Organic Seedling Production

Y. Tuzel Ege Univ. Fac. of Agric. Dept. of Horticulture

35100 Bornova, İzmir/Turkey

yuksel.tuzel@ege.edu.tr

• Introduction

• Basic Considerations – Organic seed supply

– Growing media

– Fertilization

– Beneficial organisms

• Subproject to Develop Propagation Techniques for Organic Seedling Production (TUBITAK 111G151)

• Conclusion

OUTLINES

• The major factor affecting optimum crop production is the quality of the transplants raised, either in situ, or through transplanting techniques.

provides homogenous germination, improves plant survival resulting in higher and stable

yield

Introduction

• Restrictions for propagation material.

• Should have been produced according to Regulations (EU No 834/2007 & 839/2008) and be certified.

• Inputs are used only if they have been authorised for use in organic production under that Regulation.

• Needs specific nurseries.

• In Turkey, mostly raised by the farmers

Introduction

The most important issues require special attention in organic seedling production are

Organic Seed Supply

Growing medium choice

Fertilization strategy

Plant Protection – Benefical Organisms

Basic considerations

• Irregular & small size of orders,

• Industry interest in investing organic seeds has decreased – Different regulations in organic seed use,

– Different country interpretations of the EU regulation

– Derogations

• The provision of good quality seed remains a prerequisite for either “Traditional/natural” (i.e. open-pollinated and heirloom varieties) or “modern” (i.e. hybrids) varieties.

Organic Seed Supply Diverse nature and size of the organic

vegetable industry

• Physical (high water holding capacity, low bulk density, high total pore space),

• Chemical (high cation exchange capacity, low electrical conductivity, high buffer capacity, slightly acidic pH)

• Biological (absence of pathogens and stable organic matter)

• An added value is attributed to materials whose characteristics are uniform over time.

• Nursery production media should possess the following characteristics after irrigation and drainage (% vol basis):

a total porosity of 50% to 80%,

air space of 10% to 30%,

water holding capacity of 45% to 65%,

a bulk density of 0.19 to 0.70 g cm-3,

pH 5.0 - 6.0,

EC 0.2 - 0.5 dS m-1

Growing Media

PEAT

Required Characteristics

• peat is a nonrenewable resource and peat bog exploitation is considered not sustainable over the long term

Growing Media

PEAT

But....

Environmental concern

• Environmental concern peat-free growing media

• Regulation CE 1980/2000 (EC 2000) on quality labeling of commercial products (Eco-label) excludes growing media containing peat.

• Peat utilisation contradicts the numerous fundamental principles of the organic farming method as defined in Regulation (CE) n. 834/2007 (EC 2007).

• Even though peat-based growing media are still acceptable for certified organic production, peat substitution in plant nursery activity and, in particular, in organic seedling production is a debated issue.

Growing Media

• Coir dust,

• Pine bark,

• Wood fibre,

• *Compost.....

Peat substitutes

renewable resource minimise the environmental impact

•Some unsuitable physicochemical characteristics (high EC, higher concentration of potentially toxic elements)

•Lack of uniformity of compost, discontinuous characteristics • Some typologies of organic wastes are not acceptable (i.e.

sewage sludge)

• Controlled, microbial aerobic decomposition and stabilization of organic substrates, under conditions that allow the generation of high temperatures by thermophilic microbes, to obtain an end product that is stable, free of pathogens and viable weed seeds, and can be used in plant culture.

• Compost teas are defined as filtered products of compost fermented in water.

• Feedstock type, compost formulation, and composting process, and system and management have all been reported to affect compost quality and use.

Compost

Some Researches with Compost

1. Compost derived from preconsumer food residuals mixed with yard wastes (primarily leaves) as a bulking agent (FR)

2. Compost derived from used straw horse bedding (HB) 3. Commercial peat-basedpotting medium (+ commercial

fertilizer) 4. Both composts were mixed with a commercial substrate

derived from finely shredded bark, peat and fine sand.

Lettuce & tatsoi Factors affecting

response

Reference

Except for HB or media

containing HB % germination

of lettuce and tatsoi=peat

based substrate PBS

Higher nitrogen

availability in HB

Clark & Cavigelli

(2005).

