Plant Soil Environ., 2002, 48(10):448-457 | DOI: 10.17221/4394-PSE
Influence of fertilization application and growing substrate on container-grown woody ornamentals
- The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Prùhonice, Czech Republic
Five fertilization systems and seven types of growing substrates were tested with two woody plant species with different nutritional demands (Thuja occidentalis, Pyracantha coccinea) grown in two-litre containers. The experiment was repeated in two vegetative seasons. Application of controlled release fertilizer (CRF) was proved the most reliable; it gave good or at least average results in dependence on used growing substrates. Significant differences between application of CRF and other fertilization systems were with Pyracantha plants. System using slow release fertilizer with additional nitrogen fertilizing also showed good results. Systems based only on liquid feeding were less reliable, with some substrates they showed very good results; with others (peat substrate, peat bark substrates with wood components) they were bad. Similar results were achieved with top dressing of granulated fertilizer. Evaluating the substrates good results were obtained by using mixtures of peat with components with higher content of nutrients - peat bark substrates, peat bark substrates with compost and non-peat mixtures of composted bark, wood fibres and compost. Significant differences between these types of substrates and peat one or peat bark substrate with wood components were both with Thuja plants and especially with Pyracantha plants, which have higher demand for nutrients. The experiments showed that peat based substrates amended with alternative components or non-peat substrates can bring better results than the peat ones.
Keywords: organic substrates; peat; alternative components; fertilization systems; growth response; Thuja occidentalis; Pyracantha coccinea
Published: October 31, 2002 Show citation
References
- Dubský M., Šrámek F. (1998): Replacement of peat in growing substrates by paper mill waste materials. Hort. Sci., 25: 115–119.
- Guérin V., Lemaire F., Marfa O., Caceres R., Giuffrida F. (2001): Growth of Viburnum tinus in peat-based and peat-substitute growing media. Sci. Hort., 89: 129–142.
Go to original source... - Maher M.J. (1996): The effect of type and rate of controlledreleased fertilizer on the performance of hardy nursery stock in containers. Comb. Proc. Int. Plant Prop. Soc., 46: 178–181.
- Prasad M., O’Shea J. (1999): Relative breakdown of peat and non-pet growing media. Acta Hort., 481: 121–128. Go to original source...
- Remešová D., Pøidalová A. (1997): Research on the influence of controlled release fertilizer Osmocote on the growth and development of selected ornamental woody plants. In: Kobza F., Pidra M., Pokluda R. (eds.): Biological and technical development in horticulture. Proc. Int. Hort. Sci. Conf. MZLU, Lednice na Moravì, Brno: 222–223.
- Siegler H. (1998): Torffreie oder torfreduzierte Substrate. Dtsch. Baumsch., 40: 30–31.
- Soukup J., Fuchsová K., Pospíšilová N., Salát L., Zeman P. (1987): Vyšetøování zahradnických pùd a substrátù. Akt. VÚOZ, Prùhonice.
- Sturm A., Mac Cárthaigh D. (1997): Düngetabletten in containerkulturen. Fachhochschule Weihenstephan und Versuchsanstaltn für Gartengau Weihenstephan, Jber.: 209–211. Šrámek F., Dubský M. (1997): Náhrada rašeliny v pìstebních substrátech. Acta Prùhon., 64: 247–257.
- Valla M. et al. (1980): Cvièení z pùdoznalství II. SPN, Praha.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.