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AGRI - LITE
( HORTICULTURAL PERLITE )
For
Commercial Growers
Perlite ?
Agri lite (horticultural perlite) is a grade of perlite developed for soil conditioning and other orticultural uses. It has been tested successfully at University Experimental Stations in various parts of the world. The uses of horticultural perlite has gained wide acceptance with nursery men, commercial growers, landscape architects and florists. much of the knowledge accumulated through these tests, experiments and uses is presented in this booklet .
Recommendations for the horticultural uses of perlite (Agri- lite) are based upon scientific data believed to be true and reliable but because conditions of use are beyond our immediate control, no warranty is expressed or implied concerning this material .
Characteristics of Agri - lite
Perlite is a unique volcanic mineral which expands to about 13 times its original volume when it is heated to a temperature of approximently 1700 F (927 C) .
During the heating process the mineral particles pop like popcorn and Form a granular, snow-white material so light in density that it weighs only about 5 to 8 pounds per cubic foot (80 to 280 kilograms per cubic meter ) .
Each particle of perlite is comprised of tiny closed air cells or bubbles. the surface of each particle is covered with tiny cavities which provide an exteremely large surface area. These surface cauvities trap moisture and make it available to plant roots and to the stems of cuttings. In addition, because of the physical shape of each perlite particle, air passages are formed in the growing mix providing optimum aeration .
The develpment of near ideal structural conditions in growing and propagating made possible the following characteristics of horticultural perlite .
* Improves aeration and drainge .
* makes moisture and nutrients readily available to plants .
* Is inorganic and does not deteriorate .
* Has essential neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5 .
* Serves as an insulator to reduse extreme soil temperature fluctuation .
* Is sterile and free of weeds and disease .
* Is clean, odorless, lightweight and safe to handle .
Chemical analysis
|
Silicon droxide |
(SiO2) |
72.0 |
to |
76.0% |
|
Aluminium Oxide |
(AL2O3) |
11.5 |
to |
17.0% |
|
Potassium Oxide |
(K2O) |
4.0 |
to |
5.0% |
|
Sodium Oxide |
(Na2O) |
209 |
to |
4.0% |
|
Calcium Oxide |
(CaO) |
0.5 |
to |
2.0% |
|
Ferric Oxide |
(fE2O3) |
0.5 |
to |
1.5% |
|
Magnesium Oxide |
(MgO) |
0.1 |
to |
0.5% |
|
Titanium Dioxide |
(TiO2) |
0.03 |
to |
0.2% |
|
Heavy Metals |
|
|
trace |
|
|
Sulpur Trioxide |
(SO3) |
|
trace |
|
|
Combined Water |
(H2O) |
2.5 |
to |
6.0% |
Physical Characteristics
Properties Units Ore Agri-lite
Colur Light grey to black Show white to
greyish white
Refractive 1.5
Free Moisture %WL 0.5 max
Bulk Density kg/m3 1100 100-125 kg/m3
Grain Size mm 0.2 0-5.0
Thermal Conductivity
24'C (75F) w/m2k(BTU in/hr/ft2'f) 0.04506 (0.27-0.41)
Softening Point 'C ('F) 870-1100(1600-2000)
Fusion Point 'C ('F) 1280-1350(2300-2450)
PH 6.6-8.0
Specific Heat J/kg'k (BTU/1b'f) 837 (0.2)
Specific Gravity 2.2-2.4
Soubility Got Conc. Alkali & HF acid IN NaOH In mineral acids H2O and week acids 100%
less than 10%
less than 3%
less than 1%
Combustability Non combustible
Physical Characteristics
|
Properties |
Units |
Ore |
Agri-lite |
|
Colur |
|
Light grey to black |
Show white to
greyish white |
|
Refractive |
|
|
1.5 |
|
Free Moisture |
%WL |
|
0.5 max |
|
Bulk Density |
kg/m3 |
1100 |
100-125 kg/m3 |
|
Grain Size |
mm |
0.2 |
0-5.0 |
|
Thermal Conductivity
24’C (75F) |
w/m2k(BTU in/hr/ft2’f) |
|
0.04506 (0.27-0.41) |
|
Softening Point |
‘C (‘F) |
|
870-1100(1600-2000) |
|
Fusion Point |
‘C (‘F) |
|
1280-1350(2300-2450) |
|
PH |
|
|
6.6-8.0 |
|
Specific Heat |
J/kg’k (BTU/1b’f) |
|
837 (0.2) |
|
Specific Gravity |
|
|
2.2-2.4 |
|
Soubility |
Got Conc. Alkali & HF acid IN NaOH In mineral acids H2O and week acids |
|
100%
less than 10%
less than 3%
less than 1% |
|
Combustability |
|
|
Non combustible |
Horticultural Perlite is available nearly everywhere and it is packaged under various trade names .
Agri - Lite is the trade name for Horticultural Perlite produced by Saudi Perlite Ind.