1. OP+WP (Old peat 65% + white peat 30% + perlite 5%) 2. OP + MSWC (old peat 65% + municipal solid waste compost

30% + perlite 5%) 3. WP + OP (white peat 65% + old peat 30% + perlite 5%); 4. WP + MSWC (white peat 65% + municipal solid waste

compost 30% + perlite 5%) 5. MSWC + WP (municipal solid waste compost 65% + white

peat 30% + perlite 5%).

Tomato Factors affecting

response

Reference

Quality indices of tomato

seedlings in white peat

(65%)+MSWC (30%)=

conventional mixtures of old

and white peat

sphagnum(control)

Correct balance

between the compost

nutrient supply and

the porosity and

aeration provided by

white peat

Herrera et al.

2008

1. Green back yard compost %40 + Loam 60%WP 2. Green back yard compost %20 + Loam 80%WP 3. Loam Wooded, plastic or open vessels Turned or unturned

Alexander, 2009

Lower tomato and

lettuce germination

percentage in

undiluted

mixes<diluted mixes

or loam soil (control)

due to high EC in

undiluted mixes

Tomato heights and

biomass in the

undiluted

mixes>diluted mixes

but=to control due to

nutrient availability

Compost Rate (%) Crop response Factors affecting

response

Reference

Grape marc

(70%) + cattle

manure (30%);

grape marc

(61%) + poultry

manure (39%)

25, 50, 75

(v/v)

All media had adequate

physical, physico-chemical

and chemical properties

compared to peat.

Partial substitution of peat,

in quantities of 25–50% by

volume for lettuce, chard,

broccoli and coriander.

Nutrient availability

Absence of

phytotoxicity

Bustamante

et al. 2009a

Winery-

distillery (WD)

+ citrus juice

waste (WDC1)

WD + tomato

soup waste

(WDC2)

WD + cattle

manure

(WDC3)

20, 40, 60

(v/v)

Germination of lettuce in

WDC2=peat moss (PM)

Germination of lettuce in

WDC1 and WDC3<PM

Germination of watermelon

in WDCs (60%)<in PM.

Lettuce and watermelon in

WDC2 (20-40%) best

transplant morphological

and nutritional aspects

Salinity did not

affect germination

High salinity

Nutrient availability

Bustamante

et al. 2009b

Compost Rate (%) Crop response Factors affecting

response

Reference

Urban solid

wastes, sewage

treatment

plant and

vegetable

wastes + white

peat (65/30)

47.7/47.5

(melon);

65/30 (WP/C)

(tomato)

Increasing doses of compost

substitution decreased

germination speed of melon

and tomato

High EC affected

germination speed

Diaz-Perez

et al. 2009

Garden wastes

and cow

manure

0, 10, 20, 40,

60, 100%

compost=peat

(100%)

Quality of tomato and

cucumber transplant from

100% compost=peat (100%)

Nutrient availability

and pH and EC level

were not

excessively high

Ghanbari

Jahromi and

Aboutalebi

2009

Spent

mushroom

substrate

(SMS)

25, 50, 75,

100 (v/v)

Tomato, courgette and

pepper seed germination of

SMS (25-75%)=peat (P).

Tomato growth in SMS (25-

100%)=P

Tolerance of

tomato to salinity

Medina et

al. 2009

Compost Rate (%) Crop response Factors affecting

response

Referenc

e

Bovine

manure

compost

(BMC) & a

green

compost (GC)

30, 50, 70

(v/v)

Melon (fertilization with

guano) seedling growth

in treatments containing

30% and 50%

of composts was > than

in control

BMC rich in terms

of nutrient

elements

compared to GC

Titarelli et

al., 2009

Coffee pulp

(CP)

10, 50 (v/v) At CP (10%) tomato serial

biomass, seedling height

and no of

nodes/plant>pro-mix

Improvement in

physico-chemical

and biological

properties with

the inclusion of CP

Berecha

et al.

2011

Olive pomace

waste (OPC)

20, 45, 70,

90 (v/v)

Tomato seedling

performance (fresh and

dry biomass, stem length)

in GWC (20%, 45%) and

OPC 20 %>peat based

substrate (control)

Physical properties

and EC as well as

nutrient

availability

Ceglie et

al. 2011

• There are four basic ways to fertilize: – incorporate,

– topdress,

– liqulture,

– fertilizer incorporation in the mix combined with liquid feeding

• N: alfalfa meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, feather meal, hoof and horn meal, soybean meal, and animal manures...

