GET THE APP

Journal of Horticulture

Journal of Horticulture
Open Access

ISSN: 2376-0354

+44-20-4587-4809

Walter F Schmidt

Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA

Publications
  • Rapid Communication   
    Keratin Nursery Pots as Potential Medium for Controlled Release of Copper Ions in Root Growth Control in Theobroma cacao L.
    Author(s): Eton E Codling, Martha Edens Schmidt, Walter F Schmidt* and Masud S Huda

    Copper ions at proper levels are essential for plant cell growth and excess copper ions are toxic to root cell growth. The one meter height Theobroma cacao L. plants have roots in 10-15 cm depth nursery pots. “SpinOut®” high in Cu+2 and painted inside the plastic container mitigates against root encircling. Evidence is presented that a similar physicochemical effect can be obtained by incorporating copper ions into a keratin biopolymer matrix extruded into pellets and injection molded into a pot. Sustained controlled release of Cu+2 is obtained for at least six months. The same technology enables highly uniform delivery of the same amount of micronutrients self-consistently pot to pot. This approach would be useful in urban agriculture in which the biomass formulated composition of a soil matrix is especially non-uniform and in which both.. View More»

    Abstract HTML PDF

Top