Effect of Sand and Perlite Mixture on Tobacco Seedlings with Float System

To explore the suitable substitutes for the conventional peat media in tobacco seedling float system. Seedling cultivation tests were conducted to select suitable inorganic media with different proportions of sand and perlite. The results showed that, the characteristics of the seedlings, including germination rate and seedling growth, were better than those from the conventional float system. No significant difference was observed on the overall quality of seedlings, such as water absorbency, seedling emergence, and seedling quality, between the new media of sand and perlite mixture and the conventional float system. Moreover, this method could reduce the production costs by 47% comparing with the conventional float system. The optimal proportion for sand: perlite was 20%-40%, 80%-60% by volume. The best sand: perlite ratio was 3:7. It can substitute the conventional peat media without changing the regular floating system.