Physical characterization and water performance of organic, inorganic substrates and their combinations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v17i4.4117Keywords:
coconut fiber, compost, granulometry, tezontle, total available water, total porosityAbstract
The use of a suitable substrate is decisive for the success of protected agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the physical properties of various substrates and determine which offer greater water efficiency for application in protected agricultural systems. The research was conducted in 2025 at the Soil Physics Laboratory of the College of Postgraduates, Montecillo Campus. Seven substrates were analyzed: tezontle, coconut fiber, bovine compost and their mixtures. Total porosity, aeration porosity, water retention porosity, bulk density, granulometry and water retention capacity were determined. Likewise, readily available water, reserve water and total available water were quantified. The results indicated that coconut fiber and its combinations exhibited the most favorable values for total porosity, water retention porosity and total available water, consistent with reports in the specialized literature. Tezontle showed the lowest water retention porosity (17.5%), whereas coconut fiber stood out for its high water retention capacity (58.7%) and low bulk density (0.06 Mg m-3). The mixtures presented a balanced granulometry, unlike the pure substrates, which showed an excess of fine particles. Total available water showed positive correlations with water retention porosity (r²= 0.91) and the fine fraction (r²= 0.75), and negative correlations with coarse particles (r²= -0.76) and aeration porosity (r²= -0.6). In general, the combinations with coconut fiber offered adequate physical conditions that promote efficient water management in soilless cultivation systems.
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