جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « پیت » در نشریات گروه « کشاورزی »

Ideal plant cultivation substrates have become the first and most important prerequisite for the successful cultivation of any plant. One of the appropriate methods to achieve optimal performance and produce flowers with marketable quantity and quality is to use mineral and organic substrates as a substrate for growing ornamental plants. Today, in soilless cultivation systems, various inorganic and organic cultivation substrates are used worldwide. Not only good physical, chemical, and biological properties are important for a substrate, but a suitable culture medium must be available, relatively cheap, stable, and economically viable. Ornamental plant production worldwide has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. There are various reasons, including cheap labor and other initial costs, production has moved to new countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Ornamental bulbous plants are herbaceous species that are morphologically characterized by regeneration structures located in underground storage organs, such as rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs. Amaryllis has a terminal inflorescence. The flowers are large and the colors vary with species, hybrids and varieties, but it varies from dark red to white, green and orange to mixtures. Amaryllis is produced commercially as cut flowers, pot plants, or propagation material (bulb), as well as gardening and landscaping. It produced as pot plant in Iran. Quality and quantity yield improvement of ornamental plants such as amaryllis is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Growing media is an agronomic factor. One of the important requirements in the production of horticultural products to achieve high yield and good quality, especially in the case of ornamental plants, is the plant cultivation media.

The growth of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) was evaluated using different pot mixtures (v: v). This study was conducted as a completely randomized design with three replications in the Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC) in 2019-2020 on amaryllis. In this experiment, the applied treatments were included the type of substrate at 13 different levels,1) 80% perlite + 20% coco-peat,2) 60% perlite + 40% coco peat,3) 40% perlite + 60% coco peat,4) 20% perlite + 80% coco peat,5) 80% perlite + 20% peat moss,6) 60% perlite + 40% peat moss,7) 40% perlite + 60% peat moss,8) 20% perlite + 80% peat moss,9) 25% fine-grained perlite + 75% mixed perlite,10) 50% fine-grained perlite + 50% mixed perlite,11) 75% fine-grained perlite + 25% mixed perlite,12) 100% fine-grained perlite and 13) 100% mixed perlite. At the end of the experiment, Plant growth was measured by different parameters such as fresh and dry weight of shoots and root, leaf length and width, number of leaves, bulbs diameter, number of bulbs as well as nutrients uptake in the plant shoot were measured.

The results of variance analysis showed that there is a significant difference among substrates. It seems that the medium of 80% perlite with 20% cocopeat or 20% peat improves plant growth by absorbing more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients. Therefore, the morphological characteristics of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) were also improved. 

Our findings indicate the relationship among media and improving the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.), which has been reported in other studies as well.

Bagasse is the dry pulpy fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed for juice extraction. Bagasse is widely used in conversional and by-product industries. Bagasse is commonly used as a substitute for wood in many tropical and subtropical countries for the production of pulp, paper, and board. One of the most important conversional industries in the sugarcane agro-industry is chipboard production. In recent years, two chipboard factories from bagasse were exploited in Khuzestan province. In the production of chipboard from bagasse, a lot of waste is produced, most of which include pith. The waste is transferred to the outside of the factory at a great cost and energy level. Also, annually, a large amount of surplus bagasse of conversional Industries is obtained in Khuzestan agro-industries. These wastes cause many environmental and health problems, while these wastes can be used to generate energy. On the other hand, chipboard industries consume a lot of energy which is mostly fossil energy. Nowadays, in many sugarcane agro-industries in different countries, wastes are used to generate energy for sugar plants and conversional industries. Bagasse is often used as a primary fuel source for sugar mills.

Current research is focused on the direct energy consumed in chipboard production from sugarcane bagasse and whether it can be provided by using residues and wastes of Debal Khozaie Agro-Industry Company. Data were collected from agro-industry companies as well as by sampling and measuring waste, input and energy consumption at the chipboard factory of Debal Khozaie. Direct energy consumed in the chipboard production from bagasse includes diesel fuel, electricity, natural gas, and labor. Input and output values of materials (bagasse, pith, etc.), and energy consumption (electricity, diesel, natural gas, etc.) were collected using both laboratory tests and data available in agro-industry. Potential of energy generation from bagasse, pith, wood chips, and straw in Debal Khozaie agro-industry, were considered by the direct burning method. Also, the potential of biogas production from vinasse in agro-industry for energy production was calculated. The moisture of bagasse (fresh bagasse, 24 hours, five days, 30 days, and 45 days after gathering), outdoor dried pith, outdoor dried straw and wood chip were measured based on the ASTM D2974 standard method in the laboratory. Ash percentage of bagasse, peat, straw, and Wood chips were measured using a furnace, desiccator and a scale. Also, the lower heating value of bagasse, straw, pith, and wood chips were measured using a calorimeter bomb.

