A Comparative Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Composted Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia L.) with Pine Bark Growing Media in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum L.) Seedling Production

Table 4

Chemical properties of the composted tea tree and pine bark media.

Measured variables	Tea tree	Pine bark
pH	6.4	4.2
Total soluble salts (ppm)	3724.80	—
Nitrate nitrogen (ppm)	5.62	—
Phosphorous-P2O5 (ppm)	207.16	17.9
Calcium (% of CEC)	20.73	17.5
Potassium (% of CEC)	4.20	176
Magnesium (% of CEC)	10.78	5.80
Sodium (% of CEC)	0.28	—
Copper (% of CEC)	1.75	0.43
Zinc (% of CEC)	73.05	3.3
Iron (% of CEC)	46.8	—
Manganese (% of CEC)	17.3	10.1
Total exch. bases (% of CEC)	35.99	8.8
pH	4.2	4.5