Soil amendment grade
This grade of perlite can be of great benefit to lawns, vegetable and flower gardens where the native soil is heavy and dtickly. In this case it will markedly improve aeration and drainage. On the other hand this grade of perlie can be very beneficial in loose, sandy soils where it will improve water and nutrient retention .
Agri - Lite as a soil conditioner
Commercial growers often use the terms 'soil structure and "soil texture" interchangeably in discussing soil characteristics, but theis is neither accurate or correct. Soil texture refers to the size of the soil particles present in any mass of soil structure refers to the arrangement of these particles, Texture is more or less a permanent property of a basic soil a grower uses which he can usually change very little, Soil structure may and usual does change however. These changes are brought about by variations in the nature of the materials present in the soil which bind the particles together in several arrangements. These changes are accomplished by the manner in which the soil is cultivated, handled or used .
The maintenance of the proper soil structure is equally or more important to the commercial grower than the maintenance of soil fertility From a practical growing standpoint tree types of soil structure are readily identified by the commercial grwoer - single grain structure, crumb structure and "puddled" soil .
Single grain structure
Single grain structure is typified by sandy soil. It is loose, open easy to cultivate and has many large individual pore spaces which allow a ready cirulation of air and water through any volume of soil. Such soil structure is too loose and open, however, to absorb and hold sufficient moisture or nutrient material for maximum plant growth. There is only one satisfactory way of remedying this structural condition and that is to add organic matter of some sort, such as peat moss.
Crumb structure
Crumb structure is the type of soil structure that is most ideal for good plant growth, and is a good loam soil . When crumb structure exists or is developed in a soil by the addition of soil conditioners it contains soil aggregates - large particles that function separately and medium to very small particles that may cluster toggether to form soil granules. When this occurs there are large pore spaces such as are found in a sandy soil, which provide excellent drainage and air movement in the soil, combined with many small pore spaces in which moisture and necessary plant nutrients are retained .
Puddled soil
Puddled soil, the third type of structural condition, is found in heavy clay soils where all the soil particles are extremely small and have a tendency to pack together so that poor air movement and poor drainage exists too much moisture and nutrient material is retained for maximum plant growth unless such soil is expertly handled .
While soil texture is a more or less permanent characteristic of any soil, texture can readily be changed to provie conditions for maximum plant growth by the addition of soil amendments or soil conditioners (Agri-lite) The addition of these materials changes the arrangement of the particles in the basic soil, so that a suitable mixture for growing plants is developed that has the ideal crumb structure necessary to produce maximum plant growth .
The addition of soil amendments or soil conditioners is a common practice followed by most commercial growers in preparing soil for growing plants in pots, containers, greenhouse benches, nursery beds or nursery stock in the filed .
Soil structure is oftern modified by adding organic matter. a good soil conditioner, gypsum, sulphur, and through the use of proper cultural procedures .
Agri-lite (Horticultural Perlite) has proven to be an excellent material to use as a soil conditioner because it has certain characteristics which provide the following results .
1. Soil structure is improved due to the near ideal air-water relationship that is developed in the growing media .
2. The air holding capacity of the soil is increased and adequate drainage is assured .
3. Overwatering and underwatering losses are reduced due to the surface structure of the particle whish retains 3 to 4 times its weight in wate without penetrating the particle. Excess water will drain off.
4. Cracking and crusting of soil surface is reduced or prevented .
5. Soil compaction is prevented .
6. Amore even distribution of the root system throughout the entire growing media is made possible .
7. Production costs are reduced in that the materials is easy to handle, does not require sterlization and mixes may be accurately duplicated because of consistent perlite quality .
8. Shipping weights and transportation costs are reduced .
9. Uniform growing and propagating media are insured regardless of season or location .
The following recommendations for the use of horticultural (Agri-lite) as a soil conditioner are based on the reults of research conducted by several agricultural wxperiment stations .
Potting plants and container grown nursery stock
Typicl mixes
Lightweight soilless growing mix
This growing medium is composed of 50% coarse sphagnum peat moss nad 50% agri-lite by volume.
The materials in this mixture are partically iner and it is mportant that adequate nutrents (fertlizer) be added to the mixture and that a fertilizer program be stablished during the growing period. To prepare a cubic yard or a cubic meter of this ligtweight potting mixture uses the following ingredients :
50% peatmoss
50% perlite (Agri - lite)
Added N,P,K + T.E
Growing mix containing soil
For growers who prefer to use some soil in their mixture this mix can be prepared in the following proportions by volume :
1/3 Agri-lite
1/3 Coarse peat moss
1/3 Soil
Potting procedures
Agri - lite - Peat mixtures
be sure the mixture is thoroughly wet when plants are potted . Do not packd the mixture when potting, water plants well after potting .
Soil mixtures
Be sure the mixture is thoroughly wet when plants are pottd . Don not pack the mixture when potting water plants well following potting. Donot water heavily again until new roots have begun to form .
