Dvevelopment of Growing Substrate for Hydroculture

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to develop a growing substrate for hydroculture. The substrate which we developped was a light expanded shale aggregate, produced by blending and bloating shale in rotary kiln. The specifications of substrate were as follows:
(1) the bulk specific gravity was 0.71, (2) the unit weight was 0.44kg/_l, (3) the 24hr water absorption was 17.0%, (4) the abrasion resistance and the abrasion loss by I-drum test were 0.99 and 0.79%, respectively. These specifications were approximately similar to those of Leca (Light Expanded Clay Aggregates), the most suitable substrate for hydroculture. In order to evaluate the quality of the substrate we developped, Doracaena fragrans cv. Massangeana, Pachira aquatica and Codiaeum variegatum cv. Akebono were grown in hydroculture in the substrate we developped or Leca. No differences were found between plants grown in the 2 substrate. According to those results, it was proved that the substrate we developped had an excellent quality as planting media for indoor and roof landscape by hydroculture.