Greenhouse
and Nursery
Evaluations
Kenny McCabe
Research Associate/Graduate Student
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University
Year 1 Greenhouse Evaluations
Year 1 Experiment Highlights
Greenhouse Production Trial
Standard culture for optimum
growth in petroleum plastic
containers
Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
Trial
Measured WUE of coated fiber
containers
Year 1 Greenhouse Evaluations
Greenhouse Production Results
5 species
q  Marigold ‘Honeycomb’
q  Petunia ‘Madness Red’
q  Pepper ‘Autumn Bell’
q  Salvia ‘St. John’s Fire’
q  Tomato ‘Rutgers’
6 weeks of culture
150 ppm N/week
Media type:
Sunshine LC1
Injection-molded Containers
Plant Quality Index = Health rating x Plant size
Injection-molded Containers
Plant Quality Index = Health rating x Plant size
Tomato Plants 30 Days After Transplant
Petroleum Plastic
Controls
SP – PLA
(50/50)
SP.A – PLA
(50/50)
Bioplastic-coated Fiber Containers
Coated Fiber Containers
Greenhouse Production - Plant Quality Index
Coated Fiber Containers
Greenhouse Production - Plant Quality Index
Year 1 Greenhouse Evaluations
Water Use Efficiency Trial
2 species
q  Salvia ‘St. John’s Fire’
q  Tomato ‘Rutgers’
Highlight Coated fiber
containers and controls
Media type:
Sunshine LB2
Fertilizer:
1) 150 ppm N/week
Coated Fiber Containers
Water Use Efficiency (g/L)
Water Use Efficiency Trial - Salvia
Coated Fiber Containers
Water Use Efficiency (g/L)
Water Use Efficiency Trial - Salvia
Coated Fiber Containers
Structural Evaluations
Container type Wet strength (MPa) Vertical Horizontal Coir fiber Coir fiber - PLA coat Coir fiber - PUR coat Coir fiber - TO coat 0.07 e 0.46 a 0.38 b na 0.02 gh 0.09 b 0.07 cd na Paper fiber Paper fiber - PAM coat Paper fiber - PLA coat Paper fiber - PUR coat Paper fiber - TO coat 0.16
0.30
0.27
0.28
na 0.05
0.08
0.11
0.06
na Peat fiber 0.04 f 0.01 h Plastic control 0.28 c 0.04 ef Wood fiber Wood fiber - PLA coat Wood fiber - PUR coat Wood fiber - TO coat 0.03 f 0.13 d 0.07 e na 0.01 h 0.03 fg 0.02 gh na d c c c de bc a d Coated Fiber Containers
Structural Evaluations
Container type Wet strength (MPa) Vertical Horizontal Coir fiber Coir fiber - PLA coat Coir fiber - PUR coat Coir fiber - TO coat 0.07 e 0.46 a 0.38 b na 0.02 gh 0.09 b 0.07 cd na Paper fiber Paper fiber - PAM coat Paper fiber - PLA coat Paper fiber - PUR coat Paper fiber - TO coat 0.16
0.30
0.27
0.28
na 0.05
0.08
0.11
0.06
na Peat fiber 0.04 f 0.01 h Plastic control 0.28 c 0.04 ef Wood fiber Wood fiber - PLA coat Wood fiber - PUR coat Wood fiber - TO coat 0.03 f 0.13 d 0.07 e na 0.01 h 0.03 fg 0.02 gh na d c c c de bc a d 2nd-Year Trials
14 Prototypes of
Bioplastics and Biocomposites
12
2
1
1
Injection molded
Coated fiber
Uncoated fiber for comparison
Petroleum-plastic control
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Year 2 Experiments
Production Trials
Short term greenhouse
Long term greenhouse
Nursery-gallon containers
PUR-coated Paper Fiber Trial
Measured WUE of PUR coated
paper fiber containers
•
Both 4.5” and Gallon
Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Examined fertilizer release of
soy composite containers at
multiple fertilization levels
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Greenhouse Production Trial - Short Term
4 species
q  Geranium ‘Americana Dark Red’
q  Marigold ‘Honeycomb’
q  Pepper ‘Autumn Bell’
q  Tomato ‘Oregon Spring’
6 weeks of culture
150 ppm N/week
Media type:
Sunshine LC1
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Production Trial - Plant Quality Index
(All Species)
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Greenhouse Production Trial - Long Term
3 species
q  Cyclamen Laser series ‘Synchro Pink’
q  Poinsettia ‘Jubilee Red’
q  Gerbera ‘Jaguar Red’
•  Container aesthetic and structural ratings
16 weeks of culture
150 ppm N/week
Media type:
Sunshine LC1
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Long Term
Production
Greenhouse
Production
Trial -Trial
Long Term
Container Type
PLA composite with
Soy 50%
