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Although research has shown that plants grown with subirrigation systems such as ebb-and-flow and capillary mat require less water and fertilizer inputs than traditional overhead irrigation methods, similar information for capillary wick irrigation has not been available. We compared the growth and water use response of azalea (Rhododendron sp. ‘George Tabor’) grown in 6.5-inch-diameter “azalea” containers with three irrigation methods [overhead (OVR), subirrigation (SUB), and capillary wick (WCK)] and four fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates 0.5 to 2.0 lb/yard3 supplied by an incorporated, resin-coated, controlled-release fertilizer (Nutricote 17N–3.1P–6.7K, 180 d at 77 °F). OVR volume was adjusted to deliver 100% of evapotranspiration (ET) loss. For all irrigation treatments, the lowest N rate resulting in maximum plant growth was 1.0 lb/yard3, which was less than the label recommendation of 1.5 lb/yard3. At the N-limiting N rate of 0.5 lb/yard3, irrigation method had no effect (P < 0.05) on azalea growth. At N rates higher than 1.0 lb/yard3, decreased growth was observed for OVR compared with SUB and WCK. This negative effect on plant growth was attributed to salt injury as indicated by excessive pour-through electrical conductivity (EC) levels in OVR containers. At the end of the experiment, substrate EC was highest in the uppermost layer of SUB and WCK containers, reflecting the upward movement of water associated with these two irrigation methods. Water use efficiency, which ranged from 1.9 to 2.8 g shoot dry weight per liter of water lost through ET, was unaffected (P < 0.05) by irrigation method at the N rate of 1.0 lb/yard3. We concluded that the growth response of azalea to fertilizer N rate was similar for WCK and SUB despite periodic pour-through EC tests indicating higher substrate nutrient levels with WCK.
Multiple branched liners of Ilex vomitoria Ait. `Nana' were greenhouse-grown in 3-L containers with a 2 pine bark: 1 Canadian peat: 1 sand substrate. Plants were fertilized weekly with a solution of 50 N, 10 P, and 30 K (mg·L–1) for either 5, 10, or 15 weeks. Then plants for each of the three fertilizer durations were fertilized weekly with a solution of either 50, 150 or 300 N, 10 P, and 30 K (mg·L– 1) for an additional 15 weeks, at which time root and shoot dry weights were determined. A control group of plants was fertilized weekly with 300 N (mg·L–1) for 30 weeks. Shoot dry weight increased linearly as fertilizer rate or duration of fertilization increased. Root dry weights increased linearly as fertilizer duration increased while root dry weights were not different due to fertilizer rate. These data indicate that duration of fertilization is important in promoting root and shoot growth; however, the largest amount of root and shoot dry weight resulted from the highest N application rate (300 mg·L–1) for the longest duration (30 weeks).
Columns (4 × 15 cm) of a pine bark medium amended with the equivalent of 4.2 kg per cubic meter of dolomitic limestone and either 0, 2.4, 4.7, 7.1 or 9.5 mg of urea-formaldehyde (38% N) per cubic centimeter of medium were leached daily with 16 ml of deionized water (pH 5.5). Leachate total N, NO3 --N and NH4 +-N concentrations were determined on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, 49, 91, 133, 203, 273 and 343. Leachate total N ranged from 600 ppm on day 1 for the 9.5 mg treatment to 4 ppm on day 273 for the 2.4 mg treatment. Leachate NH4 +-N concentrations ranged from 38 ppm c4 day 3 for the 9.5 mg treatment to less than 1 ppm on day 7 for the 2.4 mg treatment and were less than total N concentrations at each sampling time. Leachate NO3 --N was not detectable during the experimental period. Eleven, 16, 20 and 25% of the applied N leached from the columns amended with 2.4, 4.7, 7.1 or 9.5 mg of urea-formaldehyde per cubic centimeter of pine bark, respectively, during the 371 day experiment.
Florida container nurseries face the challenge of maintaining profitability while protecting the environment by improving the efficiency of water and fertilizer use. Best management practices (BMPs) provide irrigation and fertilization guidelines for meeting this challenge. BMPs are economically and technologically feasible to implement and they focus on the ground- and surface water quality issues of the state. However, increasing nursery participation in the statewide BMP program is crucial as the industry continues to expand and interface with urbanization.
