Pj. Stoffella et al., SOILLESS GROWING MEDIA AMENDED WITH SUGARCANE FILTERCAKE COMPOST FOR CITRUS ROOTSTOCK PRODUCTION, Compost science & utilization, 4(2), 1996, pp. 21-25
Seeds of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) and Cleopatra mandarin (C.
reticulata Blanco) were sown in Speedling trays filled with mixtures (
v:v) of 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100 percent sugarcane filtercake compost (a n
atural waste by-product of sugarcane processing mills; bagasse) and a
peat-lite medium. Seeds sown in 100 percent compost resulted in lower
total percent germination, but similar mean days to emergence (MDE), s
eedling heights, and shoot weights and lower root weights than the con
trol (100 percent peat-lite medium). Media amended with 25, 50 or 75 p
ercent compost resulted in similar total percent emergence, (MDE) and
root weights, but taller seedlings with heavier shoots than the contro
l. SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings, and leaf N, Ca and Zn contents
were higher for seedlings produced in compost amended media than in 1
00 percent peat-lite medium. The results suggest that compost derived
from sugarcane filtercake can be successfully utilized as an amended m
edium for citrus seedling rootstock production.