HORTICULTURE CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES

Author: ZAPATA NAVAS FRANCISCO RAMÓN.
Year: 2003.
University: ALMERÍA.
Place of defense: ESCUELA POLITÉCNICA SUPERIOR.
Place of preparation: ESCUELA POLITÉCNICA SUPERIOR.

Summary: The dynamics of markets requires producers opimizar and be more effective in practices that apply in the greenhouses, including estal to regulate or manipulate the number of fruits per bunch to get into the final harvest, this is the gripping pruning or inflorescence. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of dry matter conversion of solar radiation at different planting densities and different number of stems per unit area and the effect of clamping on the inflorescence of tomato, at the time the opening of the flowers. In modern greenhouses and type scratched and amagado, rock wool and sanding. We used three cultivars: Ramy, Pitensa and Daniela, planted in a completely randomized design and divided into plots. The treatments were gripping: 8,7,6 and 5 flowers / cluster and without pinzar. The variables measured were: radiation intercepted by the cultivation, biomass and leaf area index, fresh weight and dry leaves, stems, flowers and fruits, appearance of leaves and flowers and internode length, size of fruit, total number of fruits by facility, the total weight of the bunch, total production per plant, commercial weight of the bunch, commercial production per plant, production of top quality, non-commercial production, performance and regression analysis were carried out to weight of the fruit in terms of diameter and height, to cultivate and harvest season. The highest conversion efficiency of radiation on dry matter coincided with the fastest growing generative, and hence higher demand for assimilated. In more dense plantations, but with fewer stems per unit area, is achieving the highest percentage of total dry matter produced was used for fruit production. Referring to clamping or clusters of inflorescence, it was not possible to specify a function unique in the production cycle. There was positive gripping effect on length of internodes, fruit size (diameter and height), weight of the fruit. The best treatments were gripping to 8.6 and 7 flowers / cluster.

Author: Sanfeliu Llop Jordi Lluís.
Year: 2004.
University: LLEIDA.
Place of defense: E.T.S. D'ENGINYERIA AGRARIA.
Place of preparation: E.T.S. d'Enginyeria Agraria.

