Articles
EFFECTS OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE NUTRITIVE SOLUTION ON DANAE RACEMOSA GROWTH
Article number
559_92
Pages
627 – 631
Language
English
Abstract
A research on Danae racemosa (Ruscus racemosus) nutrition has been carried out in the last four years.
In the first phase of the activity the response of the plant to salinity was evaluated.
Plants of Danae racemosa propagated by crown division were grown in pots containing sand.
They were fed from April 1997 till August 1998 with nutritive solutions of constant N – P – K – Ca – Mg rate but of different electrical conductivity (2.0 mS/cm; 3.0 mS/cm; 4.0 mS/cm; 5.0 mS/cm). Micronutrients were added in normal concentration to each nutritive solution.
The nutrient solutions were supplied once or twice a week (depending on the season) with amounts sufficient for a complete replacement in the substrate.
Plant growth was monitored and the presence of visual symptoms useful for nutritional diagnosis was checked throughout the trial.
The final control of plant growth was carried out in August at maturity stage of the fronds derived from the buds emerged in April.
A decrease of dry weight was observed for the roots, the rhizome and the aerial part in case of E.C. over 2.0 mS/cm.; higher the E.C. of the nutritive solution, higher the effect for the whole plant.
The highest fresh weight of the new fronds was recorded for the E.C. of 2.0 mS/cm while the lowest result was observed in the case of the E.C. of 5.0 mS/cm.
On the contrary no difference related to the treatments was recorded in the old branches.
No visual symptom of toxicity was observed on the frond or other parts of the plants even after 16 months of supply of nutritive solutions with E.C. up to 5.0 mS/cm.
The results demonstrate the possibility of detrimental effects of high salinity on frond production in Danae racemosa without any preliminary signal of risk on the cultivated plants.
An E.C. of 3.0 mS/cm of the nutritive solution in the soil must be considered detrimental.
In the first phase of the activity the response of the plant to salinity was evaluated.
Plants of Danae racemosa propagated by crown division were grown in pots containing sand.
They were fed from April 1997 till August 1998 with nutritive solutions of constant N – P – K – Ca – Mg rate but of different electrical conductivity (2.0 mS/cm; 3.0 mS/cm; 4.0 mS/cm; 5.0 mS/cm). Micronutrients were added in normal concentration to each nutritive solution.
The nutrient solutions were supplied once or twice a week (depending on the season) with amounts sufficient for a complete replacement in the substrate.
Plant growth was monitored and the presence of visual symptoms useful for nutritional diagnosis was checked throughout the trial.
The final control of plant growth was carried out in August at maturity stage of the fronds derived from the buds emerged in April.
A decrease of dry weight was observed for the roots, the rhizome and the aerial part in case of E.C. over 2.0 mS/cm.; higher the E.C. of the nutritive solution, higher the effect for the whole plant.
The highest fresh weight of the new fronds was recorded for the E.C. of 2.0 mS/cm while the lowest result was observed in the case of the E.C. of 5.0 mS/cm.
On the contrary no difference related to the treatments was recorded in the old branches.
No visual symptom of toxicity was observed on the frond or other parts of the plants even after 16 months of supply of nutritive solutions with E.C. up to 5.0 mS/cm.
The results demonstrate the possibility of detrimental effects of high salinity on frond production in Danae racemosa without any preliminary signal of risk on the cultivated plants.
An E.C. of 3.0 mS/cm of the nutritive solution in the soil must be considered detrimental.
Authors
C. Dalla Guda, E. Scordo, C. Cervelli, E. Farina
Keywords
Danae racemosa, nutrition, E.C., growth
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