 ** *.65 ** *,** Signifint t P.5 or.1, respetively; n = 22. EC (ds m -1 ). ph N umsw utlc N umsw utlc HORTSCIENCE VOL. 4(5) AUGUST 25 MSW TLC Time (weeks) MSW TLC Time (weeks) Fig. 3. Substrte EC nd ph of ninebrk in response to two ontrol nd four ompost lehte tretments over time. When two regressions were not signifintly different t P.5, ommon regression (solid line) ws fitted. The horizontl broken lines represent the desirble upper nd lower EC ( ds m 1 ; BCMAF, 1999) nd ph (5.5 7.; OMAF, 23) thresholds for ontiner-grown nursery rops. N = nonreirulted ontrol; = reirulted ontrol; umsw = unmended muniipl solid wste; MSW = mended muniipl solid wste; utlc = unmended turkey litter ompost; TLC = mended turkey litter ompost. Regression equtions for substrte EC (prtil r 2 =.98): N nd, y = x.63x x 3 ; umsw, y = x.15x x 3 ; MSW, y = x.23x 2.14x 3 ; utlc, y = x.16x x 3 ; TLC, y = x.85x x 3. Regression equtions for substrte ph (prtil r 2 =.93): N, y = x +.76x 2.31x 3 ;, y = 7.4.6x +.88x 2.37x 3 ; umsw, y = x +.12x 2.56x 3 ; MSW, y = x +.11x 2.49x 3 ; utlc, y = 7.4.7x +.13x 2.61x 3 ; TLC, y = x +.13x 2.61x 3. to the TLC lehte, whih lso inresed the Cl onentrtion to 2 mg L 1 (Tble 1). Mild (<5% of leves ffeted) symptoms of pprent Cl toxiity were evident on TLC plnts on 21 June; however, symptoms inresed in severity fter this dte s the onentrtion in solution inresed to 239 mg L 1. Tissue C in utlc plnts ws suffiient despite low onentrtions in the lehte (ner 3 mg L 1 Tble 1). Therefore, the use of CCl 2 ould hve been voided. Drk brown spots on the older leves of TLC plnts, similr to those observed on umsw plnts, suggested possible B toxiity; however, the onentrtion of B (47 mg kg 1 ) in the lef tissue ws norml (Gillim nd Smith, 198). The spotting, in ombintion with the loss of pil dominne, ould hve resulted from Mn toxiity, s the lef tissue onentrtion (195 mg kg 1 ) ws highest in this tretment (Mrshner, 1986). Further experimenttion is required to differentite the symptoms observed herein, s dignosing the symptoms of nutritionl disorders n be espeilly diffiult when more thn one minerl nutrient is defiient or toxi, or when there is defiieny of one nutrient nd, simultneously, toxiity of nother (Mrshner, 1986). Berry et l. (1977), working with ontiner grown plnts, found tht iron defiieny ould be problem in unmended wter. Folir Fe ontentrtions with the unmended lehtes were lower thn with the nonreirulted ontrol (Fig. 2), but were similr to the reirulted ontrol. Thus, folir Fe onentrtions were not onsidered to be defiient (Gillim nd Smith, 198). The onentrtions of other mironutrients were higher with the unmended (Zn nd Cu) nd mended (Zn, Cu, nd Mn) ompost lehte solutions ompred to the ontrol solutions. As reported by Grtten nd Grieve (1999), the uptke of Mn, Zn, nd Cu n inrese in rop plnts under slinity stress. Conentrtions of Cu were lower thn reommended (Gillim nd Smith, 198) for ll tretments. However, ontrol plnts showed no symptoms of Cu defiieny, therefore onentrtions were onsidered dequte or tolerble. Rymond et l. (1998) found tht initil substrte EC vlues were positively orrelted with growth of eh of four ontiner-grown shrubs. Chong (1999) found tht end-of-seson growth of three woody speies ws positively orrelted with erly seson [ Minnesot Snowflke mokornge (Phildelphus virginlis Rehd. Minnesot Snowflke )] nd midseson [silverlef dogwood (Cornus lb L. Argenteo-mrgint ) nd vriegted weigel (Weigel fl orid (Bunge.) A. DC. Vriegt Nn )] substrte EC redings. In this study, we found substrte EC positively