Abstract
The objective of this research was to develop growth media for artificial ground by blending calcined clay and coconut peat. To achieve this, aggregates of clay particles were mixed with disel oil and heated to high temperature(1150~120$0^{\circ}C$) to expand clays. The particle sizes of expanded clay were controlled to 2~5mm in diameter. Then expanded clayes were mixed with coconut peat and changes of soil physicochemical properties and their effect on plant growth of Hedera L. were determined. The infiltration rate of calcined clay was very high, but the water holding capacity, the cation exchange capacity(CEC), and the nutrient contents were low. The characteritics of coconut peat was vice verse to calcined clay. This indicates that the mixture of calcined clay and coconut peat have the better characteristics than each material. As compared to mineral soil, the infiltration rate, the water holding capacity, the CEC and the nutrient contents increased, but bulk density decreased to about 1/4. And, Hedera L. grown in the mixture of calcined clay and coconut peat(6:4, v/v) had higher plant height, longer leaf length, more total number of leaves per plant and fresh weight than that grown in mineral soil, but statistical differences were not observed between two treatments.
