Nitrogen availability in composted cork
| Title | Nitrogen availability in composted cork |
| Publication Type | Audiovisual |
| Year of Publication | 1997 |
| Authors | Carmona, E., Ordovas J., Ortega M. C., & Aguado M. T. |
| Series Editor | Roeber, RU. |
| Series Title | INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON GROWING MEDIA AND PLANT NUTRITION IN HORTICULTURE |
| Publisher | INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE |
| City | PO BOX 500, 3001 LEUVEN 1, BELGIUM |
| ISBN Number | 90-6605-988-5 |
| Keywords | Bark, growing media, N immobilization |
| Abstract | Previous studies showed that plants grown in fresh cork (Quercus suberL. bark) had a reduced growth compared with peat and low rates of N. Incomposted cork, however, plant growth was similar with those in peat,but the N content of plants was still slightly lower.The purpose of this study was to investigate N availability in fresh andcomposted cork during 4, 5.5 and 7 months, using peat as control medium.The substrates were also incubated at 25 degrees C during 60 days afteradding 0.25, 1.0, 1.75 or 3.0 g ammonium nitrate per 1 of substrate.Samples were taken periodically to measure NO3-N, NH4-N and total N.Also the Nitrogen Drawdown Index (NDI) for the addition of 75 mg.l(-1) Nand 150 mg.l(-1) N was measured after incubation at 25 degrees C.N immobilization rates were well correlated to NDI. NH and soluble Ndrawed down rapidly in cork substrates while total N stayed constant.High rates of ammonium nitrate should be added to maintain a constantlevel of available N to plants in cork. |
