GROWTH AND MINERAL UPTAKE OF POT PLANTS AS AFFECTED BY NUTRIENT SOLUTION AND CO₂ CONCENTRATIONS

The influence of CO₂ enrichment and nutrient solution concentration on growth and nutrient uptake of pot plants grown on ebb-and-flow benches was studied. Ficus benjamina ‘Starlight’ and Schefflera arboricola ‘Worthy’ were cultivated in two separate compartments with 350 (ambient) and 850 (enriched) µmol mol^-1 CO₂ and with two levels of nutrient solution concentrations: 1.2 and 1.8 mS cm^-1 EC. CO₂ enrichment was beneficial to both plant growth, however the growth rate of schefflera was greater than ficus, irrespectively of the CO₂ enrichment and EC level.
As a result of CO₂ enrichment the fresh weight of ficus increased 17.9% and 35.1% at EC 1.2 and 1.8 mS cm^-1, respectively.
Shoot dry weight, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and overall plant quality were also greater when CO₂ was applied.
Schefflera grown at the enriched CO₂ level and high EC had the highest fresh weight, plant height, leaf number, leaf area and highest quality.
Nutrient uptake (N, P, K, Mg) of both plants was greater when plants were grown with CO₂ enrichment compared with plants grown in ambient atmosphere, except calcium uptake of schefflera.
In the case of ficus, increasing EC of nutrient solution at ambient CO₂ level resulted in worse growth and lowest nutrient uptake.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

J. Treder, J. Nowak

CO₂ enrichment, ebb-and-flow benches, fertigation, Ficus benjamina, nutrient uptake, Schefflera arboricola

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.644.58