Ribeiro, Henrique Manuel FilipeMonteiro, Fernando GirãoSousa, Gonçalo Maria Nigra de Castro2015-04-302018-01-012015Sousa, G.M.N.C. - Utilização de resíduos de tijolo na formulação de substratos sem turfa para produção de plantas envasadas. Lisboa: ISA, 2015, 86 p.http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/8501Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThe present work aimed to study the possible use of "crushed bricks" (a waste from the bricks manufacturing) as a substrate component for the production of potted herbs in organic farming (OF). Two main substrate components were used: compost (obtained from forestry residues and horse manure) and a mixture of coir and compost (1:1 by volume). Each of these “main” substrate components was mixed with "crushed bricks" in the following proportions by volume: 0%, 5%, 10% and 20%. As a control, a commercial substrate was used. A total of 9 different substrates were studied. The substrates properties and the growth of 4 different species of herbs (coriander, parsley, rosemary and lavender) on those substrates were evaluated. Crushed bricks significantly affected the physical properties of the media, increasing the bulk density and the water retention, but reducing the porosity and the aeration. The addition of 5% crushed bricks proved to be beneficial for the production of aromatic potted plants, because the positive effect on the physical properties of the substrate resulted in an improvement of some plant’s growth parameters, mainly when the main component of the substrate was compost.porcrushed brickscompostcoirsubstrateherbsmaster thesis201846250