orrelted with shoot dry weight on the finl smpling dte (r =.79 * ). The () upwrd trend in substrte EC throughout the 12 week study for ll lehte solutions, exept umsw, nd (b) bove-reommended EC vlues observed in the two mended solutions during the lter 1511

6 hlf of the study, nd lso in the two ontrol solutions lose to hrvest (Fig. 3), suggest tht to mintin ontiner nursery plnts for longer period of time would likely require periodi emptying of the solution tnks (Zekki et l., 1996) nd/or flushing of the substrte with wter to redue the possibility of toxi slt buildup (Resh, 1989). Conlusion In omprtive study using reirulted turkey litter nd muniipl solid wste ompost lehte solutions s nutrient soures, eh unmended or fortified with extr nutrients, ontiner-grown ninebrk grew eptbly well only with the unmended turkey litter lehte. In this solution, the onentrtion of nutrients, espeilly -N, P, nd K were lose to or within norml rnges. Comprtive quntittive dt for growth, folir nutrient ontents nd nutrient hnges mesured in the tretment solutions nd ontiner substrte during the experiment, indite tht poorer results with the other lehtes were due to imblnes or disorders of one or more nutrients. Notwithstnding the preliminry nture of this study, the results show promise for using nd reirulting ompost lehtes in ommeril prodution. Literture Cited Ayers, R.S. nd D.W. Westot Wter qulity for griulture. FAO irrigtion nd dringe pper 29, Rev. 1. FAO, Rome. Bligr, V.C., N.K. Fgeri, nd M.A. Elrshidi Toxiity nd nutrient onstrints on root growth. HortSiene 33: Bergmnn, W Nutritionl disorders of plnts. VCH Publishers, Deerfield Beh, Fl. Berry, W.L., A. Wlle, nd O.R. Lunt Reyling muniipl wstewter for hydroponi ulture. HortSiene 12:186. Blom, T.J. 22. Plnt nutrition. Dept. Plnt Agr., Univ. Guelph, Vinelnd Sttion, Ont. Böhme, M Effets of losed systems in substrte ulture for vegetble prodution in greenhouses. At Hort. 396: British Columbi Ministry of Agriulture nd Food (BCMAF) Composting Environmentl onerns. 26 June gf.gov.b./resmgmt/publist/3series/ 3825%2D11.pdf. British Columbi Ministry of Agriulture nd Food (BCMAF) On-site testing of growing medi nd irrigtion wter. 26 June florwww.eeb.uonn.edu/pdf/bcmaf%2ons ite%2testing%2of%2medi%2nd%2irr igtion%2wter.pdf. Bunt, A.C Medi nd mixes for ontinergrown plnts. 2nd ed. Unwin Hymn, London. Cndin Nursery Lndspe Assoition (CNLA). 22. Cndin stndrds for nursery stok. 7th ed. Cndin Nursery Lndspe Assoition, Milton, Ont. Chong, C Blending slow-relese fertilizers for ontiner nursery ulture. Comb. Pro. Intl. Plnt Prop. So. 49: Chong, C. 22. Use of wste nd ompost in propgtion: Chllenges nd onstrints. Comb. Pro. Intl. Plnt Prop. So. 52: Chong, C. nd P. Purvis. 24. Nursery rop response to substrtes mended with rw pper mill sludge, omposted pper mill sludge nd omposted muniipl wste. Cn. J. Plnt Si. 84: Deveu, J., D.P. Ormrod, O.B. Allen, nd D. Bekerson Growth nd folir injury responses to mize, soyben nd tomto seedlings exposed to mixtures of ozone nd sulphur dioxide. Agr. Eosyst. Environ. 19: Fitzptrik, G.E Reperussions of rtioning. Interior Lndspe Ind. 1(7): Gillim, C.H. nd E.M. Smith Fertiliztion of ontiner-grown nursery stok. Ohio Stte Univ. Coop. Ext. Serv. Bul Grtten, S.R. nd C.M. Grieve Minerl nutrient quisition nd response by plnts grown in sline environments, p In: M. Pessrkli (ed.). Hndbook of plnt nd rop stress. Mrel Dekker, New York. Jreki, M. 22. Evlution of ompost lehtes s soure of irrigtion wter nd nutrients in field nd hydroponi experiments. PhD thesis. Univ. Guelph, Guelph, Ont. Jreki, M.K., C. Chong, nd R.P. Voroney. 