Optimum nutrient levels in a container growing medium determined by a saturated aqueous extract

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings were grown for 15 weeks over a range of nutrient regimes to calibrate a test procedure used for monitoring nutrient status of a common container growing medium. The test was based on a saturated aqueous extract of the growing medium, obtained by suction displacement. Seedling growth and nutrition exhibited typical responses of deficiency, sufficiency, luxury consumption and toxicity over the range of substrate fertility examined. Water extractable nutrients of the growing medium were related to yield and nutrient uptake of the seedlings. Ranges of nutrient levels associated with maximum dry matter production were selected as provisional values for optimum growth of containerized red pine seedlings. The following critical nutrient levels were considered optimum for red pine seedlings managed under similar cultural conditions: 15–65 ppm N (as NH4 +), 35–95 ppm P, 25–115 ppm K, 30–60 ppm Ca, 15–35 ppm Mg, and electrical conductivity of 1.0–2.2 dS/m.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: