Abstract

Wettability of growing medium in horticulture is an important practical factor of this industry. With a proper choice and a right application, wetting agent in the nutrient solution would improve wettability and some other physical properties of growing media. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on some physical properties of new and reused rockwool and coconut coir dust substrates with different doses of wetting agent (2, 10, 20, 100, 200, 1000, 2000, 10,000 and 20,000 mg L-1) applied to the nutrient solution and their effects measured by using bioassays. The wetting agent was ether poly-ethylene-glycol nonil-phenol with 20% (w/v) as an active ingredient of a non-ionic surfactant. Bioassay results showed differences among species. For this, the method can be suggested as a good tool to be utilized through fertigation in soilless crops; however, other studies should be proposed for each species in particular. Except to the 2 mg L-1 wetting agent content in reused coir waste, the total water-holding capacity increased with the wetting agent. With 2 mg L-1 wetting agent content there was an important and significant increase the easily available water (over 600%) in both substrates (including the reused ones), while higher doses show no significant differences. The effect of adjuvants added through fertigation is directly dependant on the substrate type evaluated. The substrate reutilized after one crop, reduces the air capacity and increases the easily available water and total water-holding capacity. 2 mg L-1 is the wetting agent concentration more adequate in coir waste and rockwool. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.