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Soy + DDGS 30/10
Soy + Lignin 30/10
Lignin 20%
Protein (AR)
Aesthetic Structural
Rating
Rating
2.7g
4.6bc
4.5c
3.5e
NT
5.0a
3.0f
3.4c
5.0a
5.0a
4.3b
NT
5.0a
3.7c
PHA composite with
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Starch 10%
Cellulose (AR)
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Polyamide - DDGS 70/30
Petroleum Control (PP)
3.5e
5.0a
3.6c
5.0a
Paper fiber
Uncoated
One coat PUR
Two coats PUR
3.9d
4.0d
NT
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Rating are across 3
species
after 16 weeks
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Long Term
Production
Greenhouse
Production
Trial -Trial
Long Term
Container Type
PLA composite with
Soy 50%
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Soy + DDGS 30/10
Soy + Lignin 30/10
Lignin 20%
Protein (AR)
Aesthetic Structural
Rating
Rating
2.7g
4.6bc
4.5c
3.5e
NT
5.0a
3.0f
3.4c
5.0a
5.0a
4.3b
NT
5.0a
3.7c
PHA composite with
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Starch 10%
Cellulose (AR)
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Polyamide - DDGS 70/30
Petroleum Control (PP)
3.5e
5.0a
3.6c
5.0a
Paper fiber
Uncoated
One coat PUR
Two coats PUR
3.9d
4.0d
NT
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Rating are across 3
species
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Long Term
Production
Greenhouse
Production
Trial -Trial
Long Term
Container Type
PLA composite with
Soy 50%
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Soy + DDGS 30/10
Soy + Lignin 30/10
Lignin 20%
Protein (AR)
Aesthetic Structural
Rating
Rating
2.7g
4.6bc
4.5c
3.5e
NT
5.0a
3.0f
3.4c
5.0a
5.0a
4.3b
NT
5.0a
3.7c
PHA composite with
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Starch 10%
Cellulose (AR)
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Polyamide - DDGS 70/30
Petroleum Control (PP)
3.5e
5.0a
3.6c
5.0a
Paper fiber
Uncoated
One coat PUR
Two coats PUR
3.9d
4.0d
NT
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Rating are across 3
species
Greenhouse Production Trial - Long Term
16 weeks of Production
Soy + DDGS 30/10
Greenhouse Production Trial - Long Term
16 weeks of Production
*
Soy + DDGS 30/10
*
*
Greenhouse Production Trial - Long and Short Term
Containers That Failed Before
12 Weeks of Production
PLA – Soy + Lignin
Cracking down
container sidewall
after 4 weeks
PHA + Soy
PHA + Cellulose
Cracking near bottom
after 2 weeks
Begins to fall apart
after 6 weeks
Year 2 Nursery Evaluations
Gallon Production Trial
Year 2 Nursery Evaluations
PUR coated Paper Fiber Containers
‘Elijah Blue’ Fescue
Redosier Dogwood
5 months of culture
Media type:
Metro Mix
PUR coating
increased container
integrity
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
PUR Coated Paper Fiber Containers
1 species
q  Tomato ‘Rutgers’
2 PUR coats
performed better
than 1
PUR coating
increased WUE
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
2 species
q  Marigold ‘Honeycomb’
q  Tomato ‘Rutgers’
6 weeks of culture
Media type: Sunshine LB2
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then no fertilizer for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Container Type
Petroleum Control
1
2
3
4
5
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 0 ppm N for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Soy-PLA (50/50)
Soy-PLA (33/67)
Soy-PLA + Lignin
(30/60)10
Protein + PLA (AR)
Soy-PHA (33/67)
Compare various container types and
fertilizer treatments
Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Container Type
Petroleum Control
1
2
3
4
5
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 0 ppm N for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Soy-PLA (50/50)
Soy-PLA (33/67)
Container Type-Fert. Trt. Soy-PLA + Lignin
(30/60)10
Protein + PLA (AR)
Soy-PHA (33/67)
Soy-PLA (50/50)-1 A Protein-PLA (AR)-1 B Soy-PLA + DDGS (33/67)10-1 C Soy-PLA (33/67)-1 C Soy-PHA (33/67)-1 D PP Control-1 D Mean
PQI 228 181 127 107 32 21 Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Container Type
Petroleum Control
1
2
3
4
5
