Sains Malaysiana 46(6)(2017): 975–980

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4606-17

A Study on the Physical and Hydraulic Characteristics of Cocopeat Perlite Mixture as a Growing Media in Containerized Plant Production

(Kajian terhadap Sifat Fizikal dan Hidraulik Campuran Cocopeat Perlite sebagai Media Pertumbuhan dalam Pengeluran Tanaman dalam Bekas)

WAN FAZILAH FAZLIL ILAHI¹* & DESA AHMAD²

¹Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 20 Oktober 2015/Diterima: 18 November 2016

ABSTRACT

A well-known planting medium in soilless culture is a coconut based material famously known in Malaysia as cocopeat. It is a viable ecologically friendly peat soil substitute for containerized crop production. The multipurpose growing media had received much interest particularly in commercial applications. This study focused on the physical and hydraulic characteristics of cocopeat perlite mixture as a growing media in containerized plant production. Perlite was added to cocopeat at a ratio of 3 cocopeat: 1 perlite. Bulk density, particle density, porosity, particle size distribution, water holding capacity, wettability and hydraulic conductivity of the media were evaluated. About 82.93% of the total particles were in the range between 0.425 and 4 mm in diameter at a bulk density of 0.09 g/cm³. Total porosity (79%) and wettability improved with the incorporation of perlite to cocopeat. This study showed that water holding capacity was very high at 912.54% whereas the saturated hydraulic conductivity was low at 0.1 cm/s. The results showed that adding perlite to cocopeat had improved the physical and hydraulic characteristics of the media.

Keywords: Bulk density; cocopeat; hydraulic conductivity; perlite; water holding capacity

ABSTRAK

Media tanaman yang diketahui baik dalam budaya tanaman tanpa tanah ialah bahan berasaskan kelapa dikenali sebagai cocopeat di Malaysia. Ia mesra hijau dan mampu menggantikan gambut untuk pengeluaan tanaman di dalam bekas. Bahan tanaman serbaguna ini telah menarik minat pelbagai pihak terutamanya dalam aplikasi komersial. Kajian ini memfokuskan kepada sifat fizikal dan hidraulik campuran perlite dan cocopeat sebagai media tanaman di dalam pengeluaran tanaman dalam bekas. Perlite telah ditambah kepada cocopeat pada nisbah 3 cocopeat: 1 perlite. Ketumpatan pukal, ketumpatan zarah, kadar keliangan, pengasingan saiz zarah, daya pegangan air, kebolehbasahan dan kekonduksian hidraulik telah dikaji. Purata 83% daripada jumlah zarah berada dalam julat lingkungan antara 0.425 dan 4 mm diameter untuk ketumpatan pukat 0.09 g/cm³. Jumlah kadar keliangan (79%) dan kebolehbasahan telah meningkat dengan penambahan perlite kepada cocopeat. Kajian ini telah menunjukkan daya pegangan air adalah sangat tinggi iaitu 912.54% sementara kadar kekonduksian hidraulik adalah rendah 0.1 cm/s. Keputusan kajian telah menunjukkan penambahan perlite kepada cocopeat meningkatkan ciri fizikal dan hidraulik media.

Kata kunci: Cocopeat; daya pegangan air; kekonduksian hidraulik; ketumpatan pukal; perlite

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: zahilah36@yahoo.com