Composts as additives in coconut coir dust culture for growing rockmelon (Cucumis melo l.)

Wira Abu Bakar, . and Mohd Razi Ismail, . and Abdul Jamil Zakaria, . Composts as additives in coconut coir dust culture for growing rockmelon (Cucumis melo l.). pp. 229-237. ISSN 1394-9829

Coconut coir dust (CD) is a good growth medium in soilless culture for many selected vegetables and fruit. It has a high water holding capacity excellent drainage free of weeds and pathogens high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and electrical conductivity (EC) easier wetting ability and also gives good aeration to root zone. However there are some problems in using CD such as low pH high potassium content and salinity. Addition of peat moss to CD in a ratio of 7:3 has proven to be effective in improving crop growth. Instead of peat moss compost can be used as an additive to CD. An experiment was conducted with the main objective to determine the best medium to be used as an additive in coconut coir dust culture for growing rockmelon var. Waka Natsu 1. Five types of composts were used as treatments which consisted of M 1 (70 CD: 30 rice straw compost) M 2 70 CD: 30 empty fruit bunches (EFB) compost M 3 (70 CD: 30 peat moss) M 4 (70 CD: 30 burnt rice husk) and M 5 (100 CD as control). M 2 which consisted of a mixture of CD and EFB compost in a ratio of 7:3 was found to be the best medium for growing rockmelon var. Waka Natsu 1 using fertigation system. Overall plant grown in this medium produced the best growth performance compared to the control (100 CD). Plants grown in M 2 produced the largest fruit diameter (14.15 cm) with highest fruit fresh weight (1482.9 g) and total soluble solids (15.33).

Full text available from: Official URL: http://jtafs.mardi.gov.my/jtafs/39-2/Coconut%20coi...

Abstract

Coconut coir dust (CD) is a good growth medium in soilless culture for many selected vegetables and fruit. It has a high water holding capacity excellent drainage free of weeds and pathogens high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and electrical conductivity (EC) easier wetting ability and also gives good aeration to root zone. However there are some problems in using CD such as low pH high potassium content and salinity. Addition of peat moss to CD in a ratio of 7:3 has proven to be effective in improving crop growth. Instead of peat moss compost can be used as an additive to CD. An experiment was conducted with the main objective to determine the best medium to be used as an additive in coconut coir dust culture for growing rockmelon var. Waka Natsu 1. Five types of composts were used as treatments which consisted of M 1 (70 CD: 30 rice straw compost) M 2 70 CD: 30 empty fruit bunches (EFB) compost M 3 (70 CD: 30 peat moss) M 4 (70 CD: 30 burnt rice husk) and M 5 (100 CD as control). M 2 which consisted of a mixture of CD and EFB compost in a ratio of 7:3 was found to be the best medium for growing rockmelon var. Waka Natsu 1 using fertigation system. Overall plant grown in this medium produced the best growth performance compared to the control (100 CD). Plants grown in M 2 produced the largest fruit diameter (14.15 cm) with highest fruit fresh weight (1482.9 g) and total soluble solids (15.33).

[error in script]

Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Cucumis melo
AGROVOC Term:	Additives
AGROVOC Term:	Composts
AGROVOC Term:	Coconuts
AGROVOC Term:	Soilless culture
AGROVOC Term:	Water holding capacity
AGROVOC Term:	Drainage
AGROVOC Term:	Cations
AGROVOC Term:	Electrical conductivity
AGROVOC Term:	Aeration
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:28
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/24189

Actions (login required)

View Item