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Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

Faculty of Agriculture

OSC Activity D.5

Organic production of peat blocks for vegetable seedlings and detection of abiotic and biotic stresses

Activity Researchers

Name Affiliation
, Lead Researcher
nicolas.tremblay@
agr.gc.ca

Research Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Horticulture Research and Development Centre
430 Gouin blvd.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC J3B 3E6
, Co-applicant
martine.dorais@agr.gc.ca

Research Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Horticulture Research and Development Centre
Envirotron Pavilion, Room 2120
Quebec City, QC G1K 7P4
, Collaborator
valerie.gravel@mcgill.ca

Associate Professor
Department of Plant Science
Université Laval
Claudine Ménard, Collaborator
claudine.menard@agr.gc.ca		 Biologist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Horticulture Research and Development Centre
Envirotron Pavilion
Quebec City, QC G1K 7P4

Objectives

The production of high quality transplants is hereby defined as a healthy, uniform and easy to handle batch of plants that will suffer from minimal transplant shock, will establish quickly in their new production environment and be highly productive. The objective of this project is to develop methods to consistently deliver high quality organic transplants. Specific objectives include to:

  1. Determine the appropriate organic growing media and water content for high quality peat blocks seedlings;
  2. Determine the appropriate organic wetting agent for high quality peat blocks seedlings;
  3. Develop an appropriate fertilization management for high quality seedlings grown in peat blocks;
  4. Study the effect of plant growth stimulators and biological control agents  on seedling quality and disease tolerance;
  5. Evaluate the handling quality of peat block seedlings;
  6. Evaluate transplanting shock, plant growth after plantation, early and total harvesting of peat blocks seedlings;
  7. Establish methods to quickly detect, locate and trace seedling growth, stress level and performance during the transplant preparation phase;
  8. Establish data collection and meta-analysis procedures to identify environmental and other factors explaining successful or non-successful treatment effects.

Results

Background and Supporting Documents

    • Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (1996) 4: 47-55
    • Soil Biology & Biochemistry (2008) 40: 1733-1740
    • Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants (1997) 4: 69-82
    • HortScience (2009) 44: 800-809
    • Canadian Journal of Soil Science (2005) 85: 67-74
    • Acta Horticulturae (2009) 819: 125-134
    • Acta Horticulturae (2007) 761: 589-595
    • Soil Biology & Biochemistry (2006) 38: 2461-2477

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