Effect of electrical conductivity levels of nutrient solution on growth, gas exchanges and yield of two gerbera cultivars in soilless system
2003
Paradiso, R. | De Pascale, S. | Aprea, F. | Barbieri, G.
In order to evaluate the response of two Gerbera cultivars to EC level of nutrient solution, a greenhouse experiment was carried out in Naples from April to November 2002, on 1-year plants fertigated with two EC values, 1.6 dS m-1 and 2.4 dS m-1, at pH 6.0. Plants of Brittani and Golden Serena cultivars were grown in pot, on 7:3 mixture (v/v) of peat and perlite. Water and fertilizers were supplied by a drip-system and the number of pulses was 1 per day from April to June and from September to October, 2 per day in July and August, and 3 per week in November. 400 ml of nutrient solution was applied per pulse, whit about 20% of leaching. Gas exchanges were unaffected by EC level of nutrient solution and Gerbera cultivars and higher net photosynthesis (15.02 μmol CO2 m-2 sec-1) was recorded in spring months, with the maximum transpiration rate in may (11.18 μmol m-2 s-1). During the 8-month period, daily water uptake was higher in plants fertigated with 2.4 dS m-1 compared with 1.6 dS m-1 (471 vs 423 ml per plant), according with the difference in leaf area (65.8 vs 60.4 dm2) and yield (34.3 vs 29.9 flowers). Higher EC level increased the content of N (3.89 vs 3.36% DM), N-NO3 (0.56 vs 0.39%), P (0.14 vs 0.10%) and K (4.30 vs 2.89%) in young leaves. No difference was found between the cultivars in water uptake and nutrient composition of leaves. Brittani yielded higher number of flowers (35.2 vs 29.1 per plant).
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