@article{3080456,
    title = "Cotton gin trash compost and rice hulls as growing medium components for
ornamentals",
    author = "Papafotiou, M and Chronopoulos, J and Kargas, G and Voreakou, M and and Leodaritis, N and Lagogiani, O and Gazi, S",
    journal = "The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology",
    year = "2001",
    volume = "76",
    number = "4",
    pages = "431-435",
    publisher = "HEADLEY BROTHERS LTD",
    issn = "1462-0316",
    doi = "10.1080/14620316.2001.11511389",
    abstract = "Rooted cuttings of Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev., Nerium oleander L.
and Lantana camara L., as well as seedlings of Pelargonium zonale L.
were grown in media containing cotton gin trash compost, rice hulls,
peat and perlite in various ratios, and their vegetative growth and
flowering was determined and compared with a control medium of
1peat:1perlite (by volume). When up to 60% of peat in the control
medium was replaced by cotton gin trash compost plant height was
slightly reduced, except in P. zonale, the number of flowers was
increased, except in pot D. grandiflora, and flowering was accelerated
in all species except N. oleander. When half or all the perlite of the
control was replaced by rice hulls, plant height and flower number was
similar to that of the control plants, except in pot D. grandiflora
where the number of flowers was reduced and in cut D. grandiflora where
both stem length and flower number were reduced; also, in L. camara
total replacement of perlite by rice hulls gave shorter plants. In media
that contained cotton gin trash compost, peat and rice hulls, plant
height of all species except P. zonale was reduced. Partitioning of
cotton gin trash compost or rice hulls in the media decreased their
total porosity and their easily available water, while cotton gin trash
compost increased bulk density. When rice hulls totally replaced the
perlite, bulk density was decreased. The media with peat, cotton gin
trash compost and rice hulls and the one with peat and rice hulls had
the lowest easily available water and total porosity of all the media
tested. Media with cotton gin trash compost had a high electrical
conductance at the beginning of the culture period, but it fell to the
level of the control by the end."
}