Data derived from soil moisture retention curves of two media were combined with geometric descriptions of four containers to produce calculated values of air and water volumes for each medium-container combination. The volume air space ranged from 28% in a #1 container to 12% in a bedding plant cell (BPC). Water volume after drainage increased from 43% (#1) to 59% (BPC). The same trend occurred in these containers with the peatlite mix. These calculations were also used to mathematically model four simulated containers and to calculate the air and water contents in the resultant container-medium combinations.
Author notes
Paper No. 10639 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7601. Paper presented at the “Nursery Crops Working Group Workshop” during the 82nd annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Blacksburg, VA, July 30, 1985.
2Associate Professors, Department of Horticultural Science.