SUBSTRATE CULTURE IN

QUALITY FLOWER PRODUCTION

Naveen negi(36101)
Msc .Ag Horticulture(Flori&Landscaping)

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY OF GROWING MEDIA AND SOIL IMPROVERS

Plants have been grown in containers from Victorian times but large-scale raising of
plants in containers or modules only really started in the 1950s.
Young plants for commercial vegetable, salad, fruit and flower growers are now commonly
raised in modules or blocks, as are amenity plants for gardeners and landscapers.
Early growing media in the UK were based on the John Innes mixes developed in the
1930s. These were mixes made from blends of loam (composted grass turves), peat and
sand.
In the 1970s lightweight mixes based on peat took over the market as good quality peat
was readily available from Northern England,Somer set and Ireland.
After this time the popularity of gardening and the advent of garden centres caused a
huge increase in the use of growing media as more and more plants were sold in
containers.
The amateur gardening market accounts for more than two thirds of sales of growing
media in the UK.

IN INDIAN HISTORY

SHRIVARDHAN BIO - TECH, is Cut flower

project established during the year 1997-98 by
Shri Appasaheb S. R. Patil Charman of most
successful Co-operative sugar factory of the
country.
"Quality and Shrivardhan" are synonymous in
the cut-flowers business in India.Qualitatively
this project can be completed to any best Cut
flower project in the World.
As on today Shrivardhan Bio-Tech having
capacity 22.00Ha. ( 2,20,000 Sqm.) under
greenhouse / shed-house cultivation of Roses,
Gerbera, Camation, Dendrobium, Anthurium,
Chrysanthemum and Capsicum (vegetables).
The farm, about seven and half hours run
from Mumbai Internatopnal Airport, is
ideally located at Village -Kondigre,
Taluka- Shirol, Dist -Kolhapur in the state
of Maharashtra.

Substrate culture
substrate-A substrate is a solid substance or
medium to which another substance is applied and
to which that second substance adheres.

or

Substrate (biology)
In biology, a substrate is the surface on which a
plant or animal lives. A substrate can include biotic
or abiotic materials and animals. For example,
encrusting algae that lives on a rock (its substrate)
can be itself a substrate for another animal that lives
on top of the algae.

Substrate

culture-

the culturing or growing a plants on the growing

media having a different substrates presence,bt
without a soil.
it may be organic or inorganic in nature.
E.g.-cocopeat,sand ,rockwool,gravels,cocopeat,etc

Organic

substrates

Cocopeat
Rice hulls
Fym
Leaf peatmoss
Compost
Sheep wool
Wood fibre

Inorganic

substrates
Rockwool

Gravels

Growstones

Vermiculite

Perlite

Pumice

Brick shard

Packing pea nuts

Importance of substrate culture in quality flowers

freshness

Disease

after storege

free

Consumer

convenient

Fragrant

Flower

satisfaction
to store

and scent

dia,length

Diversification
Healthy

colour

and uniform in nature

in nature

Organic
substrates
COCOPEAT
Coco peat is a natural fibre derived from
coconut husks.
It has tremendous water retention
capacity and cannot be easily over-watered.
It helps soil aeration and provides for a
healthy root system.
Because it is lightweight, it's a good
option for rooftop gardens housed on roofs
that haven't been treated to bear the extra
weight.

PERLITE
Perlite is a volcanic rock that has
been superheated into very
lightweight expanded glass pebbles.
It is used loose or in plastic sleeves
immersed
in the water.
It is also used in potting soil
mixes to decrease soil density.
Perlite has similar properties and
uses to(vermiculite)but, in general,
holds more air andless water.
If not contained, it can float if
flood and drain feeding is used.

Wood fibre
Wood fibre, produced from steam
friction of wood.
it is a very efficient organic
substrate for hydroponics.
It has the advantage that it keeps
its structure for a very long time.
Wood fibre has been shown to
reduce the effects of "plant growth
regulators.

PUMICE
Like

perlite, pumice is
a lightweight, mined
volcanic rock that
finds application in
hydroponics.

BRICK SHARD
Brick shards have similar
properties to gravel.
They have the added
disadvantages of possibly
altering the pH and
requiring extra cleaning
before reuse.

PEA NUTS
Polystyrene packing peanuts are
inexpensive, readily available,
and have excellent drainage.
they can be too lightweight for
some uses.
They are used mainly in closedtube systems. Note that
polystyrene peanuts must be
used; biodegradable packing
peanuts will decompose into a
sludge.
Plants may absorb styrene and
pass it to their consumers; this is
a possible health risk.