• P: oak leaves, bone meal, shrimp wastes, residues from raw sugar, and various forms of rock phosphate....

• K: Granite meal, soybean meal, ash from orange and potato skins, unleached wood ashes.....

Fertilization

• N level, rather than N, P, K ratio was a more important consideration in transplant production.

• The form of nitrogen used when fertilizing seedlings also affects their growth.

• Liquid feeding: – at each watering in a diluted solution,

– 7- to 10-day basis with a concentrated solution.

• Nitrogen: fish powder, fish emulsion, guano, and worm castings. Phosphorus: high-phosphorus guano or micronized soft rock phosphate.

• Foliar feeding: – supplement soil and liquid fertilization, especially where certain nutrients are deficient

and must be incorporated into the plant quickly.

– Filtered solutions of manure, seaweed, fish powder, and fish emulsion can be used

– Seaweed is an excellent foliar material because it contains growth hormones (auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins) as well as trace elements.

Liquid feeding

Foliar feeding

Substrate Crops Fertilizer & response Reference Composed based mixtures Bell pepper,

Onion, Watermelon

Sea tea (2.1N-3.3P-2.2K) (600 mL/tray) (7.5 ml/L) Rocket Fuel (2N-6P-1K)

Russo, 2005

Compost + chicken manure Tomato Chicken manure base fertilizer 10%-20% Diaz Perez et al., 2008

Peat based medium Sweet pepper Shrimp meal 8.5N–2.6P–1K ; Kelp meal 0.5N–0.08P–14.4K; + liquid fertilization

Gravel et al., 2012

• PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) are root-colonizing bacteria that benefit plants by increasing plant growth or reducing disease.

• Growing media & PGPR:

enhance growth of many important transplanted fruits and vegetables,

reduce application of fertilizers in the greenhouse,

reduce damage caused by some pathogens,

enhance yield.

• PGPR effects:

1. Less time to produce a standard-sized transplant than without PGPR.

2. Increases in the vigor and shoot weight of transplants typically result in less transplant shock, reduced vulnerability to drought, and greater resistance to attack by pathogens, nematodes, and insects early in the season.

Plant Protection Beneficial organisms

Preventive precautions;

inputs authorised for use in organic

production

An organic amendment (chitosan), designed for nematode control + selection of an antagonistic microflora, a PGPR strain previously shown to control seedling diseases by antifungal activity + a PGPR strain previously shown to induce systemic protection against foliar pathogens.

tomato a marked promotion of overall seedling growth

Kloepper et al., 2000

Bacillus subtilis strain GBO3 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a

Bell pepper Most treatments also reduced disease incidence in a detached leaf assay, indicating that systemic resistance was induced by the PGPR treatments.

Kokalis-Brulle et al., 2004

Bacillus megaterium TV-3D, B. Megaterium TV-91C, Pantoea agglomerans RK-92, B. subtilis TV-17C, B. megaterium TV-87A, B. megaterium KBA-10

Cauliflower Increased plant growth parameters such as fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, root diameter, root length, fresh root weight, dry root weight, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area and chlorophyll contents due to increasing nutrient uptake, providing plant growth hormones, improving chlorophyll content and organic acids with bacterial applications.

Ekinci et al., 2014

Subproject to Develop Propagation Techniques for Organic Seedling

Production

Y. Tuzel, G.B. Oztekin, H. Özaktan, L. Yolageldi

Growing media

Fertilization

PGPRs

- Grafted seedlings

Growing Media • (1) local peat (LP)+ perlite (PER)+ composted farmyard manure (CFM),

(1:1:1; v:v),

• (2) LP + clinoptilolite (CLI)+ CFM, (1:1:1; v:v),

• (3) LP + PER + vermicompost (earthworm manure) (VC) (1:1:1; v:v),

• (4) LP + CLI + VC (1:1:1; v:v),

• (5) VC

• (6) Peat

LP+PER+CFM

LP+CLI+CFM

LP+PER+VC

LP+CLI+VC

Peat

VC

Some physical and chemical properties of

each medium.

