THE INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN FORMS ON ROOT GROWTH AND PH CHANGES IN THE RHIZOSPHERE

Strawberry plants (cvs. ‘Senga Sengana’, ‘Salut’ and ‘Elkat’) grown on mineral soil in rhizoboxes were fertilized with NH₄NO₃, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and Ca(NO₃)₂, applied in concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30 mg N kg^-1 soil.
The plant growth response and rhizosphere pH were determined after 12 weeks of treatment with different N forms.
The results revealed cultivar-related differences in the ability of strawberry roots to modify the rhizosphere pH. Changes in the pH values in the rhizosphere of strawberry plants were caused by root activity and the influence of the applied forms of nitrogen.
The highest pH values in the rhizosphere were measured in the root tips, lower in the middle root zones, and the lowest at the root bases.
Plants supplied with N-NH₄⁺ had the lowest rhizosphere pH (yellow colour). Following fertilization with N-NO₃^– the increased rhizosphere pH was observed (purple colour). Regardless of N treatment, plants of ‘Senga Sengana’ produced the highest dry root biomass, ‘Elkat’ lower and ‘Salut’ the lowest.

Euro Berry Symposium – COST-Action 836 Final Workshop

L. Sas Paszt, E. Żurawicz

strawberry plants, nitrogen forms, rhizosphere pH, root growth

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.649.40