A Case Study of Irrigation Pondwater and Soilless Substrate Quality across Nine Large Nurseries in Eastern Virginia

Abstract

Nursery producers depend on clean irrigation and efficient soilless substrates to successfully produce salable plants. Little information is available regarding the quality of irrigation and pine bark used in large eastern Virginia nurseries, despite the impact eastern Virginia nurseries have on Virginia horticulture sales. The objective of this case study was to investigate whether large nurseries located in eastern Virginia maintained irrigation and substrate quality within recommended standards. Irrigation pondwater (n = 8) samples were collected and tested for chemical properties, including pH, electric conductivity, alkalinity, total suspended solids, hardness, calcium, iron, and sodium. Additionally, pine bark-based substrates (n = 9) were collected and tested for substrate physical properties, including water storage, air-filled porosity, total porosity, and bulk density. The results of this case study showed that nursery irrigation pondwater had lower alkalinity values than recommended standards, while pine bark-based substrates used by large nurseries slightly exceeded air-filled porosity recommendations. However, all other parameters measured were generally within acceptable recommended standards.