OSC Activity D.5
Organic production of peat blocks for vegetable seedlings and detection of abiotic and biotic stresses
Activity Researchers
Name | Affiliation |
---|---|
, Lead Researcher nicolas.tremblay@ agr.gc.ca |
Research Scientist |
, Co-applicant martine.dorais@agr.gc.ca |
Research Scientist |
, Collaborator valerie.gravel@mcgill.ca |
Associate Professor |
Claudine Ménard, Collaborator claudine.menard@agr.gc.ca |
Biologist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Horticulture Research and Development Centre Envirotron Pavilion Quebec City, QC G1K 7P4 |
Objectives
The production of high quality transplants is hereby defined as a healthy, uniform and easy to handle batch of plants that will suffer from minimal transplant shock, will establish quickly in their new production environment and be highly productive. The objective of this project is to develop methods to consistently deliver high quality organic transplants. Specific objectives include to:
- Determine the appropriate organic growing media and water content for high quality peat blocks seedlings;
- Determine the appropriate organic wetting agent for high quality peat blocks seedlings;
- Develop an appropriate fertilization management for high quality seedlings grown in peat blocks;
- Study the effect of plant growth stimulators and biological control agents on seedling quality and disease tolerance;
- Evaluate the handling quality of peat block seedlings;
- Evaluate transplanting shock, plant growth after plantation, early and total harvesting of peat blocks seedlings;
- Establish methods to quickly detect, locate and trace seedling growth, stress level and performance during the transplant preparation phase;
- Establish data collection and meta-analysis procedures to identify environmental and other factors explaining pilipiliÂþ»ful or non-pilipiliÂþ»ful treatment effects.
Results
- Organic potting soil considerations
- OACC News Article. 2011
- OACC News Article. 2011
- [PDF - 326 kB]
- The Canadian Organic Grower. 2012
- [PDF - 30 kB]
- Canadian Organic Science Conference. 2012
- Canadian Organic Science Conference. 2012
Background and Supporting Documents
- Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (1996) 4: 47-55
- Soil Biology & Biochemistry (2008) 40: 1733-1740
- Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (1997) 4: 69-82
- HortScience (2009) 44: 800-809
- Canadian Journal of Soil Science (2005) 85: 67-74
- Acta Horticulturae (2009) 819: 125-134
- Acta Horticulturae (2007) 761: 589-595
- Soil Biology & Biochemistry (2006) 38: 2461-2477