Influence of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Growth and Yield of North American Ginseng

Abstract

Information on nitrogen (N) fertilization of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is needed to optimize dry matter accumulation, ginsenoside concentration, and root yields. Field experiments were initiated in 1995 and 1996 to study the effects of N fertilization on dry matter accumulation, N concentration and accumulation, final root yield, and ginsenoside concentration of American ginseng production in a Fox loamy sand (Psammentic Hapludalf). Ammonium sulfate was broadcast-applied at rates of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 kg N/ha prior to seedling emergence in the spring of each of the four growing seasons. The eight N treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Ginseng plant dry weight showed a quadratic response to increasing N rate. As the rate of N fertilizer applied was increased, significant increases in tissue N concentration resulted. Approximately, 50 percent of the total N accumulated was allocated to the roots in the first year of growth while approximately 66 percent of the total N accumulated was allocated to the roots in the subsequent years of growth. Ginsenoside contents of the harvested roots were not significantly affected by N fertilizer application rates. Based on the quadratic model fitted to the data, maximum yields of four-year-old commercially harvested ginseng roots can be obtained in Ontario with R. P. Beyaert is Research Scientist affiliated with the Southern Crop Protection and

High value crops in coarse-textured soil and nitrate leaching - How risky is it?

“…Greater loading of NO 3 -N to groundwater from ginseng than cucumber was likely due to the extended monitoring in ginseng (later in fall and earlier in spring), less N uptake by ginseng than cucumber, and to large N amounts applied in the case of the C 200 bark and C 260 compost treatments. While (1 after 1, 2, 3, and 4 yr, respectively (Beyaert 2005). In our study, estimated ginseng root N uptake after 4 yr (Table 4) was negligible relative to annual N uptake by cucumber (Table 3), or to the amount of N in applied compost.…”

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World

“…The relationship between root and shoot dry matter accumulation per year and the N fertilization rate often takes the shape of a quadratic curve, as e.g. shown in ginseng (Beyaert 2006), where plant dry weight increases to a maximum and then decreases with increasing N application rate with a maximum at about 40 kg N ha À1 . In coriander, N fertilization enhanced seed yields by 10.7 % in comparison with the untreated plots, and generally speaking, every 10 kg ha À1 of N-fertilizer supply (until the optimal rate is reached) is able to generate an increase in seed yield ranging from about 20 to 70 kg ha À1 , depending on environmental conditions and crop management (Carrubba 2009).…”

“…Also in secondary compounds different from essential oils, such as alkaloids in Papaveraceae or Solanaceae (but others as well), nutrient supply is just one in many different environmental factors involved in biosynthesis and storage processes, and to make general statements it is a bit difficult (Bernáth 1992). In liquorice, N fertilization was supposed to lead to the formation of roots and rhizomes scarcely endowed in glycyrrhizin ), whereas no effect was detected on ginsenoside content in ginseng roots (Beyaert 2006). Evidences exist, otherwise, of a direct and positive correlation of the alkaloids content with N content in plant in lupines, barley, Datura, Atropa, Papaver, periwinkle and deadly nightshade (Sreevalli et al 2004;).…”

“…Otherwise, P and K, claimed to have a scarce mobility throughout soil profile, are usually supplied before transplant (at the time of soil preparation) and distributed deeply enough to be absorbed by the roots during their elongation. Of course, in decision-making concerning fertilization, factors related Singh and Rao 1994;Rangappa and Bhardwaj 1998;Karamanos 2000;Joy et al 2001Joy et al , 2001aRajamani 2001;Beyaert 2006;Karkanis et al 2011;Verma et al 2011) Species N (kg ha -1 ) to environment, plant genotype, goals of cultivation, and farm, must be kept into account. Total fertilizer rate is expected to be generally less important to plants than distribution method and timing, in that the availability of elements along the development of crops, above all in the physiological stages when it is especially important for them, is more important than their overall amount .…”

Microbial diversity and physicochemical properties in farmland soils amended by effective microorganisms and fulvic acid for cropping Asian ginseng

“…An upgraded culturing protocol is needed for sustainable Asian ginseng cultivation with a shorter rotation cycle. Soils for growing Asian ginseng require a desired soil quality, high microbial diversity ( Xiao et al, 2016;Zhao et al, 2017;Tong et al, 2021), and a high nutrition input (Beyaert, 2006;Kang et al, 2016) for significant production and expected seedling growth. Remnant chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are commonly seen in farmland soils (Li et al, 2015).…”