Physical and Chemical Properties of Media and Growth Characteristics of Three Species of Trees according to the Mixing Ratio of Quercus Bark

The objective of this study was to develop an economical soil mix for cultivating container-grown landscape trees by evaluating the use of quercus bark as a soil substrate.For this purpose, horticultural soil, granite soil, and quercus bark were mixed in specific ratios.Physically, the higher the proportion of quercus bark, the higher the particle density and porosity, while the available water and buffering water tended to be somewhat lower.The optimal moisture content followed the same trend.Additionally, as the proportion of quercus bark increased, the aeration rate increased and the volumetric water content decreased significantly, even at low water tension.Chemically, higher proportions of quercus bark maintained a stable pH range (5.5-5.7),suitable for crop growth, while EC showed a negative correlation with the proportion of quercus bark.Higher proportions of quercus bark resulted in higher organic matter content but lower available phosphorus content.The cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the exchangeable cations, except for calcium ions, decreased with higher proportions of quercus bark.Growth performance varied depending on the plant species, with reduced growth observed when the oak bark ratio exceeded 60%.Based on the physical and chemical properties of the substrates and plant growth characteristics, mixing oak bark in the range of 20-40% (T1-T2) is recommended.This range not only promotes plant growth but also offers economic benefits to farmers and environmental advantages.