Summary: The potato crop is the first global group of non-cereals. Its high productivity and nutritional value him a social and economic importance unquestionable. The application of the techniques of in vitro culture for growing potatoes has helped advance understanding of tuberización addition to shorten the time for selection of new varieties and facilitate the provision of seed tubers free of pathogens. The in vitro culture makes locating potentially useful compounds in crop improvement. All these developments eventually revert to improve the production of crops in the field. Despite that obtaining microtubérculos takes place for more than fifty years, there is no consensus on the protocol microtuberización more appropriate. The systematic use of substances with hormonal activity has attracted some misgivings related to its production potential of somatic changes, as well as morphological alterations and the Dormition of the tubers. The implementation of a protocol tuberización efficient, free of growth regulators is desirable in the present context. The objective of this thesis is to explore the effect of various carboxylic acids in the tuberización in vitro explantos potato as a first step towards optimizing protocols microtuberización and cultivation area. Accordingly bioassays were conducted on the effect of different carboxylic acids and other related substances on the growth and development of different types of explantos in different fotoperiodos. Finally, we conducted a field test of the effect of acetic acid and paclobutrazol. The various carboxylic acids tested, concentrations milimolares, led the tuberización by more than 70% of stolons cultured in vitro, with acetylsalicylic acid, which produced the largest number of tubers although these accumulated less dry weight that obtained with the acetic acid and propionic acid. The presence of acetic acid, propionic and ascorbic in the culture medium produced on sections uninodales, results similar to those obtained by stolons. All treatments were observed a tendency to increase the number of tubers with the decrease of photoperiod, reaching the maximum in total darkness. The tubers from photoperiod for 16 h were higher and amassed more biomass which makes them more useful in programs for micropropagation. By expanding the range of concentrations of acetic acid tested showed that concentrations lower than milimolares not alter significantly the development of explantos, while the concentration of 50 mM is toxic for explantos. Treatment with acetic acid 5.10-3 M was the most effective since it significantly reduced the growth of explantos at the same time causing a rapid tuberización, reaching around 1.2 tubers per explanto even in the photoperiod for 16 h in that treatments with the lowest concentration of acetic acid barely tuberizaron. The presence of acetic acid in the culture medium affected the growth of explantos, and both factors changed over time some of the culture medium. In control treatments and low concentration of acetic acid sterilization was lowered pH of the medium, which continued to fall during the 3-4 first weeks of cultivation to increase then until the end of the trial. This oscillation has been explained by the differential absorption along the cultivation of ammonium and nitrate ions in the medium. A concentration of acetic acid exceeding 8 to 10-3 M b7d had an effect tamponante avoiding both the decline in pH after sterilization as his swing back. The presence in the midst of growing up 3g / L of buffer organic MONTH prevented the decrease in pH after sterilization delayed if only around a week lowering the pH produced by the growth of explantos. Their addition did not affect either the growth of explantos or its tuberización. The crop in half with acetic acid 5.10-3 M during the 5 days initial caused the tuberización more than 50% of explantos, although it took an exposure in excess of 10 days for the tuberización was widespread. Continuous exposure to acetic acid produced the largest accumulation of biomass in the tuber. Adding to the growing medium of antioxidant DCT 1,4.10-3 M, prompted the formation of tubers in explantos, although to a lesser percentage that obtained with the acetic acid. The foliar application of acetic acid 12500 ppm in field did not affect the growth of stems, while increasing the number of tubers in the cv. Jaerla, especially gauge 40-50 mm, while the implementation of paclobutrazol reduced the growth of stems and increased tuberización, especially in the intermediate sizes. These results suggest that the formation of tubers caused by acetic acid is not strictly a hormonal nature, given the high concentration to that required to be active, or metabolic nature, given that the contribution of carbon due to acetic acid is quantitatively unimportant. Neither has been shown to be related to stabilize the pH. At assumption may arise that the acetic acid can act as a signal by changing inducing endogenous levels of some hormone or inducing the expression of a gene associated with the tuberización, in a manner similar to the role attributed to the sucrose on tuberización in vitro . From the results it can be concluded that a protocol microtuberización in which sections uninodales are cultivated in the midst MS with acetic acid 5.10-3 M low of 16 h photoperiod may be useful in programs to obtain micro-tubers.

Author: MAZUELA AGUILA PILAR CAROLINA.
Year: 2004.
University: ALMERÍA.
Place of defense: DEPARTAMENTO DE PRODUCCION VEGETAL.
Place of preparation: DEPARTAMENTO DE PRODUCCION VEGETAL.

Summary: In the southeastern Spanish there more than 30 thousand hectares of greenhouse generated a volume of horticultural debris over 1000000 tons per year, which means a serious problem of environmental pollution. On the other hand, there are more than 5000 hectares of crops without soil concentrated mainly in the province of Almeria, mostly in sustartos non-biodegradable as rock wool and perlite, which at the time meant between 7-10 tons of waste uan Upon completion the lifetime of these substrates, which is why attempts to introduce biodegradable substrates, such as coconut fiber, in order to reduce the environmental impact of substrates used more. An alternative that may resolve the problem of waste vegetable is compostarlo then use it as a substrate biodegradable growing without soil. For this, they characterized the composted waste horticultural properties were identified constraints and make a pre-conditioning to be able to use the compost pure, unmixed with other substrates. Once marked, assessed agronomically their use as a substrate compared with other biodegradable substrate such as coconut fiber, adapting the slogans of fertirriego to the characteristics of each substrate. We evaluated the parameters of fertirriego, production and quality tomato and melon crops without being observed difference in the production and quality of fruit. To determine the feasibility of this substrate was assessed the durability of compost with the same criteria earlier without being noticed decline in the production and quality of fruit, at least for three campaigns crop. It concludes that the composting of vegetable waste is a real alternative to be used as a substrate in horticultural crops and environmentally compatible.

Author: MOHAMED YAHDIH BABA.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA.
Place of defense: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA (DEP. PRODUCCIÓN VEGETAL).
Place of preparation: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA.

