Purdue University Research: SteadyGRO Outperforms Rockwool in Laboratory Study of Soilless Plant Growing Products

INDIANAPOLIS, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Purdue University research has concluded that a new product aimed to help indoor plant growers achieve maximum results outperforms a soilless product that has been a mainstay for decades.

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SteadyGRO is an inert, sterile product that optimizes soilless plant growth that was introduced into the soilless plant growing marketplace in late 2009. Used by home and greenhouse gardeners, professional growers and hydroponic growers, SteadyGRO is eco-friendly, can be reduced from its original form to a mass of less than 11 percent or incinerated for bio-mass purposes. Rockwool, a soilless growing media developed in Denmark in the early 1970s, has been the standard for vegetable and flower production in North America and Europe but poses significant environmental challenges in regard to disposal.

"The study's goals were to analyze the chemical properties of SteadyGRO compared to rockwool and evaluate germination, growth and yield results of tomato and cucumber seedlings using SteadyGRO versus rockwool," said Pawan Srivastava, Ph.D., lead research scientist at SteadyGRO. "We are ecstatic about the results, which show that from early growth to termination of the plants, seedlings developed by SteadyGRO products achieved higher germination and fruit weights, plant longevity, general plant health and overall fruit quality."

Purdue University's Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture began the study with seed germination in a greenhouse setting in August 2008 and ended with the termination of the plants in March 2009. Complete results from the study are available at http://www.SteadyGRO.com/Purdue.

Twenty seven plants of each variety were grown in replicated trials, including nine plants in each of the three types of soilless media. Seeds were sown on two SteadyGRO products – SteadyGRO, a low-water-retention, soilless media and SteadyGRO H+, a high-water-retention, soilless media – and on rockwool plugs. Seedlings were first placed in a mist chamber for germination then plugs with germinated seedlings were transferred into 4- by 4-inch blocks of SteadyGRO, SteadyGRO H+ and rockwool to further develop.

After time, blocks were placed on 3- by 6- by 36-inch slabs and maintained in that same growth media throughout the duration of the study. At the end of the study, the research concluded:

Air-to-media ratio

• SteadyGRO maintained an air-to-media ratio of 41.5 percent volume of air immediately after soaking and a 55.8 percent volume of air after 48 hours of soaking.
• SteadyGRO H+ maintained an air-to-media ratio of 11.1 percent volume of air immediately after soaking and a 27 percent volume of air after 48 hours of soaking.
• Rockwool maintained an air-to-media ratio of 5.2 percent volume of air immediately after soaking and a 20.6 percent volume of air after 48 hours of soaking.

Germination Results (after seven days)

• 20 out of 20 cucumber seeds germinated with SteadyGRO and SteadyGRO H+
• 5 of 20 cucumber seeds germinated with rockwool
• 15 of 20 tomato seeds germinated with SteadyGRO H+ and 13 of 20 tomato seeds germinated with SteadyGRO
• 5 of 20 tomato seeds germinated with rockwool

YIELD RESULTS

Overall, Purdue University research concluded, SteadyGRO H+ was the best-performing soilless growth medium in terms of average grams of fruit harvested per plant in tomatoes and cucumbers. SteadyGRO H+ produced 47 percent more cucumber in terms of fruit weight per plant than rockwool, according to the study, and both SteadyGRO and SteadyGRO H+ outperformed rockwool in promoting the growth of tomatoes by a 23 percent gain in harvested weight.

"The Purdue University study shows that SteadyGRO offers much more than improved soilless plant growth performance and superior results," said Dr. Srivastava of SteadyGRO. "The cucumber fruit set and matured a week earlier using SteadyGRO and, throughout the duration of the study, SteadyGRO surfaces remained dry and suppressed the growth of algae on its surfaces."

SteadyGRO is manufactured by Syndicate Sales Inc., a 60-year staple in the international floral industry that manufactures, imports and distributes more than 1,500 floral-related items in the U.S. and overseas.

To read the entire Purdue University study and view photographs of stage-by-stage growth comparisons of seeds germinated using SteadyGRO and rockwool products, visit http://www.SteadyGRO.com/Purdue.

SteadyGRO, a division of Syndicate Sales Inc., is the ideal soilless growth media for indoor gardeners, greenhouse gardeners, greenhouse gardeners and hydroponic growers. Available in plugs, sheets, blocks and slabs, SteadyGRO helps growers maximize their results when growing food crops including cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, popular flowering plants, woody ornamentals, vines, ivy and more. Formulated to be an inert and sterile product to allow for maximum plant growth, SteadyGRO is a superior substitute to rockwool because, unlike rockwool, SteadyGRO is environmentally friendly and can be reduced from its original form to a mass of less than 11 percent. For more, visit www.steadygro.com.

Since 1946, Syndicate Sales Inc. has been a leading manufacturer, importer and distributor of more than 1,500 items to the floral industry with customers in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, South America, Europe and Japan. The company manufactures brand names including Aquapic©, Aquafoam©, Aquaplus the difference is clear©, Aquahold©, Hydraplus©, Hoosier Glass©, Garden Collection© and Everlastin Baskets©. With its subsidiary Hurryin' Hoosier Transport, Syndicate Sales Inc. is the leader in customized distribution and delivery to its customers in all 48 contiguous U.S. states and Canada. With more than 1 million square feet of manufacturing and warehousing in Kokomo, Ind., Syndicate Sales Inc. employs more than 250 team members. For more, visit www.syndicatesales.com.

SOURCE SteadyGRO