The direct energy consumption in the chipboard factory was determined to be 5.829 GJ m-3 of produced chipboard. Natural gas and electricity were the major sources of direct energy with 78.52% and 18.87% share, respectively. To replace these sources, pith and woodchips form chipboard factory, sugarcane leaves, remainder sugarcane bagasse, and vinasse from molasses-based Razi alcohol factory were considered. Properties of the substituted resources were determined including ash, moisture content, heating value (using bomb calorimeter), and amount of woodchips along with the biogas potential from anaerobic fermentation of vinasse. Results showed that woody residues from chipboard factory and Debal Khozaie Agro-Industry Company had the potential to provide 4.33 fold the energy provided by gas in the chipboard factory, considering the efficiency equal to 60%. Using the residues of the chipboard factory individually, it is possible to replace all the consumed natural gas and electricity energy needed in the chipboard factory as well. According to the volume of available vinasse, the potential biogas production from this resource estimated to be 8.82 Gm3.

Electricity, natural gas, and diesel fuel constitute the direct energy consumed in the production of chipboard, and natural gas with 78.52% has the highest share. Electricity accounts for 18.87% of direct energy consumption. The specific energy of chipboard production at the chipboard factory was 5.829 GJ m-3. Only using the pith of chipboard factory can produce 2.85 times the total energy of natural gas consumed in chipboard factory. Investigation of the potential of biogas production from vinasse in Debal Khozaie agro-industry showed that it is possible to generate energy equivalent to 8824.3 thousand cubic meters of natural gas. Overall, the study showed that using the wastes of chipboard factory and sugarcane agro-industry has the potential to replace the entire natural gas and electricity consumption in chipboard factory.

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of growth media and humic acid on growth, flowering and vase life of lilium.

The experiment was conducted as factorial in completely randomized design with four replications.The first factor was wood chip compost (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and the second factor was humic acid at three levels (0, 250, 500 mg L-1). The control treatment consisted of peat moss + perlite (2: 1 V/V).

The results showed that the effect of growing media, humic acid and their interaction on stem height was significant. The highest stem height was observed in control medium at concentrations of 250 and 500 mg L-1 humic acid. The effect of media on the number of buds was significant. The highest number of buds was obtained in 25% and 75% of compost. The highest vase life was obtained in 100% compost and 500 mg L-1 humic acid. The lowest vase life was obtained at control treatment and 0 mg L-1 humic acid concentration. The highest amount of calcium was observed in 75% of compost and 500 mg L-1 humic acid. The highest leaf nitrogen was obtained in 100% compost and 500 mg L-1 humic acid.

According to the results, wood chip compost and humic acid are effective in improving the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of lilium and can be substituted for peat moss.

< p >Peanut shell as a residual waste from peanut cultivation has a considerable volume and its compost can be used as an available source of nutrient elements for different plants. This study was carried out to investigate the use of peanut shell compost in field soil and soilless (peat-perlite ratio 2: 1) media and its effect on soil physical and chemical properties in Lahijan Ornamental Flower and Plant Research Station, in 2017. Control treatments consisted of field soil and peat-perlite (2:1) bedding, while peanut shell compost was used in values of 0, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (by volume) to replace field soil and peat (2:1) in peat-perlite bedding. This study was conducted as a factorial experiment with two variables (type of media and compost levels) based on randomized complete block design with three replications using violet research model plant (Viola spp < /em>.). At the end of the experiment, physical properties of the substrates including total porosity, air fill porosity, water capacity, bulk density, and  nuterients content of the substrates including Ca, N, OC, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and also pH and EC were measured. In soilless culture, application of 50% peanut compost (1 peat+1 perlite+1 compost), and in soil media, application of 75% peanut compost showed the best results for the research model plant. Peanut shell compost appears to have better results by reducing C/N ratios and increasing porosity and nutrient supply in these two substrates. Thus, peanut shell compost can be used to replace the expensive peats as well as improving soil properties for cultivation of this ornamental plant.