Summary: This work carried out over two campaigns (2002/03 - 2003/04), consists of three main groups of experiments with various cvs pepper protected under cultivation, which has studied the agronomic performance through assessment of parameters productive and vegetative, the incidence of fisiopatías and water efficiency. The experiments consisted of: * * Fertilization carbonic Solutions nutritious and dose irrigation * Solutions nutritious The results show that carbonic fertilization would increase production, expressed in a greater total production and trade as well as each of its components (production 1  th and 2 th grade) of the doses CO2 regard to the witness. For the parameters vegetative results were favorable to the doses of CO2 regard to the witness. Efficient water (kg production comercial/m3 water) was greater for doses of CO2. Trials of nutritional solutions and irrigation dose showed a n ° fruits commercial and commercial production for higher doses irrigation older D3 and D2 respect to the dose of D1. The destrío was greater in the dose irrigation D3 and D1. The fisiopatías they have shown in these trials were Blossom-end rot (necosis apical and cracking (rajado fruit), demonstrating these fisiopatías in varying degrees according to the dose of irrigation, and the dose of irrigation D3 presented a greater n ° and weight the fruits affected by craking respect to the remaining doses. dose irrigation D1 presented a greater n ° and weight of the fruit affected by blossom, for the others doses of irrigation. dose irrigation D3 and D2 presented values high vegetative parameters analyzed. Efficiency water (kg production comercial/m3 water) has been greater in the dose of irrigation D1. experiments nutritional solutions filed a commercial production with the highest nutritional solutions S3, S2, S1, respect the nutrient solution S1. vegetative parameters extracted with values greater nutritional solutions S2, S1, S3, on the settlement S1. Furthermore, the nutrient solution S1 obtained the highest destrío respect to the remaining solutions. Efficiency water (kg production comercial/m3 water) was superior to the solution S4 and S3. KEYWORDS carbonic fertilization, irrigation dose, nutritional solutions.

Author: MAGÁN CAÑADAS JUAN JOSÉ.
Year: 2005.
University: ALMERÍA.
Place of defense: ESCUELA POLITÉCNICA SUPERIOR.
Place of preparation: ESCUELA POLITÉCNICA SUPERIOR.

