PLANTING MATERIAL (PROPAGATION) Peatmoss, composted bark, perlite, and other materials commonly used in nursery media are not produced in most container-plant production areas and must be imported. Freight costs have risen and become a substantial portion of nursery production costs. Hence, many materials have been studied for use as container media. Media amended with composted shredded municipal garbage, yard waste, a mixture of composted municipal leaf, sewage sludge, and street sand, and bagasse have produced high-quality containerized plants. Dry kenaf stem core was ground to yield nearly 80% (by weight) of the particle <2 mm. The five media were (percentage volume) 1) 100 kenaf, 2) 80 kenaf : 20 peatmoss, 3) 70 kenaf : 30 peatmoss, 4) 70 kenaf : 20 peatmoss : 10 vermiculite, and 5) 50 kenaf : 40 peatmoss : 10 vermiculite. To each cubic meter of medium, 5 kg of powdered dolomitic limestone, 1 kg of the micronutrient source Micromax, 5.5 kg each of superphosphate ( 20% P205) and gypsum, 6.8 kg of 18N – 2.6P – 10K Osmocote and 352 ml of Aqua-Gro were added. All pots were drenched with a metalaxyl fungicide (Subdue, Ciba Corp., Greensboro, N.C.) at the first irrigation. NURSERY TECHNIQUE When making decisions on planting techniques, one should consider how the plant was grown in the nursery, the plant's drainage requirements, the soil type and drainage characteristics, and the availability of irrigation water. The plant should be specifically appropriate to the site, or the site should be amended to specifically fit the plant. Since kenaf is grown in several nursery production areas, it may cost less to use ground kenaf as a major ingredient in container media than other materials traditionally
PLANTING MATERIAL (PROPAGATION)Peatmoss, composted bark,
perlite, and other materials commonly used in nursery media are not
produced in most container-plant production areas and must be
imported. Freight costs have risen and become a substantial portion
of nursery production costs. Hence, many materials have been
studied for use as container media. Media amended with composted
shredded municipal garbage, yard waste, a mixture of composted
municipal leaf, sewage sludge, and street sand, and bagasse have
produced high-quality containerized plants. Dry kenaf stem core was
ground to yield nearly 80% (by weight) of the particle
