Lightweight cultivation method suitable for potted peonies in south of Yangtze River and matrix thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a light-weight cultivation method suitable for potted peonies in the south of Jiangsan, a potting container and a substrate for the potted peonies are used, and 80% of the potting container is filled with the substrate. The invention further provides a light-weight culture medium suitable for potted peonies in the south of Jiangsan, the medium is composed of a base layer and a mixed layer, the base layer is made of ceramsite, and the mixed layer is composed of garden soil, yellow sand, smashed dry branches and fallen leaves and smashed wood blocks. The soil of the peony potting culture medium is adjusted, and indexes in the soil are superior or remarkably superior to those in other mediums. The ceramsite and the crushed wood blocks in the mixed layer can quickly dredge water in the whole growth period, and also can promote the growth and development of the root system, enlarge the length and area of the root system and provide sufficient organic matters and nutrients for plants to absorb and utilize. The peony potting matrix can effectively overcome the defect that the quality of the peony potting matrix is too heavy, and the retention rate of peonies planted in a potting mode for many years can be remarkably increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of agriculture and forestry, and specifically, to a lightweight cultivation method and substrate suitable for potted peonies in the southern regions of the Yangtze River. Background Art

[0002] Peonies (Paeonia section Moutan DC) belong to the woody plants of the genus Paeonia in the family Paeoniaceae, and are deciduous shrubs. They are traditional famous flowers unique to China. They are widely loved by the world for their large and colorful flowers, national beauty and heavenly fragrance, and rich culture, and are known as the "king of flowers". Peonies were the national flower in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and in the national flower popularity poll held by the China Flower Association in 2019, peonies won, with a vote rate as high as 79.71%. Peonies are not only precious ornamental flowers, but also plants with both medicinal and edible uses. Their root bark can be used as medicine, and has various pharmacological effects such as lowering blood sugar, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-arrhythmia, anti-convulsion, liver protection, and immune enhancement (Ghayur et al., 2008; Hu et al., 2010). In addition, peony stamens can be made into tea, and petals can be processed and refined into essential oils, which are widely used in daily use, health care and other industries. With the development of deep-processed peony products, the peony industry has gradually changed from the past single mode to deep-level and multi-field comprehensive development and utilization.

[0003] As a flower native to the central plains region, peonies have obvious preferences for the growth environment. In terms of the soil substrate, the fleshy roots of peonies grow better in substrates with good water permeability and air permeability; in terms of climate conditions, peonies like light but are not suitable for being directly irradiated by sunlight for a long time, and prefer dry and warm environments (Li Jiayu, 2011). The root morphology, light requirements, nutrient requirements, and growth characteristics of peonies determine that they are more suitable for open-field cultivation in fields with soft soil, sufficient nutrients, and wide plant spacing; in a potted environment, peonies will be restricted by the size of the potted container. Previous studies have shown that the root zone restriction received after peonies are transplanted into potted containers will affect the plant height, crown width, growth of mixed buds, root quantity, net photosynthetic rate, and the activity of various enzymes in the body of peonies, and thus lead to the overall growth of potted peonies being inferior to that of field-planted peonies (Liu Xiaojuan, 2012). In recent years, with the continuous rise of China's economic development and the demand for home gardening. The potted peony market has become an important application field of the peony industry. Its soil and climate conditions are not suitable for the growth of peonies. In this area, there are high temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rains in summer, and the soil is mostly heavy clay and paddy soil with poor water permeability and air permeability, which easily lead to waterlogging and root rot of peony roots, and thus affect the growth and development of the above-ground part. Therefore, in potted cultivation, the selection of the substrate is particularly crucial. An excellent potted substrate can not only provide appropriate nutrients, but also have good air permeability, drainage, and water retention to alleviate the adverse effects of the environment on peony roots and ensure their healthy growth.

[0004] At present, most of the varieties that show strong adaptability to the humid and hot climate and heavy soil environment in the Jiangnan region are single-petal varieties with obvious wildness; the flower colors are mainly white and light pink, and the ornamental value and variety diversity are poor (Xu Yan, 2008). In the long-term evolution and development, the number of traditional peony varieties native to the Jiangnan region is very small, with only more than 30 species (Wang Xiaohui et al., 2022). Factors such as the small number of suitable varieties, low variety richness, and poor introduction and cultivation have led to the lagging development of peony germplasm resources and cultivation and maintenance in the Jiangnan region, and also affected the development of the peony industry in the Jiangnan region.