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 0 ppm N for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Soy-PLA (50/50)
Soy-PLA (33/67)
Container Type-Fert. Trt. Soy-PLA + Lignin
(30/60)10
Protein + PLA (AR)
Soy-PHA (33/67)
Protein-PLA (AR)-5 Soy-PLA (50/50)-5 Soy-PLA + DDGS (30/60)10-5 Soy-PLA (33/67)-5 PP Control-5 Soy-PHA (33/67)-5 Mean
PQI A A A A B B B B B 366 324 323 291 255 254 Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Container Type
Petroleum Control
1
2
3
4
5
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 0 ppm N for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Soy-PLA (50/50)
Soy-PLA (33/67)
Container Type-Fert. Trt Soy-PLA + Lignin
(30/60)10
Protein + PLA (AR)
Soy-PHA (33/67)
Soy-PLA (50/50)-1 A Protein-PLA (AR)-1 B PP Control @-4 B C Soy-PLA + DDGS (30/60)10-1 C Soy-PLA (33/67)-1 C Soy-PHA (33/67)-1 D Mean
PQI 228 181 147 127 107 32 Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Container Type
Petroleum Control
1
2
3
4
5
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 0 ppm N for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Soy-PLA (50/50)
Soy-PLA (33/67)
Container Type-Fert. Trt. Soy-PLA + Lignin
(30/60)10
Protein + PLA (AR)
Soy-PHA (33/67)
Protein-PLA (AR)-5 Soy-PLA (50/50)-5 Soy-PLA (50/50)-4 Soy-PLA (50/50)-3 Protein-PLA (AR)-3 Protein-PLA (AR)-4 Soy-PLA (50/50)-1 Soy-PLA (50/50)-2 Protein-PLA (AR)-1 Protein-PLA (AR)-2 A A B B B C C C C C C D D D D D D Mean
PQI 366 324 280 255 246 237 228 207 181 176 Modified-feed Nutrition Trial
Container Type
Petroleum Control
1
2
3
4
5
5 fertilizer treatments
(1) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 0 ppm N for 4 weeks
(2) 50 ppm N for 6 weeks
(3) 100 ppm N for 2 weeks then 50 ppm N for 4 weeks
(4) 100 ppm N for 6 weeks
(5) 200 ppm N for 6 weeks
Soy-PLA (50/50)
Soy-PLA (33/67)
Soy-PLA + Lignin
(30/60)10
Protein + PLA (AR)
Soy-PHA (33/67)
Container Type-Fert. Trt. PP Control-5 Soy-PHA (33/67)-5 PP Control-4 Soy-PHA (33/67)-4 PP Control-3 Soy-PHA (33/67)-3 PP Control-2 Soy-PHA (33/67)-1 Soy-PHA (33/67)-2 PP Control-1 A A B C C D D E E E E F F F F Mean
PQI 255 254 147 103 75 61 34 32 23 21 Conclusions…
Take Home Messages
1.  Advancing materials perform similar or better than PP containers
2.  Soy/Protein composites release plant available nutrients
3.  PLA + 20% Lignin containers are identical to PP containers
4.  PUR-coatings increase WUE/integrity on paper fiber containers
5.  PHA composites can perform well and still degrade in soil
6.  Investigate interactions between microbes and nutrient release
Conclusion…
Upcoming Trials and Experiments
•  Root-zone fungicide/bacteriacide drenches
•  Dip coating submersion on paper fiber containers
•  Shuttle tray production
•  Root-zone moisture management
•  Year 3-Industry collaboration
Thanks for Listening!
Questions???
Coated Fiber Containers
Greenhouse Results
- Cumulative
Coated Fiber Containers
Greenhouse Results
- Cumulative
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Production Trial - Plant Quality Index
(Geranium)
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Production Trial - Plant Quality Index
(Marigold)
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Production Trial - Plant Quality Index
(Pepper)
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Production Trial - Plant Quality Index
(Tomato)
Year 2 Greenhouse Evaluations
Long Term
Production
Greenhouse
Production
Trial -Trial
Long Term
Container Type
PLA composite with
Soy 50%
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Soy + DDGS 30/10
Soy + Lignin 30/10
Lignin 20%
Protein (AR)
Aesthetic Structural
Rating
Rating
2.7g
4.6bc
4.5c
3.5e
NT
5.0a
3.0f
3.4c
5.0a
5.0a
4.3b
NT
5.0a
3.7c
PHA composite with
Soy 33%
DDGS 20%
Starch 10%
Cellulose (AR)
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Failed
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Polyamide - DDGS 70/30
Petroleum Control (PP)
3.5e
5.0a
3.6c
5.0a
Paper fiber
Uncoated
One coat PUR
Two coats PUR
3.9d
4.0d
NT
5.0a
5.0a
NT
Rating are across 3
species