Co-Authors:
Silber, A., Department of Ornamental Horticulture, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Raviv, M., Department of Ornamental Horticulture, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Abstract:
The desorption and solubilization characteristics of scoria tuff, a volcanic material used as growth substrate under protected environments and in the open fields were determined following two years of rose growing, and compared with uncropped fertigated tuff and with original, unfertigated tuff. Rose growing in the tuff increased the tuff's water- soluble P, Ca and Mg concentrations and decreased the Al and Si concentrations, compared with plantless and intact tuff sources. It is suggested that these changes stemmed from accumulation of soluble organic compounds exuded by roots or released from decomposing dead roots in the cultivated tuff.