Spatial and temporal oxygen distribution measured with oxygen microsensors in growing media with different levels of compaction
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Spatial and temporal oxygen distribution measured with oxygen microsensors in growing media with different levels of compaction. / Dresbøll, Dorte; Thorup-Kristensen, Kristian.
In: Scientia Horticulturae, Vol. 128, No. 1, 2011, p. 68-75.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial and temporal oxygen distribution measured with oxygen microsensors in growing media with different levels of compaction
AU - Dresbøll, Dorte
AU - Thorup-Kristensen, Kristian
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Oxygen microsensors were used to determine oxygen profiles in situ from the top to the bottom layer of the growing medium for potted plants of Rosa sp. ‘Dior’. The growing medium was peat- based and compacted uniformly to 3 different bulk densities of 0.14, 0.18 and 0.23 g cm-3 (0, 20 and 40% compacted, respectively). The water distribution in the pot was determined as water content (gcm-3) in the top, middle and bottom layers of the peat. Oxygen content was also determined after a standard subirrigation cycle and after excessive irrigation where the bottom of the pots were left waterlogged for 24 h. Measurements were carried out at 5.5 weeks during the production phase and at 12 weeks at the end of the production. The results showed that with increasing compaction and density, more water was transported to the upper layers of the pot. After a standard irrigation cycle there was no effect of the level of medium compaction on the oxygen distribution, whereas after excessive irrigation, the oxygen contents at the bottom of the pots were strongly reduced and the level of compaction significantly affected oxygen availability. The most compacted medium had the lowest oxygen content at 5.5 weeks, with anoxic conditions in the bottom 30mm. Plant quality measured as fresh weight, dry weight, height and number of shoots with flowers and buds was not affected by the different levels of compaction. The use of oxygen microsensors provided a new insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of oxygen in growing media and how this was affected by the physical characteristics of the growing media.
AB - Oxygen microsensors were used to determine oxygen profiles in situ from the top to the bottom layer of the growing medium for potted plants of Rosa sp. ‘Dior’. The growing medium was peat- based and compacted uniformly to 3 different bulk densities of 0.14, 0.18 and 0.23 g cm-3 (0, 20 and 40% compacted, respectively). The water distribution in the pot was determined as water content (gcm-3) in the top, middle and bottom layers of the peat. Oxygen content was also determined after a standard subirrigation cycle and after excessive irrigation where the bottom of the pots were left waterlogged for 24 h. Measurements were carried out at 5.5 weeks during the production phase and at 12 weeks at the end of the production. The results showed that with increasing compaction and density, more water was transported to the upper layers of the pot. After a standard irrigation cycle there was no effect of the level of medium compaction on the oxygen distribution, whereas after excessive irrigation, the oxygen contents at the bottom of the pots were strongly reduced and the level of compaction significantly affected oxygen availability. The most compacted medium had the lowest oxygen content at 5.5 weeks, with anoxic conditions in the bottom 30mm. Plant quality measured as fresh weight, dry weight, height and number of shoots with flowers and buds was not affected by the different levels of compaction. The use of oxygen microsensors provided a new insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of oxygen in growing media and how this was affected by the physical characteristics of the growing media.
KW - Former LIFE faculty
KW - peat
KW - water content
KW - water logging
KW - oxygen profiles
KW - rose sp.
U2 - 10.1016/j.scienta.2010.12.017
DO - 10.1016/j.scienta.2010.12.017
M3 - Journal article
VL - 128
SP - 68
EP - 75
JO - Scientia Horticulturae
JF - Scientia Horticulturae
SN - 0304-4238
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 32439609