Peat moss is the most widely used source of organic matter for growing horticultural crops in the United States. The demand for peat as a substrate constituent for bedding and pot plants has remarkably increased in recent years, thus reducing the availability and increasing cost (Nappi and Barberis, 1993). Composts may serve as qualitatively and economically as competitive alternative sources o...

Israel is a small country with a total land area of 21,000 km, from which 20% is arable land. More than half of Israel has an arid to semi-arid climate. Approximately half of the cultivated area (200,000 hectares) has to be irrigated due to lack of rainfall and other water resources. Approximately 80% of the irrigated land in Israel uses the fertigation method, combining the application of wate...

Grafting is a centuries-old technique used in plants to obtain economic benefits. Grafting increases nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency in a number of plant species, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. Selected rootstocks of the same species or close relatives are utilized in grafting. Rootstocks absorb more water and ions than self-rooted plants and transport these water and...

Large unheated greenhouse areas are located in the coastal lands of the Mediterranean Basin, based on low-cost structures covered with plastic. Water is a scarce resource in these areas and therefore it is necessary to optimise irrigation practice by applying the crop water needs, thus avoiding waste. This work was undertaken to determine the water requirements of four major horticultural crops...