Eichhornia crassipes is one of the world’s most invasive aquatic weed which in recent years has been considered as a serious threat to most northern Iranian wetlands. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of compost and vermicompost of this plant as a growing media for lily flower. First, compost and vermicompost were made of water hyacinth. The experiment was a completely randomized design with nine treatments including peat 50% + perlite 50% (control treatment) and 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% compost and vermicompost. Most of cultivars had significant effect on most traits. The highest plant height and number of open buds were produced in peat + perlite. The highest number of bulblet was in 25% compost. The maximum amount of chlorophyll b was in the 25 or 100% compost. The highest air root was found in 100% vermicompost. The concentration of phosphorus in Peat + perlite was maximal. The lowest concentration of potassium was observed in 75% and 100% vermicompost. The highest concentration of calcium was in Peat + perlite, which had no significant difference with 25 and 75% compost. According to the results, Eichhornia crassipes compost and lower vermicompost percentage could be a substitute for peat in lilium plant.

Miniature rose (Rosa hybrida) are well known as one of the world’s most popular ornamental plants cultivated worldwide as potted and/or bed plants. Nowadays, more than 100 million pots of miniature roses are propagated by stem cutting in the commercial greenhouses of European countries such as Denmark and Germany. Some treatments such as application of plant growth regulators and suitable rooting medium could be required for accelerating root formation in rose cuttings. Using plant growth regulators like natural or synthetic auxin is a pre-requirement for the initiation of adventitious root in some stem cuttings and it has been reported that the division of the first initiator cells of root depends on internal or synthetic auxin. Methods of application of these chemicals and suitable concentration could be related to several factors, importantly the plant varieties, type of cuttings and the time of cutting preparation. Various kinds of media such as soil, peat moss, perlite and vermiculite are used as bed substrate according to required ratio. Rooting media must provide appropriate moisture and air ventilation for cuttings establishment, which highly affect the cuttings root formation. Appropriate procedure for using wastes materials as culture bed, especially those materials that produced locally, is main aim of some studies to find an alternative medium in ornamental pot plant production. In this regards, evaluation of agricultural wastes to be used to culture bed and introducing suitable materials could be considered. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to determine the effects of two types of plant growth regulators and bed combinations on rooting percentage of semi-hardwood cuttings in miniature rose.
In order to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of indolebutyric acid (IBA) and naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA), and two media with different composition on root formation of miniature rose stem cutting, this research was carried out as a factorial on the basis of randomized complete design (RCD) with three replications. Plant growth regulators including IBA at concentrations of 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mgl-1, concentrations of NAA at 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mgl-1 were applied together with two types of rooting media. Media including mixing volume of perlite, tea waste compost and sand in a ratio of 1: 2: 2, and perlite, peat and sand in a ratio of 1:2:2 were mixed and applied in this experiment. Using SAS software, data was analyzed based on a generalized linear model (GLM) analysis and tested by least significant difference (LSD) at (P-value Results showed that the highest rooting percentage of cuttings was obtained with 2000 mgl-1 of IBA, while no significant effect of NAA treatment and different rooting media on percentage of rooting was revealed. The two-fold and three-fold interaction of treatments on other measured traits such as primary and secondary root number and root diameter were significant. The two-fold interaction of NAA treatments and rooting media on the trait of primary root number were no significant. The highest root number and root diameter measured in medium containing perlite, tea waste compost and sand in a ratio of 1:2:2 for cutting received combined plant growth regulators.
Compost, the final product of organic residues degradation, improves soil physical characteristics such as soil aggregate formation and stability, water penetration, porosity, compressing resistance and nutrients availability. As well, it improves soil biological characteristics and in result, integration of compost with soil can increase growth, yield and quality of crop. There are also some evidences that in contrast of peat, compost contains plant growth regulators improved plant growth and development. Totally, considering our obtained results, in order to accelerate rooting formation in miniature rose cuttings, treatment of cuttings with synthetic plant growth regulators in medium containing perlite: tea wastes compost: sand (2:2:1) under alternate mist system is recommended. Organic materials activate root area as well as improving fertility of soil. They also play a role in supplying and releasing absorbable nutrients, root establishment, enhancing field capacity, reducing evaporation from soil surface and reducing expenses. Therefore, we emphasize on appropriate using of these components in order to obtain better productivity.

