Effects of different substrates on the growth and yield of Amorphophallus muelleri.

Seven different substrates were prepared by mixing red soil, humus and river sand in different volume ratios and the growth and yield of Amorphophallus muelleri bulbils in different substrates was investigated. The growth of A. muelleri seedlings were tracked during the reproductive period, with measurements taken of indicators such as petiole length, petiole basal diameter and leaf size during the late period of leaf expansion. Number of surviving plants, weights and sizes of corms, and leaf bulbils were recorded after lodging. The results showed that there were differences in the physical and chemical properties of the seven substrates, but all met the growth requirements of A. muelleri. T1 (river sand), T2 (river sand: humus 1:1), T3 (humus), and T7 (river sand: humus: red soil 1:1:1) had higher emergence rates, reaching 95 %. T4 (humus: red soil 1:1) and T7 had better growth, with larger petiole and leaf sizes than other substrates. T3, T4, and T7 had higher yields, with a bulbil yield of 0.30 t hm-2 and a corm yield of 22.06 t hm-2. Compared to the use of a single substrate, whether river sand, humus, or red soil, the proportional mixture of the three test materials improved the physical structure and chemical composition of the substrate, contributing to the growth of A. muelleri. T7 (river sand: humus: red soil 1:1:1) was was found to be the best nursery substrate for A. muelleri.

Effects of different fermentation assisted enzyme treatments on the composition, microstructure and physicochemical properties of wheat straw used as a substitute for peat in nursery substrates.

To solve the central problems caused by traditional composting treatments, such as long-time consumption and poor regulation effects, this study used three fermentation methods and four enzymes to develop rapid and directional regulation methods to convert wheat straw into a suitable substrate. The results showed that the mixed anaerobic method led to better pH (4.39-5.75) and EC values (1.27-1.89 mS/cm) in the straw substrates, while the aerobic method retained more nutrients and increased lignin and cellulose contents by 5.07-8.04% and 1.52-3.32%. The cellulase mixed with hemicellulase or laccase treatments all increased the crystallinity by 0.45-7.23%. The TG/DTG results showed that all treatments decreased the initial straw glass transition temperature, particularly when using the mixed anaerobic method, with decreases of 10.63-25.48 °C. Overall, mixed anaerobic fermentation and multiple enzymes, including cellulase, have been suggested as alternative biological modification methods for straw substrates.