[0005] In summary, it is necessary to study the peony potted cultivation medium suitable for use in the home environment in the Jiangnan region. It is not only conducive to expanding the peony industry chain in the Jiangnan region, but also of great benefit to the innovation of germplasm resources of the Jiangnan peony variety group.

[0006] Chinese patent document CN115152582A discloses a substrate for peony cultivation, which is composed of peat, perlite, vermiculite and rice husk. The peony cultivation method is to place the seedlings in a potted peony cultivation pot at the end of October, the seedlings are four years old, the pot diameter is 30 cm, and water them once every 15 days; 80 days after planting, water the nutrient solution once every week for 3 consecutive times, and then overwinter normally indoors; the potted peony cultivation pot is filled with the peony cultivation substrate. The peony cultivated by using the cultivation substrate of the above components is better than the peony cultivated by using other cultivation substrates.

[0007] Chinese patent document CN115152582A discloses a soilless cultivation substrate for potted peony and its application. The soilless cultivation substrate for potted peony of the present invention is formulated with bran, rice husk distiller's grains, biogas residue, nut shell fragments, plant leaf fragments, tea residue and fruit peel residue as effective ingredients, and the substrate has an excellent nutritional system, which can meet the nutritional needs of peony potted planting without other nutrient solutions, and the cultivation substrate can effectively promote the flowering time of peony and prolong the flowering cycle of peony, which has positive significance for the planting and cultivation of ornamental peony potted plants.

[0008] However, there is no report on a lightweight cultivation medium suitable for potted peonies. Summary of the invention

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a lightweight cultivation method and a substrate suitable for potted peonies in the Jiangnan region in view of the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0010] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a lightweight cultivation method suitable for potted peonies in the southern regions of the Yangtze River, including the potted containers and substrates for the potted peonies. The substrate is filled to 80% of the potted container. The substrate consists of a base layer and a mixed layer. The raw material of the base layer is ceramsite, and the mixed layer is composed of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and crushed wood blocks.

[0011] As a preferred example, the ceramsite selected is ceramsite with a diameter of 1 - 2 cm.

[0012] As another preferred example, the mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand, and crushed dead branches and leaves is 1:1:1.

[0013] As another preferred example, the crushed wood blocks are from the xylem fragments after crushing arbors, and their specifications of length, width, and height are between 1.5 - 2.5 cm 3 in between.

[0014] As another preferred example, the mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and crushed wood blocks in the mixed layer is 1:1:1:7. The size of the potted container is a plastic pot with an inner diameter of 40 cm and a height of 30 cm.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a lightweight cultivation substrate suitable for potted peonies in the southern regions of the Yangtze River. The substrate consists of a base layer and a mixed layer. The raw material of the base layer is ceramsite, and the mixed layer is composed of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and crushed wood blocks.

[0016] As a preferred example, the ceramsite selected is ceramsite with a diameter of 1 - 2 cm.

[0017] As another preferred example, the mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand, and crushed dead branches and leaves is 1:1:1.

[0018] As another preferred example, the crushed wood blocks are from the xylem fragments after crushing arbors, and their specifications of length, width, and height are between 1.5 - 2.5 cm 3 in between.

[0019] As another preferred example, the mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and crushed wood blocks in the mixed layer is 1:1:1:7.

[0020] The present invention discloses a method for proportioning a lightweight cultivation substrate suitable for potted peonies in the southern regions of the Yangtze River. The method includes the following steps: dividing the substrate into two parts, namely a base layer and a mixed layer; the raw material of the base layer is ceramsite; the mixed layer is composed of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and crushed wood blocks. The size of the potted container used is a plastic pot with an inner diameter of 40 cm and a height of 30 cm, and various substrates are filled to 80% of the potted container.

[0021] In the description of the above technical solution,

[0022] The ceramsite in the base layer plays the role of paving the bottom and providing ventilation. Small ceramsite with a size of 1 - 2 cm is selected, covering 2 - 3 cm of the height of the planting pot.

[0023] The mixed garden soil is mainly composed of ordinary soil, with the addition of yellow sand and crushed dead branches and leaves on the basis of ordinary soil. The three are evenly mixed in a ratio of 1:1:1.

[0024] The broken wood blocks mainly come from the xylem fragments after the crushing of large arbors, and their specifications of length, width and height are between 1.5 - 2.5 cm 3 between.

[0025] The mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and broken wood blocks in the mixed layer is 1:1:1:7.

[0026] The advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0027] The present invention adjusts the soil of the cultivation substrate for peony potted plants, and the nutrient indexes such as the organic matter content, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium in the soil are better than or significantly better than other substrates.