Vinca [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don], salvia (Salvia splendens F. Sellow ex Roem. and Schult.), Dwarf Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria Ait. ‘Nana’), and ‘Helleri’ holly (Ilex crenata Thunb. ‘Helleri’) were grown in 2.3-L containers with soilless substrates in a greenhouse. Irrigation was applied as needed to the substrate surface or applied to the substrate surface and applied over plant foliage. Irrigation for both application methods was composed of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% reclaimed water (processed sewage) with deionized water composing the remainder. Shoot dry weights of marketable-sized plants were either larger or similar when 100% reclaimed water was used compared with 0% reclaimed water (deionized). Root dry weights exhibited a similar response except for salvia roots that were smaller with 100% reclaimed water irrigation regardless of application method. Leachate NO3-N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) generally decreased throughout the experiments for vinca and Dwarf Yaupon holly and were highest at experiment midpoint for ‘Helleri’ holly and lowest for salvia. Leachate electrical conductivities (ECs) were generally highest at experiment termination for vinca and salvia, whereas ECs of Dwarf Yaupon and ‘Helleri’ holly tended to peak at experimental midpoint and then decrease slightly at termination. ECs were usually less than 2 dS·m−1 except at experimental midpoint (4.5 months) for ‘Helleri’ holly. Based on the response of plants in this research, high-quality reclaimed water is a viable water source for annual and woody container-grown nursery crops.
Woven polypropylene groundcloth is used extensively in plant nurseries as a permeable and durable surface for container plant production. To better understand the fate of overhead sprinkler irrigation water, we designed and constructed runoff platforms (2.7 m2) to measure runoff and leachate from single irrigation events as affected by slope and underlay substrates. Groundcloth-covered platforms at slopes of 1.5% and 11% were tested with each of five underlay treatments: no underlay, coarse sand, 50% coarse sand and 50% no underlay (CS50), gravel, and native sandy soil. We applied 0.9 cm of irrigation at 1.8 cm·h-1 and determined runoff and leachate volumes. Runoff percentage [runoff × 100%/(runoff + leachate)] increased at the 11% slope for each underlay treatment. Mean (n = 10) runoff percentages (RP) for the 1.5% and 11% slopes were 0.5% and 15.7%, respectively, for no underlay, 0.1% and 1.1% for coarse sand, 0.1% and 0.7% for CS50, 0.7% and 2.5% for gravel, and 0.1% and 3.1% for native sandy soil. The low RP observed indicate that a high percentage of nutrients and agrichemicals associated with container leachate would move into the underlying substrate or soil rather than directly running off into surface waters.
The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the use of tensiometers to monitor substrate moisture tensions for Metro-Mix 500 and 2 pine bark: 1 Canadian peat: 1 sand (PBPS, by volume) used for container-grown azalea Rhododendron indicum L. `Mrs. G.G. Gerbing' and chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelez.) `Coral Charm.' Commercially available ceramic cups of two sizes, small [0.374 inch (0.95 cm) diameter and 1.125 inches (2.86 cm) long] and large [0.874 inch (2.22 cm) diameter and 3.0 inches (7.62 cm) long] were used to construct pressure transducer-equipped tensiometers. Data from these greenhouse experiments, indicate that either the small or large ceramic cup could be used to monitor substrate tensions at which water would be available to container-grown plants.
Traditional college students do not fit the demographic profile of people who are driving increased sales in gardening and landscaping or the use of native wildflowers. However, today's college students, especially those in plant-related disciplines, may be making future decisions regarding the use of native wildflowers for various applications. Many college students may be unaware of or disinterested in native wildflowers. We used a web-based survey to gauge awareness and interest of native wildflowers in Florida college students enrolled in plant-related disciplines. While students have a generally low awareness of native wildflowers, they expressed high levels of interest in learning more about the identification or cultivation of these species, seeing wildflowers, particularly on their campuses, and using wildflowers in different settings. Students were also interested in purchasing native wildflower seeds or finished plants from local retailers rather than through the Internet. We used student responses from this study to discuss education and marketing opportunities toward native wildflowers.