LP+PER+CFM

LP+CLI+CFM

LP+PER+VC

LP+CLI+VC

Peat

VC

LP+PER+

CFM

LP+CLI+VC LP+PER+VC LP+CLI+CFM VC P

(Control)

pH 7.01 6.4 6.43 6.61 6.00 6.37

Salt, % 1.1558 0.1618 0.3378 0.2745 0.415 0.5546

CaCO3 (%) 4.01 1.60 2.41 1.60 4.62 6.26

OM % 18.73 11.37 16.06 16.73 6.30 50.2

N (%) 0,94 0,57 0,80 0,84

P (ppm) 369.82 274.26 372.92 201.08 1.31 0.92

K (ppm) 25580 21390 7883 29250 340.4 224.56

Ca (ppm) 3447 4231 4408 5000 5088 1357

Mg (ppm) 1595 1338 1538 1475 2444 8604

Fe (ppm) 29.76 19.10 34.68 18.41 932.3 725.2

Cu (ppm) 6.79 2.01 3.14 5.18 117.8 52.48

Zn (ppm) 59.74 6.06 8.31 22.43 1.31 3.99

Mn (ppm) 16.58 6.13 9.89 11.96 18.85 5.13

Exp 1 Exp 2 Exp3

LP+PER+CFM 34.85 c 79.2 48.16 b

LP+CLI+CFM 95.45 a 87.5 49.42 b

LP+PER+VC 83.33 b 92.6 60.68 a

LP+CLI+VC 95.45 a 89.8 58.37 a

Peat (conv.) 93.94 a 91.7 63.05 a

VC 12.12 d 25.9 46.05 b

Germination Rates

The moisture of growing medium at seed sowing stage and later

irrigation and fertilization programs affected germination and

seedling quality.

Seedling fresh and dry weights

Exp 1 Exp 2 Exp3

FW DW FW DW FW DW

LP+PER+CFM 0.172 b 0.027 abc 1,74 a 0,10 ab 1.60 d 0.11 d

LP+CLI+CFM 0.251 c 0.004 c 1,47 b 0,08 c 2.71 c 0.24 b

LP+PER+VC 0.993 c 0.056 a 1,56 ab 0,09 bc 3.96 a 0.32 a

LP+CLI+VC 1.318 a 0.039 ab 1,71 a 0,10 ab 3.44 b 0.30 a

Peat (conv.) 1.413 a 0.047 a 1,70 a 0,10 a 1.52 d 0.17 c

VC 0.128 c 0.009 bc 0,43 c 0,02 d 2.73 c 0.20 bc

Comparison of experiments

Exp Growing medium FW (g) DW (g)

1 0.712 c 0.030 c

2 1.436 b 0.079 b

3 2.136 a 0.223 a

LP+PER+CFM 1.370 b 0.101 b

LP+CLI+CFM 1.354 b 0.104 b

LP+PER+VC 1.720 a 0.133 a

LP+CLI+VC 1.896 a 0.140 a

Peat (conv.) 1.486 b 0.103 b

VC 0.747 c 0.065 c

The evaluation of three experiments showed that vermicompost was

not appropriate growing medium if it was used alone; therefore

60%LP and 40%VC mixture was used in the following experiments

(Atmaca, 2012).

Growing media & Nutrition programs

Exp 4 Exp 5

11 April – 8 May 16 May – 11 June

(1) Peat,

(2) LP + CLI + VC (1:1:1; v:v),

(3) LP + PER + VC (1:1:1; v:v)

(4) LP (60%) + VC (40%)

(1) Liquid poultry manure (PM),

(2) Liquid composted farmyard

manure (CFM),

(3) Liquid earthworm manure (VC)

