Date August 30, 1994

Title of Project Evaluating Paper Sludge in Container Media Used for Mum Production

Institution where work is being conducted University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho

Amount of Endowment Grant $ 3,500
Covering Period Feb. 1994 to Jan. 1995

Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report December 31, 1994

Individual(s) Conducting Project:
(List Project Leader First)

Robert R. Tripepi - Title Associate Professor

Telephone Number 208/885-6635

Evaluating Paper Sludge in Container Media Used for Mum Production

Robert R. Tripepi

University of Idaho

Progress Report to the American Floral Endowment, 8/30/94

A. Project Objective:

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of

composted paper sludge-amended media on the growth of ‘Iridon’ chrysanthemum

produced under a commercial production regime.

B. Summary of Work Conducted:

The European pot mum system was used as the growing

regime for the mum crop. Three cuttings of ‘Iridon’ chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x

grandiflora Tzvelev.) were planted in each 4-inch pot containing Metro-Mix 360, Sunshine

Postharvest mix, composted paper sludge combined with perlite and vermiculite

(75%:15%:10% by volume), or composted paper sludge combined with peat moss and

perlite (50%:33%:17% by volume). The crop was fertilized during each irrigation with 350

ppm N from 17-5-24 until the last month of production and received tap water thereafter.

The crop received two weeks of long-day treatments, was pinched, and then received

short-day treatments. The crop also received four treatments of 2,500 ppm B-9 during

reduction. The mums were riot disbudded and grew for a total of 12 weeks before plant

height, stem diameter, pot width, shoot dry weight, number of open flowers, and total

number of flowers were determined.

C. Results to Date:

‘Iridon’ mums planted in paper sludge-amended media grew

about as well as those potted in the two commercial mixes. Mums grown in either sludge-amended

medium were slightly shorter (about 5/8 inches) than those grown in

Postharvest mix but about equal to those planted in the Metro-Mix. Average pot width of

mums grown in sludge-amended media was about 1 inch less than that of mums grown in

Postharvest mix. The average number of open flowers (an indication of plant maturity)

and average number of axillary stems after pinching were unaffected by media. The

greatest affects of the media were on the total number of flowers and total shoot biomass,

with plants grown in paper sludge producing, on average, eight fewer flowers (per pot)

and 3.5 grams less shoot dry weight. Althogh eight fewer flowers could be considered

significant, the plants in the experiment were not disbudded, and the average number of

flowers per pot was 75 for mums grown in sludge-amended media but 87 or 83 flowers for

those grown in Postharvest or Metro-Mix.

Perhaps the biggest difference between commercial and sludge-amended media was

plant response to the media immediately after planting. Some mums that we received

were slightly damaged during shipment (the cuttings were jumbled in the box). Within one

day after planting, some margins on new leaves on these (jumbled) cuttings were brown

and appeared desiccated for-plants grown in paper sludge-amended media. After one

week, only five or six plants grown in commercial media hadd very slight leaf damage,

whereas plants in all 20 pots which contained sludge-amended media had some signs of

damage, ranging from slight to moderate damage. Even though some plants grown in

sludge were damaged early in the study, they readily recovered within two weeks.

D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:

Work yet to be completed for the experiment includes foliar

analyses of the mum plants and analysis of the postharvest characteristics of the plants.

These analyses should be completed within a month.

E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:

This experiment has demonstrated that composted pulp and

paper sludge can be used as the major component in a soilless potting mix for ‘Iridon’

mum production. Although plants grown in sludge-amended media grew slightly less

than those in commercial media, plant quality and appearance were similar among all

plants. Mum plants, however, should not be stressed at plant time since damaged,

rooted cuttings initially had problems growing sludge-amended media. Since paper

sludge was suitable for ‘Iridon’ production, pot mum growers may be able to reduce their

production costs by decreasing their use of peat-based media.

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