Physiochemical properties and plant growth of the hydroponic substrate using waste wood chip

Abstract

This study examined the plant growth and development characteristics of leafy vegetables on the hydroponic substrates of waste wood chips, radiate pine chips, and mat type of waste wood chips. The bulk density of waste wood chips and radiata pine chips were 0.2 g/cm3 and 0.16 g/cm3, respectively. The moisture retention properties of both the radiata pine chips and waste wood chips were found to be similar but not better than those of the control rock wool and coco peat hydroponic substrates. The moisture retention property of the mat type was found to be the lowest. The chemical analysis of waste wood hydroponic substrates (w/v) was as follows.; The pH was 6.59, electric conductivity was 6.76 dS/m, total nitrogen content was 0.5%, C/N ratio was 113%, phosphorus was 10.1 ppm, potassium was 77 ppm, calcium was 531 ppm, magnesium was 49 ppm, and sodium was 96 ppm. The results from the radiata pine chemical analysis showed that it had a pH of 5.29, electric conductivity of 4.49 dS/m, total nitrogen content of 0.32%, C/N ratio of 180%, phosphorus of 6.4 ppm, potassium of 83 ppm, calcium of 97 ppm, magnesium of 29 ppm, and sodium of 59 ppm. Except for the plants grown in mat type, the developmental characteristics of the plants grown in rock wool and coco peat hydroponic substrates were similar. Based on the results of the experiment, waste wood resources may possibly be used as an organic solid medium in place of the existing rock wool and coco peat medium.