N P K Ca Mg Fe Zn Mn Cu

% % ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm

CFM 1,00 0,7311 24560 4430 375,6 55,01 16,1 76,05 -

VC 3,49 0,1329 22110 11280 539,3 229,3 6180 25,08 -

PM 0,07 0,0077 3852 3677 250,1 45,94 21,3 27,34 -

Nutrient content of liquid fertilizers

Exp 4 Exp 5

Shoot Root Shoot Root

Fertilizer Media FW DW FW DW FW DW FW DW

PM 2.194 0.193 0.193 0.025 1.733 ab 0.109 ab 0.154 a 0.017 ab

VC 2.021 0.213 0.241 0.028 1.579 b 0.096 b 0.126 b 0.014 b

CFM 2.071 0.196 0.219 0.026 1.863 a 0.119 a 0.167 a 0.019 a

P 2.028 0.223 a 0.211 0.030 1.652 b 0.123 a 0.193 a 0.023 a

LP+CLI+VC 2.226 0.197 b 0.239 0.026 1.585 b 0.096 b 0.140 b 0.017 b

LP+PER+VC 2.048 0.203 ab 0.199 0.024 1.670 b 0.105 b 0.148 b 0.015 b

60%LP+40%VC 2.080 0.179 b 0.220 0.026 1.994 a 0.108 ab 0.114 c 0.012 b

PM P 2.256 0.219 0.177 0.028 1.779 0.124 0.191 a 0.023

LP+CLI+VC 2.227 0.184 0.188 0.022 1.620 0.097 0.131 b 0.020

LP+PER+VC 2.254 0.190 0.181 0.020 1.699 0.108 0.182 a 0.015

60%LP+40%VC 2.039 0.178 0.225 0.031 1.836 0.106 0.112 b 0.012

VC P 2.130 0.234 0.259 0.035 1.468 0.111 0.170 a 0.019 a

LP+CLI+VC 1.936 0.191 0.255 0.025 1.524 0.093 0.115 bc 0.012 bc

LP+PER+VC 1.840 0.226 0.214 0.025 1.482 0.091 0.127 b 0.014 b

60%LP+40%VC 2.178 0.201 0.235 0.029 1.843 0.089 0.094 c 0.009 c

CFM P 1.696 0.215 0.198 0.028 1.710 0.134 0.219 a 0.027 a

LP+CLI+VC 2.151 0.216 0.274 0.031 1.611 0.098 0.175 b 0.018 b

LP+PER+VC 2.049 0.194 0.203 0.027 1.828 0.116 0.136 b 0.016 b

60%LP+40%VC 2.023 0.159 0.201 0.019 2.303 0.129 0.136 b 0.015 b

Nutr. Sol. P (conventional) 3.278 0.275 0.203 0.033 2.393 0.150 0.198 0.018

PGPRs

Treatment

Stem & Leaves Root

Fresh weight

(g seedling-1)

Dry weight

(g seedling-1)

Fresh weight

(g seedling-1)

Dry weight

(g seedling-1)

Bacillus sp. 0,856 a 0,134 a 0,233 b 0,022 a

P. Putida 0,827 a 0,122 ab 0,325 a 0,023 a

Pseudomonas sp. 0,806 a 0,119 ab 0,242 b 0,022 a

Serratia spp 0,685 b 0,100 c 0,233 b 0,018 b

Control 0,799 a 0,114 bc 0,171 c 0,017 b

CV (%) 8,9 13,0 23,7 16,0

Treatment

REPLICATE

I II III IV ORT.

Bacillus sp. 1,00 3,10 3,42 3,58 2,78

P. putida 1,67 3,92 3,75 3,33 3,17

Pseudomonas sp. 4,00 3,83 3,75 2,83 3,60

Serratia spp 1,75 1,67 1,10 2,83 1,84

Control 3,90 3,40 3,10 3,17 3,39

Effects on mildew

Effects on seedling growth

• The difficulty exists in comparing the results of various studies owing to the wide variation in experimental conditions and factors as well as cultural practices including fertilizer application rates, production cycle, length of the experiments.

• There is no one standard seedling starter or transplant substrate that can be recommended for all crops produced under all growing conditions.

• There is an urgency to reduce peat use. Compost is the most important alternative substitute. Standardization of compost is needed.

• The amount of compost component in a growing substrate depends on type and quality of the compost, plant species to be grown, and growers’ production system. It could be added at least 25% into peat.

• Benefits of peat substitute could be increased with addition of beneficial organisms into growing media. PGPRs are also effective on disease tolerance/resistance.

• In organic seedling production the homogenity in plant size is still a constraint.

Conclusion

3rd ISHS Organic Greenhouse Symposium

11-14 April 2016, Izmir-Turkey

www.oghsymposium2016.com

Welcome

Thank you!