Nitrogen Nutrition of Containerized Anemone x hybrida
Uniform single crown plantlets of Anemone x hybrida Paxton ‘Margarete’ were grown in 3.8-liter (#1) containers filled with a substrate of composted pine bark:sand (8:1 by vol). Plants were fertilized three times weekly for 15 weeks with a complete nutrient solution at nitrogen application rates (NARs) of 10, 40, 80, 150 or 300 mg/liter (ppm) nitrogen (N), in a constant ratio of 1 ammonium:2 nitrate. All other nutrients were held constant. Leaf area, top dry weight, and root dry weight increased with increasing NAR until reaching a plateau at a NAR of 144 ± 21 mg/liter (ppm), 158 ± 28 mg/liter (ppm), and 119 ± 30 mg/liter (ppm), respectively. The proportion of fine roots to thick roots was unaffected, and production of propagation material (root cuttings) reached a plateau at a NAR of 108 ± 28 mg/liter (ppm). Leaf concentrations of N, P, and K at maximum leaf area were 4.7%, 0.5%, and 3.5%, respectively.Abstract
Contributor Notes
This research was funded in part by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS), Raleigh, NC 27695-7643, and by a grant from the Perennial Plant Association, 3383 Schirtzinger Road, Hilliard, OH 43026. Special thanks to Joy M. Smith and William H. Swallow for statistical guidance, and Juan R. Acedo and William M. Reece for technical assistance. From a thesis submitted by J.-J.B.D. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MS degree.
2Graduate Research Assistant.
3Professor.