In this research, possibility of bulblet production from different cuttings including leaf, leaf-bud and leafy-stem of Lilium oriental hybrid cv. ‘Star Gazer’ evaluated under different levels of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) with 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg per liter (ppm). The cuttings were taken from stems which grown from cold treated bulbs in early October. A factorial experiment was done in Department of Horticulture Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran in 2014-2015, based on Randomized complete blocks design with three replications and nine cuttings per replicate. The results showed that rooting percentage and leaf number decreased on leaf cuttings by increasing auxin concentration, while these traits increased on leaf-bud and leafy stem cuttings. In contrast to the results in the rooting and leaf number traits, number of bulblets rose in leaf cuttings from 14 in control to 21, in leaf-bud cuttings from three to 20 and in leafy stem cuttings from one to 16 in IBA levels of 250, 500 and 750 ppm, respectively. Exceeding IBA concentration had reverse effect on bulblet number, correspondingly. Even so, leaf number and rooting percentage declined on leaf cuttings by application of IBA, but it was useful for production of more bulblets on leaf, leaf-bud and leafy-stem cuttings in IBA levels of 250, 500 and 750 ppm, respectively.

Introduction Ensiling is one of the common preserving methods for forage or other organic materials. In this method, organic matters were preserved by proving an aerobic condition and then by reducing the pH with increasing acids production (mainly lactic acid). Some circumstances like enough soluble carbohydrates, low buffering capacity and appropriate dry matter concentration are needed in ensilages for an ideal silage production. Seepage production during ensiling is one of the most problems especially when high moisture materials (like fresh beet sugar pulp) are ensiled. Silage seepage can pollute the environment and make loses in nutrients like soluble carbohydrates, protein, organic acids and etc. Moreover, lactic acid bacteria inoculants (Mainly consist of Lactobacillus plantarum) have been widely used for improving fermentation pattern in ensilages. These external provided bacteria usually enhance lactic acid production in silage and then accelerate the falling of pH values in silages. Rapid decrease in pH can inhibit non-beneficial bacteria from activity which finally preserves nutrients from un-necessary fermentation or oxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of lactic acid bacteria inoculants and some absorbents (straw and pith) on chemical properties and fermentation profile of wet sugar beet pulp silage.
Materials and Methods In the first experiment, fresh wet sugar beet pulp was treated with 5% straw or 5% pith in order to investigate the effects of these absorbents on chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and effluent production during ensiling period. In the second experiment, fresh wet sugar beet pulp was treated with a commercial lactic acid bacteria inoculants (Ecosyle) and/or 5% pith in order to investing the main and interaction effects of the bacterial bacteria inoculants and the best absorbents from the experiment 1. In both experiments, triplicate samples were prepared for each treatment after mixing the fresh sugar beet pulp with absorbents or inoculants. Ensilages were filled in laboratory silos and packed and then were kept for 90 d in room temperature at dark. After opening the concentration of volatile and non-volatile fatty acids, crude protein, fibers, total and ammonia-N and the values of pH were measured in final produced silages.
Results and Discussion In the experiment 1, concentration of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent insoluble fibers (NDF) and acid detergent insoluble fibers were higher in absorbents treated silage (P>0.01) when compared with untreated one. Application of absorbents resulted in silages with lower seepages (P>0.01) production compared to the control. However, application of the absorbents to the beet pulp produced silages with lower in vitro DM digestibility (P>0.05). Straw treated silage had the highest NDF concentration and the lowest apparent and true in vitro DM digestibility. Application of absorbents produced silages with lower lactic acid (P>0.01) and higher pH (P> 0.05) and ammonia-N (P>0.01) concentration. Adding straw to sugar beet pulp produced silages with higher acetate concentration, total volatile fatty acids concentrations (VFA) (P> 0.01), the ratio of ammonia-N from total N (P>0.01) but lower ratios of lactate to acetate (P>0.01), lactate to acetate propionate (P>0.01) and lactate to VFA (P>0.05) when compared with control group. In contrast, adding pith to sugar beet pulp produced silages with lower acetate concentration (P>0.01), propionate concentration (P>0.01), total VFA (P> 0.01) but higher ratios of lactate to acetate (P> 0.01), lactate to acetate propionate (P> 0.01) and lactate to VFA (P>0.05) when compared with control group. The Fleig point was not affected by the different treatments. Application of bacterial inoculant resulted in silages with higher DM concentration (P>0.01), water soluble carbohydrates concentration (P> 0.01) and in vitro DM digestibility (P>0.05) but lower crude protein concentration (P>0.05). Moreover, Application of bacterial inoculant resulted in silages with higher butyric acid concentration (P>0.01), VFA concentration (P>0.01), ammonia-N concentration (P>0.01) and Fleig point (P>0.01) but lower pH values (P>0.01). Simultaneous application of bacterial inoculant and straw to sugar beet pulp silage resulted in silages with lower concentrations of lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, total VFA but higher Fleig point.
Conclusion Finally, according to homolactic fermentation, lower ammonia-N and less negative effect on digestibility in pith in comparison with straw and bacterial inoculant, it is suggest that to use 5% pith for treating sugar beet pulp prior to ensiling.

