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Title: Performance of Container-Grown Loropetalum Grown in Clean Chip Residual Substrate

Author
item BOYER, CHERYL - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item FAIN, GLENN - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item GILLIAM, CHARLES - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item SIBLEY, JEFF - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item GALLAGHER, THOMAS - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Torbert, Henry - Allen

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/16/2007
Publication Date: 10/16/2007
Citation: Boyer, C.R., Fain, G.B., Gilliam, C.H., Sibley, J.L., Gallagher, T.V., Torbert III, H.A. 2007. Performance of Container-Grown Loropetalum Grown in Clean Chip Residual Substrate. In: Proceedings of the International Plant Propagator Society, October 16-28, 2007, Chattanooga, TN. 57:685-691.

Interpretive Summary: The idea of using forest residuals is gaining in popularity as a replacement for pine bark (PB) in nursery crop potting material due to reduced availability of pine bark. Clean Chip Residual (CCR) is a by-product of forestry harvesting practices. This material has been shown to produce annual plants and perennials similar in size to plants grown in pine bark. This study evaluated the growth of four different woody ornamentals grown in CCR or pine bark over the course of one year. These results indicate that CCR can support the growth of woody ornamentals in a similar fashion to traditional pine bark substrates and is a viable option for the nursery industry.

Technical Abstract: The idea of using forest residuals is gaining in popularity as a replacement for pine bark (PB) in nursery crop substrates due to reduced availability of PB. Clean Chip Residual (CCR) is a by-product of in-field forestry harvesting practices. This material, composed of roughly 50% wood, 40% bark, and 10% needles has been shown to produce annual plants and perennials similar in size to plants grown in pine bark. This study evaluated the growth of woody ornamentals grown in CCR or PB over the course of one year. Four woody species were tested; Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum, Lagerstroemia indica ‘Hopi’, Rhododendron x ‘Fashion’, and Buddleia davidii ‘Black Knight’. Data for Loropetalum show that plants grown in CCR had similar or greater growth than plants grown in PB. These results indicate that CCR can support the growth of woody ornamentals in a similar fashion to traditional pine bark substrates and is a viable option for the nursery industry.