New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Nutrition of container-grown Acalypha hispaniolae
M. B. THOMAS
M. I. SPURWAY
B. A. J. RICHARDS
G. WELLS
Department of Plant Science
Lincoln University
Canterbury, New Zealand
Abstract Rooted cuttings of Acalypha hispaniolae were
grown in peat/composted bark (7 : 3 v/v) medium for 4 months to
evaluate their response to five levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
potassium (K), and lime. There was a linear response to added N with foliar dry
matter increasing over the range 0-600 g N/m3 and a leaf N content
of c. 3.3% at this highest rate of N. Predicted maximum flower dry weight
occurred at 400 g N/m3. P additions suppressed growth and flowering.
Foliage P content needs to be held at
c. 0.2%. Chlorosis of mature leaves
was most severe with N deficiency but was also caused by P toxicity. Chlorosis
in immature leaves was attributed to P-induced iron deficiency and was most
severe when the P : Fe ratio in the leaves was 62 : 1. Liming reduced P
toxicity and the lime rate for maximum growth was 6-9 kg/m3 and a pH
of c. 5. K additions had little effect on growth. A foliage K content of c. 2%
is recommended.
Keywords Acalypha hispaniolae; nutrition; foliage
plants
H97-4
Received 30 January 1997; accepted 24 December 1997
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