New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Effects of soilless media pH on cut flower and tuber production in Sandersonia aurantiaca
G. E. Clark
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited
Pukekohe Research Centre
Cronin Road, RD 1
Pukekohe, New Zealand
email: clarkg@crop.cri.nz
G. K. Burge
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited
Food Industry Science Centre
Private Bag 11 600
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract The effects of six target media pH levels (4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5) on cut-flower (glasshouse) and tuber production (outdoor) in Sandersonia aurantiaca (Hook.) were compared in two experiments. The effects of these pH levels on tuber storage and subsequent cut-flower production were assessed in a third experiment in a glasshouse. Actual media pH levels achieved varied from 4.1 to 6.1 in the glasshouse and from 4.4 to 6.5 outdoors. The pH levels in the glasshouse produced small differences in stem length but no significant differences in stem weight, flower number, or vase life. At the highest pH level, the number of stems harvested was less and the number of rejected flowers greater than at lower pH levels because of decreased stem length or physiological disorders, such as leaf chlorosis and leaf tip browning on the lower leaves. Leaf concentrations of S, Mn, and Zn declined with increasing pH level whereas Mg increased in the cut-flower experiment. The number of tubers lifted outdoors was least at the highest pH level but there was no difference in mean tuber weight. Tuber nutrient concentrations of N, Ca, Mn, Zn, and Cu declined with increasing pH level whereas Mg increased. There were no production differences at forcing with the lifted tubers. For sandersonia cut-flower production a media pH range of 4.4–5.3 appears to be suitable, whereas for tuber production pH levels of 4.4–6.1 were best. As sandersonia production usually involves both growth phases, a range pH of 4.4–5.3 would be suitable with a target pH of 5.0–5.3 recommended for growth in peat-pumice media. This will ensure mid-range tuber and leaf nutrient concentrations and optimised production.
Keywords sandersonia; Sandersonia aurantiaca; pH; tuber; cut flower; soilless medium; nutrient concentration
H01034 Received 16 July 2001; accepted 22 January 2002
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2002, Vol. 30: 127–134
0014–0671/02/3002–0127 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002
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