The effect of depithing levels on bagasse soda pulping and its pulp and paper properties were studied in Pars paper factory. Bagasse with different levels of depithing (i.e. bagasse with 30, 20, 10, 5 and 0 % of pith) were cooked under the same pulping condition as used in pars factory: chemical charge 15% of sodium hydroxide (NaOH applied based on dry fibre), temperature: 170 °C, cooking time: 15 minutes and L:W= 10:1. Effects of different level of pith on residual active alkali and pulp and paper properties were investigated. Results have shown that by pith level decreasing in raw material, the residual active alkali in black liquor increased and pulp properties such as kappa number, screen yield, shive content, initial freeness and drainage time improved. Also, strength properties of paper such as tear, burst and tensile increased. In addition, comparing these results to pulping conditions of above factory indicated that the efficiency of factory depithing process is very low. Therefore, its effect appears in high level of pith and consequently high chemical consumption in digester and hence contributes to the inferior quality of pulp and paper properties.

Nowadays, introduction of conversion technologies to solve environmental problems in accumulation of sugarcane bagasse, as an alternative to peat, in the ornamental plants industry seems necessary. For this purpose, in an experiment, the effects of substitution of sugarcane bagasse + cow manure vermicompost with peat in 60% peat + 30% vermiculite + 10% perlite medium were examined on growth and nutrition of Dieffenbachia amoena ornamental plant. After production of the vermicompost, rooted cuttings of the plants were cultivated in the control medium (containing 60% peat + 30% vermiculite + 10% perlite) and the media in which 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% of vermicompost was replaced with peat in control medium. Factors such as plant height, diameter, fresh and dry weights of shoots and leaves, fresh and dry weights of roots, leaf area, and nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in plants and substrates were measured. Physical properties of the substrates including aerial porosity, water holding capacity, total porosity and bulk density were measured too. Results showed that increasing the level of vermicompost + sugarcane bagasse had a significant effect on nitrogen and potassium content of leaves, and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium content of the substrates. The highest amounts of these elements were measured at 60% vermicompost + bagasse treatment. The substrate containing 60% vermicompost + sugarcane bagasse had maximum plant height (15.91 cm), diameter (9.53 mm), fresh weight of stem and leaf (158.91 g), dry weight of stem and leaf (33.99 g), dry weight of root (25.87 g) and leaf area (2680.5 cm²). Based on the results, vermicomposting of sugarcane bagasse is in accordance with the environment, and can be used in the growing media for production of flowers and plants.

Casing soil is one of the most important indicators of button mushroom production، which has a direct impact on the size and performance. Due to the easy availability of resources for the production of vermicompost this mix can be used alternative of peat to button mushroom production. This study was conducted with nine treatments and three replications in a completely randomized design at the Faculty of Agriculture، University of Guilan in 2013. Different treatments were prepared before and after leaching vermicompost (worm waste) in combination with peat in ratio of (0:100)، (25:75)، (50:50)، (75:25) and (100:0). All treatments incorporate vermicompost and peat due to adhesion and high electrical conductivity could be a viable alternative to peat. The results showed that the treatments were washed vermicompost alone or in combination with peat، are suitable for production casing soil technology. Although different treatment don’t show any significant differences on yield but leached vermicompost lead to increasing number of mushroom and reduction two days from casing to harvest and decrease dry matter content of mushroom.

