Title: Optimization of transpiration and potential growth rates of 'Kardinal' rose with respect to root-zone physical properties Authors: Raviv, Michael; Lieth, J. Heinrich; Burger, David W.; Wallach, Rony Authors affiliation: Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Department of Ornamental Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishay, 30095, Israel. Published in: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, volumn 126, pages 638-643, (2001). Abstract: "Physical characteristics of two media were studied concerning water availability to roots, as reflected in specific transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and specific growth rate of very young leaflets of 'Kardinal' rose (RosaXhybrida L.), grafted on Rosa canina L. 'Natal Brier'. Plants were grown in UC mix (42% composted fir bark, 33% peat, and 25% sand (by volume)) or in coconut coir. Water release curves of the media were developed and hydraulic conductivities were calculated. Irrigation pulses were actuated according to predetermined media moisture tensions. Transpiration rate of plants was measured gravimetrically using load cells. Specific transpiration rate (STR) was calculated from these data and leaf area. STR and stomatal conductance were also determined using a steady-state porometer. Specific growth rate (RSG) of young leaflets was calculated from the difference between metabolic heat rate and respiration rate, which served as an indicator for growth potential. Low STR values found at tensions between 0 and 1.5 kPa in UC mix suggest this medium has insufficient free air space for proper root activity within this range. Above 2.3 kPa, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of UC mix was lower than that of coir, possibly lowering STR values of UC mix-grown plants. As a result of these two factors, STR of plants grown in coir was 20% to 30% higher than that of plants grown in UC mix. STR of coir-grown plants started to decline only at tensions around 4.5 kPa. Yield (number of flowers produced) by coir-grown plants was 19% higher than UC mix-grown plants. This study demonstrated the crucial role of reaching sufficient air-filled porosity in the medium shortly after irrigation. It also suggests that hydraulic conductivity is a more representative measure of water availability than tension." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Suppression of Phytophthora and Pythium damping-off of tomato by coconut coir dust Authors: Candole, B. L.; Evans, M. R. Authors affiliation: Dept. of Horticulture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA. Published in: Phytopathology, volumn 93 (6 Supplement), pages s13-s14, (2003). Abstract: "Coconut coir dust, a waste product from coconut fiber processing, has been shown to be a good alternative to peat in growing media. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine if coconut coir dust can also suppress soilborne plant pathogens by using tomato damping-off caused by Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora nicotianae, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Pythium ultimum as model pathosystems. Tomato seeds cv. 'Bonnie Best' were planted into noninfested and infested growing media contained in 5X5, 2.5-ml plastic plug trays. Growing media were infested with two-week-old cultures of the pathogens in V8 juice-peat medium at the rate of 1% (w/w). Stand counts were made when noninfested controls reached complete emergence. Populations of Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora nicotianae, and Pythium aphanidermatum; and damping-off incidence were significantly reduced by 68-76% and 94-100% respectively in coconut coir dust compared to controls in peat. Results from Pythium ultimum were not conclusive. Autoclaving coconut coir dust had no effect on suppressiveness indicating that the nature of the suppressiveness is not biological." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Growth and nutrient use of ericaceous plants grown in media amended with sphagnum moss peat or coir dust. Author: Scagel, Carolyn F. Author affiliation: Horticultural Crops Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 3420 NW Orchard Avenue, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA. Published in: Hortscience, volumn 38, pages 46-54, (2003). Abstract: "Using several different ericaceous ornamental species, we compared the growth, mineral nutrition, and composition of plants in response to growing media amended with varying proportions of sphagnum moss peat (peat) or coir dust (coir). Plants were grown for 16 weeks in media consisting of 80% composted Douglas fir bark with 20% peat, 20% coir, or 10% peat and 10% coir. Sixteen weeks after planting, decreases in extractable P were larger in peat-amended medium than the coir-amended medium, while decreases in extractable NH4-N and NO3-N were larger in the coir-amended medium. In general, leaf and stem dry weight, the number of leaves and stems, and total stem length increased with increasing proportion of coir in the medium while root dry weight either increased (Kalmia latifolia), decreased (Rhododendron, Gaultheria), or was not influenced by increasing the proportion of coir in the medium. The composition of the growing medium also influenced aspects of plant marketability and quality including: leaf greenness (SPAD), plant form (e.g., number of leaves per length of stem), and partitioning of biomass (e.g., root to shoot ratio). Nutrient uptake and fertilizer use was significantly different between the media types. Depending on the cultivar, we found that the coir-amended medium resulted in higher uptake or availability of several nutrients than peat-amended medium. Uptake or availability of N, P, K, Ca, and S was enhanced for several cultivars, while uptake or availability of Mg, Fe, and B was similar between media types. Most cultivars/species growing in the coir-amended medium had higher production or accumulation of proteins and amino acids in stems than plants growing in peat-amended medium, while the production of proteins and amino acids in roots was lower in plants growing in coir-amended than in peat-amended medium. For the cultivars/species we tested, coir is a suitable media amendment for growing ericaceous plants and may have beneficial effects on plant quality."

Years ago I worked with a woman who was constantly suffering from sinus infections. Finally her doc sent her to an ENT who did surgery to clean out this woman's sinus cavities. I had told my husband about it and contemplated the fact that someday I might need to have that done to my left sinuses (right side is fine - left side is always "stuffy"). One day we're in the car, driving up Highway 50 to Apple Hill, and my nose was really bothering me. Hubs said to me that perhaps now was the time for me to ask my doc about the surgery. I said, "What surgery?" (it had been a number of years since we had discussed my former coworker's sinus infections). He replied, "You know -- the one where they remount your nose." "What?? Remount my nose?!?" Hubs had said "ream out" as in "clean out" and I'd heard "remount." I had visions of the doc lifting my nose up off my face and then putting it back down in a slightly different location... We both started laughing hysterically. I'm sure the other motorists on the road thought we were nuts.

Even Obama, a highly educated man, slips up. He used "with him and I" and "with Senator Edwards and I" several times in a talk recently. It's all over the internet. It must be a regionalism because I never heard it until I moved to Minnesota: the word "drug" for the past tense of "to drag," such as "I drug the mattress into the living room." It sounds so backwoods ignorant that it makes my blood boil! I also can't stand people that don't know the difference between "its" and "it's."

Sorry for any misunderstanding. I wasn't asking a question. I was expressing my surprise to learn assignment changes are planned and communicated so far in advance. (The comment this is responding to suggested I should contact the Navy if I had any questions. I don't have a question and that comment directed at me by the OP seems to have been subsequently removed)