25. Evlution of ompost lehtes for plnt growth in hydroponi ulture. J. Plnt Nutr. 28:1 17. Li, Y.C., P.J. Stofell, A.K. Alv, D.V. Clvert, nd D.A. Gretz Lehing of nitrte, mmonium, nd phosphte from ompost mended soil olumns. Compost Si. Util. 5: Mrshner, H Minerl nutrition of higher plnts. Ademi Press, Sn Diego. Mthers, H. 2. Root rots nd reirulted wter. The Digger 44:48. Mthers, H. 23. Wht you should know bout wter qulity for woody plnts: Prt 1. 8 Nov Mihitsh, R., C. Chong, R.P. Voroney, B. Holbein, nd H.W. Liu. 23. Use of spent mushroom ompost lehte for growing turf nd nursery speies in hydroponi ulture. Mushroom World 14(3): Mills, H.A. nd J.B. Jones, Jr Plnt nlysis hndbook II. Miro Mro Publ., Jefferson City, Mo. Ömn, C. nd P. Hynning Identifition of orgni ompounds in muniipl lndfill lehtes. Environ. Pollut. 8: Ontrio Ministry of Agriulture nd Food (OMAF). 23. Nursery nd lndspe plnt prodution nd IPM. Publ Queen s Printer for Ontrio, Toronto. Peot, C. nd O. MIntyre. 2. Generting revenue from ompost fility runoff. BioCyle 41: Poole, R.T. nd C.A. Conover Fertilizer levels nd medium ffet folige plnt growth in n ebb nd flow irrigtion system. J. Environ. Hort. 1: Purvis, P., C. Chong, nd G.P. Lumis. 2. Reirultion of nutrients in ontiner nursery prodution. Cn. J. Plnt Si. 8: Rymond, D.A., C. Chong, nd R.P. Voroney Response of four ontiner grown woody ornmentls to immture omposted medi derived from wxed orrugted rdbord. Compost Si. Util. 6: Reisenuer, H.M Soil nd plnt-tissue testing in Cliforni. Bul. 1879, Div. Agr. Si., Univ. Clif. Resh, H.M Hydroponi food prodution. 4th ed. Woodbridge Press Publ. Co., Snt Brbr, Clif. Revel, J.C., P. Morrd, J.R. Billy, H. Lbbé, C. Berthout, nd M. Kemmerer Plnts use of lehte derived from muniipl solid wste. J. Environ. Qul. 28: Rose, M.A. nd B. Biernk Sesonl ptterns of nutrient nd dry weight umultion in Freemn mple. HortSiene 34: Slisbury, F.B. nd C.W. Ross Plnt physiology. 4th ed. Wdsworth, Belmont, Clif. Shulz, R. nd U. Romheld Reyling of muniipl nd industril orgni wstes in griulture: Benefits, limittions nd mens of improvement, p In: Plnt nutrition for sustinble food prodution nd environment. Kluwer Ademi Publishers, Boston. Shwrz, M The use of sline wter in hydroponis. Soilless Cult. 1: Shrive, S.C., R.A. MBride, nd A.M. Gordon Photosyntheti nd growth responses of two brod-lef tree speies to irrigtion with muniipl lndfill lehte. J. Environ. Qul. 23: Sonneveld, C. nd A.M.M. Vnderburg Sodium hloride slinity in fruit vegetble rops in soilless ulture. Netherlnds J. Agr. Si. 39: Southern Nurserymen s Assoition Best mngement guide for produing ontinergrown plnts. S. Nurserymen s Assn., Mriett, G. Trnsporttion Assoition of Cnd. 23. Syntheses of best prties rod slt mngement. 6.: Vegettion mngement. 5 Jn Weltzien, H.C Bioontrol of folir fungl diseses with ompost extrts, p In: J.H. Andrews nd S.S. Hirno (eds.). Mirobil eology of leves. Springer-Verlg, New York. Whipker, B Irrigtion wter qulity for ontiner-grown plnts. 8 Nov extension.istte.edu/publitions/pm1699. pdf. Wright, R.D The pour-through nutrient extrtion proedure. HortSiene 21: Zyed, A.M The influene of sodium hloride on the ion uptke nd yield of tomtoes nd lettue grown in hydroponis. PhD thesis. Univ. London, London. Zekki, H., L. Guthier, nd A. Gosselin Growth, produtivity, nd minerl omposition of hydroponilly ultivted greenhouse tomtoes, with or without nutrient solution reyling. J. Amer. So. Hort. Si. 121: HORTSCIENCE VOL. 4(5) AUGUST 25