International Journal of Horticulture, 2015, Vol.5, No.19 1
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Figure 1 Various uses of bryophytes
In horticultural practice bryophytes are being used as
soil additives since long time. Bryophytes are
predominantly accepted soil additives because of their
remarkably high water holding capability and
permeability to atmospheric air. Peat is one of the
important soil conditioners and is frequently used for
various horticultural purposes around the world.
Numerous taxa of bryophytes have also been used for
greenhouse plants, potted decorative plants, and in
garden soil.
In air layering, a method of propagating plants, use of
Sphagnum
is very common. Fresh plants of
Sphagnum
spp. are also mixed with the topsoil or put on the soil
as a mulch. It helps to uphold wetness and prevent
redundant growth of weeds. It is permeable to
atmosphere and has flexibility, making it an ultimate
growth medium. In Japan, use of mosses as
ornamental plants for culture is very trendy.
Landscape tray is another horticultural skill of Japan
in which a number of mosses like
Bartramia
pomiformis
,
Leucobryum
neilgherrense
,
and
Polytrichum commune
are used. Mosses also offer an
imperative component for bonsai, where they help in
the stabilization of soil and in preserving moisture.
Moreover, the moss seems to be stylish and provides a
green cooling feel. Moss gardens are also one of the
aspects of daily life in Japan, where mosses have
commonly been used in moss gardens as they bestow
a calm splendor and olden gaze to gardens by
covering tree trunks, rocks and stone. Buddhist temple
.
Figure 2 Range of horticultural uses of bryophytes
in Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan holds a much
admired moss garden.
The great range of horticultural uses of bryophytes has
been given in Figure 2
Horticulture benefits from a extensive practice
involving bryophytes as additives to the soil, soil
cover, undersized plants, greenhouse crops, potted
ornamental plants, and for seedling beds.
Sphagnum
(moss)
is used in making totem poles to support
climbers and moss-filled garlands, admired in
southeastern U.S. Other pretty horticultural uses
comprise floral arrangements, making flower baskets
and covering flower container etc. Gardeners
typically
employ
soggy
Sphagnum
for
transportation of live plants. Occasional burning of
Sphagnum
is also used to create a smoke screen
against frostiness (Glime, 2007).
Conditioning of Soil
Various moss taxa are often used to condition the soil.
Mosses with coarse textured augment water-storage
capacity, while smooth-textured mosses offer required
air spaces. Mosses perk up the nutrient state by
holding nutrients, particularly those originate by
rainfall and dust, and discharging the nutrients bit by
bit over a much longer phase of time than normal
nutrient occurrence near the top soil. Typically mosses
