Abstract
Tomato seedling growth and nutrient concentrations in biodegradable paper pots composed of corn or palm were investigated under different irrigation frequencies before the seedlings were transplanted. In comparison with the seedlings in plastic pots (control), seedlings in biodegradable pots developed shorter shoot and root lengths, fewer leaves, smaller leaf area, and showed a lighter dry weight. The concentrations of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium in the seedlings in the biodegradable pots were similar to those in the control. The only exception was phosphate in the biodegradable pots made from palm. These findings indicate that differences in plant growth between the control and the biodegradable pots were not caused by differences in nutrient absorption ability. Plant growth in the biodegradable pots made from corn was improved by increasing the irrigation frequency; however, the growth rate was still less than that of the control. This suggests that other factors, in addition to irrigation frequency, are related to the lower growth rate of seedlings in biodegradable pots.