Summary: At present, the area covered by farming systems without soil in the southeast Spanish is estimated at about 4500 to 5000 ha, with almost entirely to systems solution lost. However, it is hoped that in future be imposed systems recirculantes, which are much more respectful of the environment. The main drawback from the use of closed systems is the gradual salinization resulting in nutrient solution when there is no water for irrigation of excellent quality, forcing some to dismiss such a solution during the growing season in order to avoid losses productive. Thus, it is necessary to know the response of crops to salinity in order to objectively define when culling. It is known, however, that such a response is modulated by environmental conditions in the aerial part of the plar), ta, ahi that existing literature review about the effect on horticultural crops saline show, often notable differences between yes. Therefore it is of interest to evaluate the response to the salinity of vegetable crops without soil in the specific conditions of the greenhouse climate of the southeastern Spanish liabilities. This thesis deals with the study of the effect of salinity in such conditions for the case of long-life tomato, which is one of the most important crops in the area. The experiments were conducted in semi-commercial conditions and planting and development with a duration comparable to those typical of southeast peninsular. Specifically, three experiments were conducted, so that the first two cycles of spring, but in each of them used a different cultivar ( 'Daniela' in the first and 'welcome' in the second), and the third was a cycle long winter in which he used the same cultivar in the second experiment. Different treatments were compared in rising levels of salinity from a control treatment whose electrical conductivity (EC) was 2.5 dS m-1. Efforts were made to the nutrient solution of this therapy had the lowest concentration of sodium and chloride, while the rest increased EC was achieved by the addition of sodium chloride to a nutrient solution which is as close as possible to that of the control treatment . The salinity levels were compared as follows: 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8 dS m-1 (experiment 1), 2.5, 3, 4, 6 and 8 dS m-1 (experiment 2), 2.5, 4, 5.5, 7 and 8.5 dS m-1 (experiment 3). The treatments saline was gradually established shortly after the transplant and remained until the end of the crop. In chapter 1 of this thesis provides a general introduction, including the experimental results in the following chapters. In Chapter 2 deals with the study of the effect of salinity on the tomato fruit production and quality. Increasing salinity decreased linearly production fresh from a threshold value of EC, which was greater for the cultivar 'Daniela' (3.7 and 3.8 dS m-1 for total production and trade, respectively) as for 'welcome' (3.1 and 3.2 dS m-1 respectively) in the spring cycle. However, the different environmental conditions developed during experiments little impact on the threshold, so that in the long course of winter (experiment 3) values obtained were 3.2 and 3.3 dS m-1 for the total production and trading, respectively. From these results it can be concluded that the threshold value of EC environment that could be considered a practical level would be 3.5 dS m-1. The linear decrease of the total production above the threshold occurred on average and tomatoes in 8 s condic 1ff8 ions studied growing at the rate of 8.5% for every unit increase in the EC, while for the commercial production significant differences between the different experiments, and swings. Between 8.8% for the experiment 1 and 11.8% for the experiment 2. An environmental impact was detected on the decline in commercial production since it was higher in spring than in cycle cycle long winter for the cultivar 'welcome'. The decline in fresh harvest was due mainly to the reduction in the average weight of the fruit, which took place in a linear fashion from the control treatment at a rate of 6% for every unit increase in EC for commercial fruits. Although to a lesser extent, the number of fruits was also significantly affected, showing a reduction in the range of salinity sampled lower al10% for the total fruit and 20% for commercial. The largest decrease in the number obtained fruit business was due to the increased occurrence of apical necrosis with salinity, especially in the spring. The cultivar 'Soludo' proved to be significantly more sensitive to this fisiopatia 'Daniela. The dry matter production also showed a threshold response to increased EC, but the effect was less than saline obtained for the production fresh. The decline in the production of dry fruit resulted in a reduction in both the number of fruits as the accumulated dry matter per fruit, while the percentage of dry matter increased salinity linear mind with a rate of 0.3 units per increased unit CEo Finally, the quality of the fruit tended to improve with salinity because it caused an increase in the proportion of fruit category 'Extra' (fruits of high quality visual) and increased linearly with the content in the soluble solids acidity assessable at the rate of 5.4 and 9.1%, respectively, for each unit increase in CEo However, the salinity decreased markedly size of the fruit, which represents a significant disadvantage for saline treatments since that caliber it is a parameter of great importance in setting the price of tomatoes. In chapter 3 we studied the effect of salinity on the development of vegetative crop cultivar 'welcome'. The total dry air produced by the crop also declined with increasing salinity, showing a response threshold similar to that of the dry matter production of fruit. The EC threshold was slightly higher in the long course of the winter (4.1 dS m-1) than in the spring (3.1 dS rn-1), although the decline beyond the same linear showed no significant difference between cycles cultivation and stood at an average of 4.8% for every unit increase in CEo Despite the reduction in the total dry air produced by the cultivation, salinity did not affect the distribution of it among the various organs, remain, approximately a 22% for the leaves, or 13% for stems and 65% for dividends. The increase in the EC resulted in a clear reduction of the spread of leaf and stem growth, which tended to decrease linearly from the control treatment. However, to advance the growing season witnessed a decline in the leaf expansion, especially at low salinity, which reduced the differences between treatments. The lower surface of the leaves in the saline treatment resulted in a linear reduction of leaf area index of the crop. Thus, the leaf surface accumulated (including stripped) declined at a rate of 5.5% for every unit increase in CEo However, no significant differences were observed among treatments in radiation intercepted by the cultivation, except for the period peak growth, so that the crop was developed obtained a reduction of radiation intercepted at around 5% in the range of salinity sampled. The rate of photosynthesis per unit leaf area also showed significant differences among treatments but tended to decrease with increasing age of the leaves. It is proposed that the reduced dry matter production detected by increasing salinity could be due to: (i) the decrease obtained radiation intercepted by the crop, (ii) a different distribution of radiation on plant canopy as a result of a minor the size of the leaves under saline conditions, so that the older (which were photosynthetically less actívas) receive more radiation treatments in the saline low salinity, which means that in the saline treatment advantage for productive purposes a smaller proportion of radiation intercepted, and (iii) increased energy costs in maintenance treatment saline. Since the production of fruit decreased with increasing salinity as a result of a dual effect on the number and weight of the same fresh, in chapter 4 was studied the effect of salinity on the production of flowers and fruit-set , as well as on the development of the fruit. In general, increasing the EC did not significantly affect both the number of ramilletes per plant and the bouquet of flowers, although this parameter tended to show a linear decrease. There was a significant linear reduction in the total number of flowers per plant with salinity, the reduction being greater for the cultivar 'Daniel' for 'Boludo'. By contrast, the percentage of cuajado flower was significantly higher in the saline treatment, which reduced the importance of the effect of salinity on the number of flowers. The total number of frutos'por plant tended to decrease with the increase of the EC, but only significant differences were obtained in the experiment for longer (experiment 3). The final volume of fruit decreased linearly with increasing salinity from the control treatment at a rate of 5.8% for every unit