Articles
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION AND FERTILIZATION OF CUT FLOWERS IN RELATIONSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Article number
482_52
Pages
351 – 362
Language
Abstract
German and European authorities are looking for possibilities of a reduced use of agrochemicals.
Among these, fertilizers play an important role, because their nitrogen can be leached out and get into the underground water.
Thin layer cultivation of cut flowers has been introduced during the last ten years.
This system contains of a plastic film, which separates the subsoil from the cultivation zone.
Leaching is not possible.
The provision with water can be regulated by a switch tensiometer and the nutrients are added in the amounts wanted.
A lot of different materials may be used as substrates.
This system is to be run recirculating and hydroponically as well.
Cut flowers also can be cultivated in soils in situ. In this case the leaching of water and nutrients can be avoided by installation of a dry layer in the subsoil under the upper layer.
The water tension in these layers is to be controlled by tensiometers continuously.
The fertilization of the plants in the systems described, can take place by the application of different amounts of fertilizers.
The fertilizers used are either single salts or composed.
The regulation of the pH-value in a recirculating nutrient solution can be made possible by the use of different nitrogen forms.
On the other hand, the fertilizers must be applied in plant tolerable concentrations, which is about 0.7 to 1.3 g x L-1. There is evidence, that all systems can lose gaseous nitrogen.
They need to be carried out with less water quantities but higher water quality than the cultivation in horticultural soils in situ.
Among these, fertilizers play an important role, because their nitrogen can be leached out and get into the underground water.
Thin layer cultivation of cut flowers has been introduced during the last ten years.
This system contains of a plastic film, which separates the subsoil from the cultivation zone.
Leaching is not possible.
The provision with water can be regulated by a switch tensiometer and the nutrients are added in the amounts wanted.
A lot of different materials may be used as substrates.
This system is to be run recirculating and hydroponically as well.
Cut flowers also can be cultivated in soils in situ. In this case the leaching of water and nutrients can be avoided by installation of a dry layer in the subsoil under the upper layer.
The water tension in these layers is to be controlled by tensiometers continuously.
The fertilization of the plants in the systems described, can take place by the application of different amounts of fertilizers.
The fertilizers used are either single salts or composed.
The regulation of the pH-value in a recirculating nutrient solution can be made possible by the use of different nitrogen forms.
On the other hand, the fertilizers must be applied in plant tolerable concentrations, which is about 0.7 to 1.3 g x L-1. There is evidence, that all systems can lose gaseous nitrogen.
They need to be carried out with less water quantities but higher water quality than the cultivation in horticultural soils in situ.
Authors
R. Roeber
Keywords
Water, irrigation, hydroponics, leaching, nitrogen, soils, substrates, environment
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