Abstract:
Rice husk, coconut coir and sawdust are considered as good growing substrate
components, but high water holding capacity causes poor air-water
relationship, thus affecting oxygen diffusion to the roots. Incorporation of
coarser materials into these substrate components could improve aeration
status. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in the semi-green house at the
Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207 to
assess the physicochemical properties of growing substrate mixtures and their
effects on growth and yield of soilless sweet pepper. Four types of growing
substrate mixtures, viz. M
= coconut coir
2
1
= rice husk
3
= sawdust
= ash
which was not suitable for sweet pepper production while suitable
pH
4
. Water holding capacity, air filled porosity and dry
weights of substrate mixtures were higher in M
2
II
2
and lower in M
. The highest
plant height (78.3 cm
but statistically similar results were found in case of
growth and yield in M
2
. In case of physiological traits
viz. leaf area, leaf mass ratio, net assimilation rate and relative growth rate
were found highest in M
1
while the lowest in M
2
4
while the lowest in M
4
3
. Therefore, M
growing
formulation can be used for sweet pepper cultivation in solid hydroponic
system in Bangladesh.