increase in CEo The largest differences between treatments in the amount of fruit produced during the Maximum expansion, so that the daily rate of growth during this phase was reduced, equally, in a linear fashion with salinity, in this case at a rate of 5.4% for every unit increase in CEo The period of development of the fruit, after among anthesis and harvesting, was also affected by salinity, so that dropped up to 4% in the range of salinity sampled. However, this decrease was not linear, but is amortiguó to increase CEo The loss of dry weight per fruit registered in the treatment of higher salinity respect to the control treatment was at around 10-15%, being consistent with the results obtained in chapter 2. Regardless of the time of year in question, the fresh weight of the final product was reduced linearly with increasing salinity from the control treatment, so that was not detected a response threshold of this parameter. However, environmental conditions modularon this negative effect of salinity, the decline being obtained in the winter months lesser (but not significantly) than for the spring months, swings in the experiment 3 between a 4.7% per EC unit increase in February and 6.4% in April. Given that the majority of water absorbed by the crop is lost through the process of transpiration through the leaves and that the surface of the same was reduced significantly with increasing salinity in chapter 5 assessed the effect on this water absorption. It was also determined the effect of salinity on the absorption of nutrients in order to detect possible antagonisms resulting from the addition of chloride SÓdico, and to obtain information that helps make the nutrient solution in closed systems. The water absorption decreased linearly with increasing CE, but this decline was significantly lower for the cultivar 'Da 8 niela' (1ff8 3.8% increase per unit EC) to 'Boludo' (5.5%) in spring cycle. The efficient use of water (USA) relating to the production of fresh fruits expressed in weight showed a threshold response to increased salinity similar to the production fresh, although the threshold of EC was greater than that obtained for that production. By contrast, the USA concerning the production of dry air total increased linearly with the EC, which was significantly greater increase in long cycle of winter (0088 g L-1 for each unit increase in EC) that spring (0045 g L-1). The absorption of nutrients tended to decline, in general terms, with increased salinity. In the case of macronutrients this decline was linear, ranging from 4% for every unit increase of EC for the calcium and magnesium and 7% for potassium. Instead, the absorption of sodium and chlorine increased linearly at a rate of 50 and 40%, respectively, for each unit increase in EC. Despite the reduction in the absorption of macronutrients obtained with increasing salinity, this decline was proportional to the total dry air produced, except in the case of potassium and nitrogen, which was more than proportional, what determines an antagonistic effect of sodium chloride on both elements. Concentrations of absorption, calculated as the ratio between the amount of a nutrient absorbed and the amount of water absorbed, proved to be significantly more stable with salinity that the respective absolute quantities of nutrients absorbed by the crop. However, in the case of nitrogen and potassium concentrations of such absorption decreased linearly with increasing salinity at the rate of 0.04 and 0.17 mmol L-1, respectively, for each unit increase in CEo Instead, for calcium increased linearly at a rate of 0.03 mmol L-1 for each unit increase in EC and the sodium and chlorine did so at a rate of 0.06 and 0.07 mmol L-1 per mmol L-1 of sodium chloride added to the solution recirculante. Similarly, the micro-manganese, zinc and copper increased linearly at the rate of 0009, 0007 and 0004 mg L-1, respectively, for each unit increase in the EC, while those for iron did so curvilinea. Concentrations of absorption showed significant swings over the growing cycle, but might serve as a guide for setting the nutrient solution in closed systems. Increasing salinity caused an increase in the sodium content in leaves as a result, while decreased linearly macronutrients in the fruit. However, the nutritional status of the plant (which was created from the membership of the young leaves fully formed) was not affected, despite the antagonistic effect on the potassium and nitrogen. The total accumulation of calcium in fruit resulted only in volume to 5% of the total absorbed and decreased with increasing salinity, thus fostering the emergence of apical necrosis. Since most of the fruit is water and the main effect of salinity took place on the accumulation of this, in Chapter 6, we studied the influence of the increase in the nutrient solution EC on water relations of the plant. The water potential of the various bodies decreased linearly with the osmotic potential of the solution. This reduction was similar in the case of leaves and stems (0.9 MPa for each unit increase in the osmotic potential of the nutrient solution), while it was lower in the case of fruits (0.46 MPa). Similarly, the potential water on the leaves and stems decreased linearly with increasing vapor pressure deficit (DPV) air, being such a larger reduction in the case of the leaves (just over 0.5 MPa per kPa enhancements DPV) that the stem (0.4 MPa) and no significant differences between treatments extreme salinity. Instead, the osmotic potential of the fruit did not show a clear dependence on the DPV air and suffered a minor variation. Thus, by increasing both the EC of the solution as demand vaporativa environment, decreased linearly the gradient of potential water apoplástico between the stem and the fruit. The hydraulic resistance between the various organs of the plant remained constant regardless of the rate of transpiration and was not significantly altered by the level of salinity, at least in the ranks sampled in this study. This is supported by the fact that the water absorption per unit leaf area was not affected by the salinity level of the nutrient solution. The growth rate of fruit and the final weight of this increased linearly with the potential gradient water apoplástico developed between the stem and fruit. Thus, the increased salinity of the nutrient solution yel the transpiration of the crop had similar effects on the water relations of the plant and fruit growth. The decrease in transpiration reduced the deleterious effect of salinity on the final weight of the fruit, but not resulted in a total compensation. The annex to be presented at the end of this thesis is an economic analysis that tries to assess the effect of salinity on gross revenue earned by the farmer. Such income decreased linearly from an EC between 3.1 and 3.8 dS m-1 depending on the experiment, despite the improvement in the quality of the fruit, due to reduced production of fresh and caliber. This decline was significantly less in the long cycle of winter (8.7% for every unit increase in the EC experiment 3) that spring (11.8% in the experiment 2) because in the winter months yielded an improvement over marked for quality fruit with salinity. In some of the experiments carried out, there were quality problems and loss of income salinities less than 3 dS m-1 with respect to the maximum achieved. Therefore, in order to maximize such revenue is advised to maintain an EC between 3.1 and 3.8 dS m-1. The results of this thesis show that the management of tomato growing without soil under conditions of moderate salinity tends to cause a notable improvement in the quality of the fruit, but now it is not able to offset the reduction in economic terms obtained in the caliber the same production and fresh so that while the market appreciates both the size of the fruit and not valued to a greater extent that capacity, it is desirable to an EC work around 3.5 dS m-1. Assuming required minimum EC based macronutrients of 2 dS m-1 with a view to obtaining maximum production, the rest to reach 3.5 dS m-1 could correspond to sodium chloride, which represents approximately 13 mmol L-1 of this salt. Clearly, to establish precisely this accumulation, subsequent studies will be needed to assess the minimum concentration of macronutrients necessary to obtain maximum production with acceptable quality. In any case, a sodium chloride concentration of 13 mmol L-1 determines concentrations of some absorption of 1.2 and 1.7 mmol L-1 for sodium and chlorine respectively, according to the experimental results obtained in this thesis (chapter 5) , values that are lower than the existing concentrations of the two elements in most of the irrigation water available in the southeast Spanish. Therefore, in order to reap maximum revenue, often only be possible to carry out a partial recirculation and will be instrumental to make best use of rainwater available.

