The use of recycled growing media in organic herb production in commercial greenhouse

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PROBLEM: Van Luyk Greenhouses and Garden Centre, uses soilless growing media for growing andmaintaining plants in containers. When plants are transplanted or harvested, the spent growing media aredirected to landfills. Around 24% of the spent soilless mix which amounts to 1/4 truckload is directed tolandfills. In the company's greenhouse plant production activity, 3.5% of the cost of materials is spent onpurchasing soilless mix which amounts to about $ 20,000/year. As a consequence, only 75% of the soillesssubstrate is sold with container plants to customers. Thus, the Company's motivation is to prevent this wasteand be able to recycle and reuse the spent substrate. This approach is economically sound by reducing costs ofmaterials and of disposing it. Greenhouse industry in general could economically benefit by recycling spentsoilless mix which protects our environment.OBJECTIVE: The proposed collaboration with McGill arises from the need of the industrial partner, to testcrop response to the cultivation in spent soilless potting substrate, and to characterize and re-optimize itsphysical and nutrient properties so the spent potting mix will perform equally well as the original virgin pottingmix.BENEFITS: Improvement of nutrient efficiency, physical and biological stability of spent soilless mix inhorticulture is a research priority for sustainable production and environmental reasons. Knowledge acquiredthrough this study about physical, chemical and microbial properties of the soilless mix before and afterplanting cycle will help the company make decisions and implement soilless media recycling proceduresincluding recycling conditions, ratio of virgin to recycled media ratio, fertigation and disease managementstrategies.