Abstract

Ornamental industry demanding large amounts of container substrate which is giving opportunity to recycle agricultural and urban organic waste materials. The study presents the physical and physico-chemical characterisation of hazelnut husk substrates supplemented with biosolid in different proportions (0, 25, 50 and 75%), comparing to the standard peat substrate. In addition, plants were planted into 10 L pots filled with the prepared substrates and cultivated in a glasshouse. On the basis of the research results, it was concluded that physical and physico-chemical properties of hazelnut husk substrates were in the range of optimum, except for the higher dose of biosolid (75%). Furthermore, it was also observed that biosolid mixture with hazelnut husk can be used in the cultivation of ornamental palm tree. The main factor affecting plant growth was higher substrate nitrogen value in higher dose of biosolid application, which is positively correlated with leaf N and plant dry weight. Based on substrate characteristics and plant growth, hazelnut husk and municipal biosolid can be recycle in the ornamental industry as a container substrate.

Key words: Hazelnut husk, substrate, biosolid, compost, peat, palm tree.