SHEEP WOOL
Wool

from shearing sheep is a little-used

yet promising renewable growing medium.
In a study comparing wool with peat slabs,
coconut fibre slabs, perlite and rockwool
slabs to grow cucumber plants, sheep wool
had a greater air capacity of 70%, which
decreased with use to a comparable 43%,
and water capacity that increased from 23%
to 44% with use.
Using sheep wool resulted in the greatest
yield out of the tested substrates, while
application of a biostimulator consisting of
humic acid, lactic acid and Bacillus subtilis
improved yields in all substrates.

SAND
Sand is cheap and easily
available.
it is heavy, does not hold
water very well.
it must be sterilized
between use.

GRAVEL
The same type that is used in
aquariums, though any small
gravel can be used, provided it
is washed first.
Gravel is inexpensive, easy to
keep clean, drains well and will
not become waterlogged.
However, it is also heavy, and,
if the system does not provide
continuous water, the plant
roots may dry out.

VERMICULITE
Like perlite, vermiculite is a mineral
that has been superheated until it has
expanded into light pebbles.
Vermiculite holds more water than
perlite and has a natural "wicking"
property that can draw water and
nutrients in a passive hydroponic
system.
If too much water and not enough air
surrounds the plants roots, it is
possible to gradually lower the
medium's water-retention capability by
mixing in increasing quantities of
perlite.

ROCK WOOL

Rock wool (mineral wool) is the most widely used

medium in hydroponics.
Rock wool is an inert substrate suitable for both run to
waste and recirculating systems.
Rock wool is made from molten rock, basalt or 'slag'
that is spun into bundles of single filament fibres, and
bonded into a medium capable of capillary action, and
is, in effect, protected from most common
microbiological degradation.
Rock wool has many advantages and some
disadvantages. The latter being the possible skin
irritancy (mechanical) whilst handling (1:1000).
Flushing with cold water usually brings relief.
Advantages include its proven efficiency and
effectiveness as a commercial hydroponic substrate.
Most of the rock wool sold to date is a non-hazardous,
non-carcinogenic material, falling under Note Q of the
European Union Classification Packaging and Labeling
Regulation (CLP).[citation needed]

GROWSTONES
Growstones, made from
glass waste, have both more
air and water retention
space than perlite and peat.
This aggregate holds more
water than parboiled rice
hulls.[17]

EXPANDED CLAY AGGREGATE

Baked clay pellets, are suitable for hydroponic
systems in which all nutrients are carefully
controlled in water solution. The clay pellets are
inert, pH neutral and do not contain any nutrient
value.
The clay is formed into round pellets and fired in
rotary kilns at 1,200 C (2,190F). This causes the
clay to expand, like popcorn, and become porous.
It is light in weight, and does not compact over time.
The shape of an individual pellet can be irregular or
uniform depending on brand and manufacturing
process.
The manufacturers consider expanded clay to be an
ecologically sustainable and re-usable growing
medium because of its ability to be cleaned and
sterilized, typically by washing in solutions of white
vinegar, chlorine bleach.

RICE HULLS
Parboiled rice hulls (PBH) decay
over time. Rice hulls allow
drainage, and even retain less
water than growstones.
A study showed that rice hulls
didn't affect the effects of
plant growth regulators.

Rice hulls are an agricultural

byproduct that would otherwise
have little use.

Advantages And Disadvantages

AdvantagesNo soil is needed

The water stays in the system and can be reused - thus, a lower water
requirement
It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety - thus, lower
nutrition requirements
No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the
controlled system
Stable and high yields
Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the
container's mobility
Ease of harvesting
No pesticide damage
Plants grow healthier
It is better for consumption

DISADVANTAGES
Without soil as a buffer, any failure to the
hydroponic system leads to rapid plant death.
Other disadvantages include pathogen attacks
such as damp-off due to Verticillium wilt caused
by the high moisture levels associated with
hydroponics and over watering of soil based
plants.
Also, many hydroponic plants require different
fertilizers and containment system

APPLICATION OF SUBSTRATE
CULTURE
In hydroponics system
Potting media
Soil less culture

Hydroponics? A Resource Guide for understanding and using

Hydroponics.Hydroponics Grow Shop includes a wide array of
gardening supplies and products keyed to making gardening
easier, safer, clean and more efficient. Hydroponics, growing
plants without soil, is just one method modern growers use to
grow more in less space and less time!
Hydroponics is all about enriching water by creating and maintaining a
perfect nutrient solution that is perfectly balanced for the plant. When
the plants get exactly, everything they need, all the time, it will grow as
fast, and provide the best flavor and nutritional value, that it possibly can.
Hydroponics is growing plants without soil. Absolutely anything that can
be grown in soil can be grown hydroponically. The key is determining the
precise, ideal, nutrient solution for the specific plant, and consistently
providing it to the roots. Typically, by using a general purpose hydroponic
nutrient, plants will outperform soil grown plants in the same
environment. Hydroponics Grow Shop is a complete guide to building and
operating your own indoor garden. Includes detailed instructions, photos
and step-by-step set up.

HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS

SOIL AND SOILLESS GROWING

MEDIA

The Dynamic Nature of

Soil and Growing Media

Most soils on the average are

composed of 46-49% mineral
particles
(often
called
separates),
1-6%
organic
matter and 50% air and water.
The mineral particles of soil
are sand, silt and clay.

When the plantlets are

large enough, they can be
removed from the tissue
culture container and
transferred into pots with
potting soil.
The young plants are
grown in a greenhouse just
like you would any young
seedling or cutting.

When the small plant clones

are removed from the culture
containers, they must be
transplanted into some type of
acclimation container or kept
under a mist system until the
acclimate to the ambient
environment.
After acclimation, the young
plants can be transplanted and
grown in pots in a greenhouse
to produce new plants.

RESEARCH WORK ON
Effect of Different Substrates on
Growth and Flowering of
Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Chauband
Mixed

(Yasmeen et al., 2012)

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATE ON PLANT

HEIGHT
Treatment

Plant height

Garden soil

37.77

Leaf compost + silt + FYM(1:1:1)

26.66

Leaf compost +silt(1:1)

21.55

Farm Yard Manure

15.55

Silt

42.55

Leaf Compost + Sand (1:1)

43.33

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATE ON PLANT

HEIGHT
Plant height
50
40
30
20
10
0

(Yasmeen et al., 2012)

COMPARISON OF MEAN VALUES

FOR NUMBER OF FLOWERS/PLANT
Treatment

No of flowers/plant

Garden soil

76.77

Leaf compost + silt + FYM(1:1:1)

52.21

Leaf compost +silt(1:1)

24.88

Farm Yard Manure

10.22

Silt

79.33

Leaf Compost + Sand (1:1)

89.55

100
80
60
40
20
0

No of flowers/plant

Effects

of different nutrient solution

formulations on yield and cut flower
quality of gerbera (Gerbera
jamesonii) grown in soilless culture
system

Uur Sirin 2011

Uur Sirin. (2011)

THE EFFECTS OF NSFS ON CUT FLOWER

QUALITY PARAMETERS
applicati

traits

on
FSL(c

FHD(c

m)

m)

FSBD(mm)

37.043

10.560

Ii

39.290

Iii

No.of nsf

FSUD(

FSDW(

mm)

FSFW(g g)

VL(day

6.018

6.026

17.059

3.041

10.0

10.910

5.856

5.709

17.252

2.325

9.2

36.477

10.867

5.489

5.421

14.325

2.860

11.7

Iv

36.373

10.680

6.010

6.098

16.546

3.379

13.0

38.340

11.450

6.030

6.592

20.569

3.212

12.3

Uur Sirin 2011

THE EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT SOLUTION

FORMULATIONS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCES
OF GERBERA PLANTS.

Uur Sirin 2011

Results findings of

TWO SUBSTRATES FOR CUT

FLOWER HELICONIA IN
SOILLESS CULTURE
This is done between comparison of
organic and inorganic subststrates or
soil less media in case of heliconia
flower

PRODUCTION.
Name of variety

Shoots/m2

Inflorescences/m

Flower abortion

Guajara
Coconut Fibre

127.5

72.0

40.4

Tuff

91.3

49.0

41.4

Coconut Fibre

63.8

35.6

40.4

Tuff

38.3

25.0

31.0

Teide

Daz,et.ol.,2004

EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE ON ACCUMULATIVE

INFLORESCENCE PRODUCTION (LEFT) AND
TOTAL NUMBER OF INFLORESCENCES
(RIGHT), FOR THE STUDIED CULTIVARS OF
HELICONIA

Daz,et.ol.,2004

INFLUENCE OF SUBSTRATE ON
INFLORESCENCE LENGTH, WEIGHT AND MASSTO-LENGTH RATIO FOR BOTH CULTIVARS OF
HELICONIA

Daz,et.ol.,2004

SUBSTRATES

EFFECTS ON
GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY
OF ROSA HYBRIDA L.

FUTURE DIFFICULTIES FOR ATTEMPTING

THIS TECNIQUES IN INDIA

The Expert Consultation enabled an assessment of the inherent strengths as well

as the

challenges in realizing the true worth of this global business.

The major constraints/obstacles include:

lack of authentic information/databases to plan appropriate developmental

initiatives;

poor access to production inputs, particularly quality planting material;

inadequate research and development support in most parts of the region;

weak floriculture extension services and technology dissemination programmes;

low awareness of quality certification in production such as Good Agricultural

Practices (GAP), integrated pest management (IPM) etc. and post-harvest

management;
poor/unorganized market infrastructure and absence of market intelligence; and
lack of harmonization in plant quarantine regulations affecting the marketing in
the region.

conclusion