Nutrient feeding operations
Two-week feeding schduel
For growers who prefer not to feed with each watering, the following mixtures can be applied in liquid from every two weeks. You may use either a 15-30-15 soluble fertilizer applied 1ox. to 2 gallons (30g to 8 liters) of water or apply 1/2 oz. (15g) of potassium nitrate and 1/2 oz. (15g) of calcium mitrate to 2 gallons of water (8 liters) . Iron chelates should be added to the fertilizer mixture at the rate of 1 oz. to 25 gallons (30g/100 liters) of water about once a month .
Dry feeding program
For growers who use dry fertilizer, the same program of feeding that has been used successfuly for present soil mixture can be used on Agri-lite peat moss mixtures .
Feed at every watering program
For growers who prefer to apply fertilizer with every watering the following formula has been used very successfully .
12oz. Calcium Nitrate 350g.
6oz Potassium Nitrate 175g.
1/2 oz. Iron Chelate 15g.
100 gal. Water 400 liters.
Green house benches
A Mixture of 1/3 perlite, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 soil is good growing medium for these crops, or the standardized medium can be used with nutrients added as recommended for container mixtures .
Prepare a mixture of one-part wet horticultural perlite and one wet peat moss or other organic matter and spread in a layer 2-3 inches (150-200mm) of soil and add nutrient in the amounts recommended for container growing .
Agri-lite as a propagating medium
When uses as medium for propagatinon Agri-lite will :
1. Provide excellent drainage while assuring adequate moitsure holding capacity .
2. Not compact or become soggy .
3. Prevent root losses when cutting and seedings are removed from the medium because of its capacity to cling to roots. This also reduces transplanting losses .
4. Last for indefinitie periods because it resists breakdown with continued and repeated use .
Conventional vegetable propagation
Mix three parts of wet Agri-lite and one part of wet coarse peatmoss by volume and propagating bench or flats .
Stick the cutting into the mix, firm lightly into place and water well. But pure perlite is reccommended for better result .
Mist propagation
Mix three parts of wet Agri-lite and fill propagating procedures . Perlite used alone without the addition of peat moss is also used by some commercial propagators .
Seed flats
Mix one-half wet Agri - lite and onehalf wet peat moss by volume. Fill seed flats or pots with mixture . Screen one-sixteenth inch (2mm) of sphagnum or peat moss by voume. fill seed flats or pots with mixture . Screen one-sixteenth inch (2mm) of sphagnum or peat moss throught a fine screen onto surface of flat or pot and sow seeds , Use screened material for covering seeds when required .
Seed beds
Spread one inch (25mm) of wet perlite and one inch (25mm) of wet peat on surface of seed bed, Level surface of bed carefully and sow seeds in usual manner .
Other horticultural uses of agri-lite packing, storing and shipping
Agri-lite is an excellent material for use as a lightweight packing material for rooted cutting, dormant plants or bulbs .
For plants & Cuttings
Mix one-half wet perlite and one-half wet peat moss by volume, squeeze dry, and package plants or cutting in the conventional manner .
For Bulbs
Uses dry perlite as packing medium for those requiring dry conditions, and for those requiring moist conditions use mixture recommende for plants and cuttings .
Filter planters
Agri - lite will serve to overcome a major problem in the proper maintenance of plants used in planters in residential and commercial application .
Plants used for this purpose should be well established and well watered beforem placing into planters or permanent tubs. Use enought additional agri-lite under plants to raise them to within two inches (50mm) of the top of the planter. Using a mixture of onhalf wet agrilitye and one-half wet peat by volume, fill all the remaining area around and above the plants and pack the material lightly .
Use of perlite for drainage in containers
Before potting plants in pots or nursery containers place two inches (50mm) of wet perlite in the bottom of the containers. This will insure adequate drainage and maximum root growth .
For bulb storage
Perlite is an ideal material for use in maintaining a thermal and moisture barrier around stored bulbs, roots and tubers. Fill storage container to a depth or one inch (25mm) with agri-lite. Place bulbs on this one inch (25mm) layer and cover with agri-lite . In instances were some moisten the material very lightly with fine mist at ver in frequent intervals .
In maintainig the plants after planting keep the material surrounding the plants uniformly most but not wet. Planers using agri-lite/peat moss weigh about 34 lbs/cu. ft. (560 kg/m3) as opposed to planters using a convertional wet sandy loam that weights about 120-140 lbs/cu. ft.
(1920-2240kg/m3)
Hydroponics
Hydroponics Growing systems are based on new gerneration of superb rooting medita-inert, sterile, uniform materials such as the minerals Perlite (Agri-lite). These products act merely as supports for a complete nutrient solution or which the plants depend entirely for thier water. The Hydroponic systems bags of Perlite (Agri-lite) are laid horizontally on the greenhouse floor and holes are cut to accept seedings. Seedings are inserted and nutrient-rich water is introduced to each plant with a drip irrigation system . Areservoir of this nutrient rich water is allowed to collect in the bottom of the bag. With Perlite (Agri-lite) the root zone does not dry out nor does it become waterlogged as can happen with other media. Because of this unique feature, watering need only take place a few times a day as opposed to other media which may require as much as 20 watering daily with constant attention .
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Insulite
Agrilte 
Looslite
