• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze physico-chemical properties and to determine stability of the 19 commercially available horticultural substrates in Korea by European standard methods (EN methods). The average pH, EC, T-N, $P_2O_5$ were 5.44, 0.62$dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, 0.98% and 10.54$mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Dry bulk density and particle density were in the range of 124.47~243.16$kg/m^3$ and 2073.94~2249.99$kg/m^3$, respectively. Seventeen out of 19 horticultural substrates used in this study were 'very stable'. The other2 substrates were classified as 'stable'. Korea's own criteria of stability for the organic materials such as growing substrates and compost need to be developed so that farmers can use the optimum organic materials without anxiety.