Nitrogen Rate, Irrigation Frequency and Volume Differentially Influence Growth, Flowering, and Nutrient Uptake of Container-Grown Rhododendron during the Following Growing Season

Abstract

Sustainable nutrient and water management are critical for optimizing the quality and subsequent landscape performance of nursery plants. In this 2-year study, we investigated the influence of different nitrogen (N) rates [N-free fertilizer (0 N) or N-free fertilizer plus 7 (0.5 N) or 14 (1.0 N) mg N per day from NH4NO3] and irrigation frequencies and volumes [once daily to 50% or 100% container capacity (CC) or twice daily with the same total amount of water as 100% CC] on plant growth, flowering, and nutrient uptake of three rhododendron cultivars, including one deciduous cultivar, Rhododendron ‘Gibraltar’ and two evergreen cultivar, Rhododendron ‘P.J.M.’ and Rhododendron ‘Catawbiense Album’. In each case, the plants were grown in soilless media in year 1 and transplanted to soil in year 2. Increasing the N rate in year 1 increased plant biomass and N content in both years and improved flowering performance the following year. Furthermore, in year 1, irrigation once daily to 50% CC or twice daily to 100% CC enhanced the uptake of several nutrients in each cultivar and the growth of the evergreen cultivars. Plants that were irrigated more frequently during year 1 performed better in the landscape the following year, while those irrigated to 50% CC only performed better in the deciduous cultivar. In the evergreen cultivars, lower irrigation volume altered nursery plant qualities, resulting in a trade-off between flower production and growth in year 2. Our results indicate that manipulating N rates and irrigation frequency and volume can be used to alter nursery stock qualities and improve subsequent performance in the landscape.

Improving Growth of Schefflera Arboricola Endl. Cv. Gold Capella Plant Grown in Sandy Soil by Some Natural, Organic and Biotic Additives Under Various Water Regimes Treatments

“…Gibraltar, P.J.M. and Catawbiense Album, Guihong et al (2022) concluded that irrigation frequency and volume (once or twice daily with up to 100% container capacity) can be applied to improve nursery stock qualities and growth performance.…”

Controlled Environment Ecosystem: A Cutting-Edge Technology in Speed Breeding

“… 41 Rhododendrons were grown in containers filled with a mixture of bark, sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. 42 Hybrid lilies were raised in plastic bags containing varying proportions of cocopeat, perlite, and palm trunk, with nutrient solution discharge. 43 Mustard was cultivated using hydroponic and aquaponic systems.…”

Crop Hydroponics, Phyto-hydroponics, Crop Production, and Factors Affecting Soilless Culture

“…108 Successful cultivation of vegetables and ornamental plants in hydroponic systems using different substrates and nutrient solutions have been reported: for example, carrot in rockwool blocks containing vermiculite with a supply of nutrient solutions through subsurface irrigation in a greenhouse, 109 watermelon grown in aeroponics by NFT, 110 lettuce raised in polystyrene foam + pots with discharge of three nutrient solutions through a floating system in a greenhouse, 111 ginger in pots supplemented coir dust and burnt paddy husk in different proportions with MARDI nutrient solution through irrigation channels in a side-netted rain shelter, 112 green beans in pots supplemented with peat, perlite, and sand with a supply of nutrient solution through subsurface irrigation, 113 broccoli grown in rockwool with supply of Hoagland nutrient solution in a multitunnel greenhouse, 114 kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) with NFT in a greenhouse, 115 rhododendron flower production in containers containing mixtures of bark, sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite, 116 hybrid lily in plastic bags containing cocopeat, perlite, and palm trunk in different proportions with discharge of nutrient solution, 117 mustard in hydroponics and aquaponics, 118 tomato, 119 and tomato, cucumber, eggplant, chili pepper, carrot, lettuce, and spinach in an open roof top system. 120 Four methods of water based culture systems, (a) a fertigation system (polybags + cocopeat), (b) U-shaped troughs (PVC tube + two U-shaped troughs), (c) double Ushaped troughs (two piece U-shaped PVC + double U-shaped troughs), and (d) triangular containers (polyethylene sheet + triangular trough), were evaluated in watermelon with different nutrient solutions in a greenhouse, and the best results were obtained in watermelon.…”