USE OF TISSUE AND SOIL SAMPLES TO ESTABLISH NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS IN PROTEA

The first proteas in Hawaii grown for commercial cut flower production were planted in Kula.
Few nutritional disorders were encountered.
The soil in the Kula series is a member of an ashy, isothermic family of Typic Entrandepts.
As the area for protea production expands, an increasing variety of soil types are being encountered, and what appears to be nutrient deficiency symptoms are appearing in certain species.
In order to try and establish nutritional standards for proteas in Hawaii, a series of soil and plant tissue sampling was inaugurated to provide baseline data for both "normal" green plants and "abnormal" chlorotic plants.

Each plant was sampled 4 times over a 12 month period, starting in July, 1984. Junevile and recently matured leaves were analyzed on an X-Ray fluorescent quantameter.
Comparisons were made between age of leaf and between green and chlorotic leaves.
Soil from around each plant was analyzed by the Soil Testing Service, U.H., using the rapid chemical method, and the Plant Disease Clinic, U.H., tested additional soil samples and root sections for the presence of nematodes.

Species sampled included Leucospermum cordifolium, Protea cynaroides, P. eximia, P. neriifolia, and P. hybrids "Yellow Hebe" and "May Day".

I International Protea Research Symposium

P.E. Parvin

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.185.15