[0028] In the present invention, the ceramsite in the base layer of the substrate and the broken wood blocks in the mixed layer play the role of quickly guiding water, increasing air circulation and reducing the probability of diseases caused by the hot and humid environment throughout the entire growth cycle, thereby reducing the limiting factors affecting the growth of the thick fleshy roots of peonies: that is, the phenomenon that the peony roots rot due to being in a water - filled environment for a long time. The addition of broken wood blocks changes the particle size of the soil, forming medium - large particles, which can better drain excess water, increase air circulation and reduce the temperature inside the substrate. After 1 - 2 years of annual growth cycle, the broken wood blocks in the mixed layer also play a role in promoting root growth and development, expanding the root length and area, and providing sufficient organic matter and nutrients for plants to absorb and utilize.

[0029] The present invention can effectively improve the disadvantage of the excessive weight of the peony potted plant substrate and can significantly improve the retention rate of peonies planted in pots for many years. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the substrate ratio and layered structure in the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the root index of the substrate of the present invention and the comparative substrate under light intensity stress.

[0032] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the root index of the substrate of the present invention and the comparative substrate under water stress.

[0033] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the weight between the substrate of the present invention and the comparative substrate.

[0034] Figure 5 Comparison chart of the flower quantity, above-ground part and root development between the substrate of the present invention and the comparative substrate. Detailed implementation manners

[0035] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific implementation manners. It should be understood that these embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that after reading the content described in the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the appended claims of this application.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] A lightweight cultivation substrate suitable for potted peonies includes the following steps: Divide the potted cultivation substrate into two major layers, namely the base layer and the mixed layer. Select 'Jinjiang Red' ('Jinjiang Red' (JJH) seedlings, all of which are 7-year-old field-grown seedlings purchased from Hantang Peony Horticulture Co., Ltd. in Luoyang City, Henan Province in November 2021 and potted in the nursery of Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden at the end of December 2021) peonies with strong growth, no diseases and pests, and basically the same growth status for potting.

[0038] Use volcanic stones and pure mixed garden soil (the mixed garden soil uses the soil in the park) as the control substrate. Among them, for the substrates of broken wood blocks and volcanic stones (the volcanic stones and broken wood blocks used in the experiment are all purchased from the market), the ratio is to place 2 - 3 cm high of ceramsite at the bottom of the cultivation container for paving, and then evenly mix the broken wood blocks or volcanic stones with the ordinary soil, yellow sand and crushed dead branches and leaves in the mixed garden soil substrate according to the ratio of 7:1:1:1. The mixed substrate obtained is used as the mixed layer and filled to 80% of the potted container; for the pure mixed garden soil substrate, place 2 - 3 cm high of ceramsite at the bottom of the cultivation container for paving, and directly add the mixed garden soil formed by mixing ordinary soil, yellow sand and crushed dead branches and leaves in a ratio of 1:1:1 on it as the substrate, and fill it to 80% of the potted container. The specific structure is as Figure 1 shown (1 is the mixed layer: mixed garden soil + broken wood blocks; 2 is the base layer: ceramsite).

[0039] Comparative analysis:

[0040] After filling the inventive substrate and the control substrate to the same volume, 3 pots were randomly selected as the objects for mass measurement. The mass of each substrate was measured using a platform scale. The weight of the inventive substrate was only 10.48 kg, while the weights of the volcanic rock substrate and the mixed garden soil substrate used as controls were 17.51 kg and 20.41 kg respectively. The above data indicate that the mass of the shredded wood block substrate is light, only about half of the mass of the mixed garden soil.

[0041] By designing two environmental factors, shading and water supply, and setting 4 gradually increasing gradients for each environmental factor, through comparison, the advantages of the inventive substrate compared with the control substrates in terms of root development were analyzed. 18 pots were set at each of the 4 gradient levels set for each environmental factor. Among them, the inventive substrate and the other two control substrates were evenly distributed. After 3 years of planting, 3 pots were randomly sampled in December, the plants were uprooted, the roots were cleaned and decomposed step by step, and the roots were scanned using an EPSON PERFECTION V700 PHOTO scanner. The root parameters were analyzed using the root analysis software Win RHIZO-Pro 2008b (Regent Instruments Inc, Canada), and the lengths and projected areas of the peony roots growing in different substrates under the influence of the two environmental factors were statistically analyzed.

