Crushed fibrous bamboo as a potting substrate for French marigold

T. Fudano, Y. Akiba
The expansion of abandoned bamboo forests is a serious problem in Japan. Therefore, new applications of bamboo are being explored. DW fiber is made by crushing and fiberizing cedar chips and adding fulvic acid. Grow Earth is an improved DW fiber for agricultural and horticultural production. In this study, we investigated the use of DW fiber made from cedar and bamboo chips as an alternative potting substrate by comparing the growth of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) in biomass substrates and common substrates. Bamboo powder, DW fiber made from cedar and bamboo, and Grow Earth made from cedar was provided by Daiken Co., Ltd. There was no difference in the number of days after sowing to flowering among common substrate, DW fiber, and Grow Earth. The growth of French marigolds was the most vigorous in the common substrate, Grow Earth, and DW fiber (100% cedar) followed by the growth in DW fiber (90% cedar and 10% bamboo), DW fiber (50% cedar and 50% bamboo), and DW fiber (100% bamboo). The roots were well-developed when grown using the common substrate, Grow Earth, DW fiber, and DW fiber (50% bamboo). Overall, French marigold cultivated in bamboo powder showed poor growth. Crushing and fiberizing bamboo (DW fiber made from bamboo) can dramatically enhance its performance as a potting substrate. We further hypothesize that its application as an alternative biomass substrate can mitigate the problem of abandoned bamboo forests invading the surrounding thickets and artificial forests.
Fudano, T. and Akiba, Y. (2023). Crushed fibrous bamboo as a potting substrate for French marigold. Acta Hortic. 1375, 105-110
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1375.14
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1375.14
abandoned bamboo forests, bamboo powder, crushing, fiberizing, wood-based ameliorant
English

Acta Horticulturae