Climatic conditions of Guilan have caused to develope Azolla growth in wetland and ponds. Regarding environmental problems of Azolla accumulation, a study was conducted to investigate impact of composted Azolla with nutrient solution on the growth of Dracaena in replacement of peat in Ornamental Plants and Flower Research Station, Lahijan, Iran. The control treatment was a 2:1 ration of peat: perlite and peat was replaced by composted Azolla amounted 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% v/v. The research was conduced by factorial experiment based on a compeletely randomized design in three replicates with 90 plants. Substrate properties including bulk density, porosity, electrical conductivity, pH, C/N ratio and phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and manganese concentrations were measured. Plant growth Indexes including leaf and stem dry weight, leaf and stem fresh weight, plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves were measured. The results showed that the highest growth was observed at 75% and 100% Azolla compost with nutrient solution and the lowest growth obtained at control and 25% composted Azolla. Azolla compost without nutrient solution had a greater effect on plant growth as compared with control even with the consumption of nutrient solution.

To evaluate the effect of limited application of nitrogen (N) on the height control of geranium (Pelargonium hortorum) and improving its quality performance، an experiment was conducted based on a complete randomized block design with three replications in the greenhouse environment through the years 2011-2012. Geranium seedlings were cultivated in the pots filled with peat-based substrate (peat، 80 vol. percent + sandy loam field soil 20 vol. percent). For the limited application of N، four different nutrient solutions with the same macro and micro elements، except N levels of 2. 5، two، 1. 5 and one mM were applied. The rate of ammonium to nitrate nitrogen for all treatments was kept as 2 to 80 percent. The traits such as plant height، number and length of shoots، number of florescence and number of flowers in the florescence، pedicle length and leaf number، leaf area، chlorophyll، antocianins، fresh and dry weight of shoot and root were measured at the end of the experiment. Limitation of N application from 2. 5 mM to 1. 5 mM in the nutrient solution، although reduced the length of shoot، but did not affect negatively the quality of plants. Farther decreasing of N level to 1 mM، negatively influenced the all quality and quantity parameters of the plant and may not be introduced for production of geranium.

Peanut shelles as a waste of cultivated peanuts are produced in a considerable amount in Guilan province، Iran، that its compost can be used as an available resource in replacement of peat as growth medium of ornamental plants. This experiment was carried out to determine the possibility using of peanut shells compost as an appropriate medium of Dracaena. The control treatment was a medium of peat: perlit at 2:1 ratio that in a compeletly randomized design، the peat was replaced by composted peanut shelles by 15، 30، 45، 60، and 100% V/V. The experiment had three replications. This study was carried out in Ornamental Plant Research Station of Lahijan، Guilan province، Iran. Chemical properties of media including EC، pH، total nitrogen، carbon، C/N ratio; and available concentrations of phosphorus، potassium، calcium، sodium and magnesium were measured. The growth factors including plant height، leaf number، dry weight of stem and leaf were evaluated. The concentrations of nitrogen، phosphorus، potassium، calcium، magnesium، iron and manganese in leaf were also measured. Results showed the peanut shell comopst because of decreasing C/N ratio and availability of nutrients in media، caused to increase plant height، leaf number and dry weight of shoot compared to control. The greatest rate of growth was achived in 15% and 45% compost treatments and its lowest obtained in 100% V/V treatment and control. In couclusion Peanut shell comopste can be used as alternative substitution of expensive peat in the growth media of ornamental plants.

Study on the different media for production of foliage plants seems to be necessary. Media used in this research contains different rates of peat, vermicompost, municipal wastes compost and palm peat in combination with perlite and zeolite. Physical and chemical characteristics of media and growth indexes of plant with amount of nutritional compounds in plant were evaluated. Results showed that highest rate of nitrogen absorption was observed in treatment containing 50% peat and 50% perlite and combination of 50% peat and 50% zeolite showed better results in absorption of phosphorus, pottasium, iron and zinc and also better results in number of leaves and dry weight than previous treatments. Treatments with media containing 50% vermicompost, 25% perlite and 25% zeolite; 50% peat combination with 25% perlite and 25% zeolite or 50% municipal garbage compost, 50% perlite showed the best results in different growth indexes of plant. Results showed that according to best characteristics of zeolite, this mineral could be substituted with perlite, in combination with peat or other organic materials or as single media used. Also because of its availability, lower cost of vermicompost and municipal garbage compost than peat, treatments containing 50% vermicompost, 25% perlite and 25% zeolite or 50% municipal garbage compost, 50% perlite could be a good substitution of commercial media containing, 50% peat and 50% perlite, for production of Dracaena and other foliage potted plant.