[0042] In Table 1, the length of the peony roots under the influence of each substrate increased with the increase of the shading rate. Compared with the other two control substrates, the inventive substrate showed strong advantages in root length under different shading rate conditions. At the same time, in the index of root surface area, it also basically showed an increasing trend with the increase of the shading rate. The root surface area of the inventive substrate was significantly better than that of the volcanic rock substrate in all shading gradients compared with the other two control substrates; it performed better than the mixed garden soil substrate under the conditions of 50% shading rate and 75% shading rate. This shows that the inventive substrate has a significant promoting effect on the roots under conventional maintenance (50 - 75% shading) measures and extreme conditions (0% shading).

[0043]

[0044] In Table 2, the root length of peonies under the influence of each substrate increases with the extension of the water replenishment time. Compared with the other two control substrates, the root length of the substrate of the present invention shows strong advantages at different water replenishment times. At the same time, in terms of the index of root projection area, it also basically shows an increasing trend with the extension of the water replenishment time. In the case of the root projection area of the substrate of the present invention compared with the other two control substrates, there is no significant advantage in the case of extreme water surplus (water replenishment once every two days), but with the extension of the watering interval, its performance is significantly better than that of the volcanic rock substrate and better than that of the mixed garden soil substrate in some cases. The above results strongly illustrate that the substrate of the present invention has a significant promoting effect on the roots under extreme water conditions.

[0045]

[0046] The nutrient content data after many years of cycles among the substrates are shown in Table 3.

[0047] The comparison results in Table 3 fully illustrate that: the substrate of the present invention can still maintain a very high organic matter content during the planting of potted plants for many years, and the nutrient contents of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium also remain at a relatively high level. This shows that after many years of growth, the substrate of the present invention can provide a lasting and sufficient nutrient supply for the growth and development of peonies, effectively assisting in the multi-year maintenance and cultivation of potted peonies.

[0048]

[0049] The data of the soil particle size proportion after many years of cycles among the substrates are shown in Table 4.

[0050]

[0051] The comparison results in Table 4 fully illustrate that: during the long-term cultivation of the substrate of the present invention, under the action of the broken wood blocks, its particle size has undergone continuous decomposition and transformation through continuous decomposition and transformation, forming a relatively high proportion of medium and large particle sizes (100 - 1000 μm). The proportion of its medium and large particle sizes is significantly higher than that of the other two substrates, and it has improved the sticky characteristics of the garden soil.

[0052] It should be noted that:

[0053] First, the measurement items and methods:

[0054] (1) Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium in the soil: They were measured by the Kjeldahl method, the wet digestion molybdenum blue colorimetric method, and the wet digestion flame photometer method respectively (Xiao Anshui, 2008).

[0055] (2) Soil organic matter content: It was measured by the potassium dichromate oxidation method (Wu Caiwu et al., 2015).

[0056] (3) Soil particle size: Measured using a particle size analyzer.

[0057] II. Experimental instruments

[0058]

[0059] III. Data analysis and processing

[0060] One-way analysis of variance was performed using SPSS 26.0 software, and the Duncan method was used for significance analysis of differences. Excel 2019 and GraphPad Prism 9 were used for chart making.

[0061] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the method of the present invention, several improvements and supplements can be made, and these improvements and supplements should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lightweight cultivation method suitable for potted peonies in the Jiangnan region, characterized in that: The invention discloses a potting container and a substrate for potting peonies. The substrate is filled to 80% of the potting container. The substrate is composed of a base layer and a mixed layer. The base layer is made of ceramsite, and the mixed layer is made of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and broken wood blocks.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ceramsite is selected to have a diameter of 1 ～ 2cm expanded clay.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand and crushed dead branches and leaves is 1:1:

1.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wood chips are from the woody parts of the shredded trees, and the length, width and height are 1.5 ～ 2.5cm 3 between.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass ratio of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves and broken wood pieces in the mixed layer is 1:1:1:7, and the size of the potted container is a plastic pot with an inner diameter of 40 cm and a height of 30 cm.

6. A lightweight cultivation medium suitable for potted peonies in the Jiangnan region, characterized in that: The matrix consists of a base layer and a mixed layer. The base layer is made of ceramsite, and the mixed layer is made of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves, and broken wood pieces.

7. The lightweight cultivation substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The ceramsite is selected to have a diameter of 1 ～ 2cm expanded clay.

8. The lightweight cultivation substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The mass ratio of the garden soil, yellow sand and crushed dead branches and leaves is 1:1:

1.

9. The lightweight cultivation substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wood chips are from the woody parts of the shredded trees, and the length, width and height are 1.5 ～ 2.5cm 3 between.

10. The lightweight cultivation substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The mass ratio of garden soil, yellow sand, crushed dead branches and leaves and broken wood pieces in the mixed layer is 1:1:1:7.

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