Author: CARRIÓN BENEDITO CAROLINA.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA.
Place of defense: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA.
Place of preparation: UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE VALENCIA.

Summary: It has come to characterize three composts waste of horticultural crops (melons, peppers or zucchini), as well as to improve some of these properties (pH and salinity) with a view to its use as a replacement for the Sphagnum peat in the substrates used for the production of ornamental plant. There was a large variability in the characteristics and properties of composts studied, as in his behavior and response to treatment applied. Compost introduced a high capacity ventilation at the expense of lower water retention (available and total) and a lower hydraulic conductivity, being fractions granulometric between 1 and 4 mm the most abundant. This material was characterized, as well, by having a highly alkaline pH, as well as salinity and nutrient content and other mineral elements assimilated very high, higher than in peat reference. Compost has been shown through testing "in vitro", have the ability supresiva face plant pathogens, especially bacteria and fungi due to the presence of actinomycetes in the same. Among the various amendments acid used to lower the pH of compost (micronized elemental sulfur, ferrous sulphate and nitric acid), sulfur was the most efficient, depending on their effect on the activity of the microbial population residing in the compost, especially those the sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The compost washing with water led to a marked decrease in levels of all elements mineral equivalent (nutrients or phytotoxic) contained therein, and hence the electrical conductivity, which stood at the level acceptable to 5 times the capacity of container . The construction of a composting plant waste vegetable El Ejido (Almería) was presented as the best option from an environmental point of view, as opposed to the exploitation of a peat - bog Filandia, you came peat reference. There were successfully ornamental plants flower and leaf using comopost improved as a component of the growing media used for that purpose. The compost can represent 75% of the volume of the substrate to be used in growing species tolerant to salinity or alkalinity of the culture medium, whereas for producing species susceptible to these two characteristics, the percentage of compost in the substrate should not exceed 25% of the volume of the mixture. Compost is therefore acceptable as a partial replacement of peat for the production of ornamental plant, especially when it suits or improvement in an appropriate manner.

Author: RESTREPO DIAZ HERMANN.
Year: 2005.
University: CÓRDOBA.
Place of defense: E.T.S.I. AGRONOMOS YMONTES.
Place of preparation: E.T.S.I AGRONOMOS Y MONTES.

Summary: Potassium is one of the macronutrients more problematic in the olive grove because their absence is accentuated in the groves of dry, which represent most of the cultivated area. The objective of this thesis was to optimize nutrition potassium in the olive grove rainfed, taking into account the influence of different physiological and environmental factors that may affect the absorption ionic like: the nutritional status of plant water stress, the type of fertilizer, its concentration or the number of applications. Greenhouse tests were developed, which were used hardwood cuttings autoenraizadas of cv. Picual, grown in perlite that were irrigated with nutritional solutions enriched with three concentrations of potassium (0.05, 0.1 and 2.5 mM KCI). On the other hand, took a field trial using trees 80 years of cv. Hojiblanca. The results obtained in this work showed both in field conditions as greenhouse that any salts studied (KCI, K2SO4, JKNO3, K2CO3 and KH2PO4) appears effective for correcting the deficiencies of potassium, and it was observed that the optimum concentration in foliar applications is in the range of 2 to 4% of KCI and that two applications could be sufficient. It was also noted that the young leaves of plants cultivated olive tree in greenhouse conditions, the concentration of potassium was higher than that found in older leaves which might suggest that applications folaires in spring or early summer could be more effective . It was noted that the absorption of Rb +, a marker of K + was higher under the nutritional status of the plants was better and that water stress decreased foliar uptake of Rb + even in the well-nurtured plants.