Influence of Different NH4+/NO3- Ratios and Calcium Levels on Growth, Nutrients Concentration, and Quality of Rose Flower

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate of Tarbiat Modarres University

2 Professor of Tarbiat Modarres University

3 Assistant Professor of Tabriz University

4 Assistant Professor of Tehran University

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of different NH4+/NO3- ratios and calcium levels on growth, nutrients concentration and quality of rose  flower  (Rosa  hybrida  L.).  Statistical  design  was  factorial  in  a randomized complete block with four replications. Rose plants cultivar Vandentta were grown with three NH4+/NO3- ratios (0/100, 25/75 and 50/50) in  combination  with  two  levels  of  calcium  (1.6  and  4.8  mM)  under hydroponic conditions. The results revealed that, except for leaf chlorophyll content index, none of the vegetative growth indices were affected by NH4+/NO3- ratios and calcium levels in the nutrient solution. Application of ammonium in the nutrient solution resulted in increasing N, P and micronutrients and decreasing Ca and Mg in different parts of rose flower, respectively. Also, N, P, Fe, Cu and B in the different parts of rose flower were not affected by increasing the Ca concentration in the nutrient solution. However, application of Ca resulted in increasing Ca and decreasing K, Mg, Mn and Zn in the different rose parts, respectively. At the two flower harvesting dates, yield increased significantly by application of NH4+. Also there was no difference between NH4+/NO3- ratios of 25/75 and 50/50 in the yield. However, rose quality indices during post harvest were affected significantly  (P≤0.01)  by  the  previous  application  of  ammonium  and calcium. Increasing NH4+/NO3-  ratio up to 50/50 significantly reduced the weight of flowering stem at the end of vase life, as well as the flower diameter and also vase life; whereas, calcium application up to 4.8 mM significantly increased all these quality indices. On the basis of this experiment, in view of the economic and flower quality indices, the application of 25 percent of nitrogen as NH4+ and increasing level of calcium in the nutrient solution up to 4.8 mM are recommended for cut rose production in hydroponic conditions.

Keywords

References

  1. امامی، ع. 1375. روشهای تجزیه گیاه. نشریه فنی شماره 982، انتشارات موسسه تحقیقات خاک و آب، تهران، 202ص.
  2. Assimakopoulou, A. 2006. Effect of iron supply and nitrogen form on growth, nutritional status and ferric reducing activity of spinach in nutrient solution culture. Sci. Hort., 110: 21–29.
  3. Bar-Tal, A., R. Baas, R. Ganmore-Neumann, A. Dik, N. Marissen, A. Silber, S. Davidov, A. Hazan, B. Kirshner, and Y. Elad. 2001. Rose flower production and quality as affected by Ca concentration in the petal. Agronomie, 21: 393-402.
  4. Britto, D. T., and H. J. Kronzucker. 2002. NH4+ toxicity in higher plants: A critical review. J. Plant Physiol., 159: 567–584.
  5. Cabrera, R. I. 2001. Effects of NaCl salinity and nitrogen fertilizer formulation on yield and nutrient status of roses. Acta Hort., 547: 255-260.
  6. De Kreij, C., C. Sonneveld, M. G. Warmenhoven, and N. A. Straver. 1992. Guide values for nutrient element contents of vegetables and flowers under glass. Research Station for Floriculture and Greenhouse Vegetables Report, No. 15.
  7. Demarty, M., C. Morvan, and M. Thellier. 1984. Calcium and the cell wall. Plant Cell Environ., 7: 441-448.
  8. Errebhi, M., and G. E. Wilcox. 1990. Plant species response to ammonium-nitrate concentration ratios. Plant Nutr., 13: 1017-1029.
  9. Fageria, V. D. 2001. Nutrient interactions in crop plants. J. Plant Nutr., 24: 1269–1290.
  10. Feigin, A., Ginzburg, S. Gilead, and A. Ackerman. 1986. Effect of NH4/NO3 ratio in the nutrient solution on growth and yield of greenhouse roses. Acta Hort., 189: 127-135.
  11. Ferguson, B., and B. K. Drobak. 1988. Calcium and regulation of plant growth and senescence. HortScience, 23: 262-266.
  12. Findenegg, G. R. 1987. A comparative study of ammonium toxicity at different constant pH of the nutrient solution. Plant Soil, 103: 239-243.
  13. Givan, C. V. 1979. Metabolic detoxification of ammonia in tissues of higher plants. Phytochemistry, 18: 375-382.
  14. Gutschick, V. P. 1981. Evolved strategies in nitrogen acquisition by plants. Amer. Naturalist, 118: 607-637.
  15. Halevy, A. H., S. Torre, A. Borochov, R. Porat, S. Philosoph-Hadas, S. Meir, and H. Friedman. 2001. Calcium in regulation of postharvest life of flowers. Acta Hort., 543: 345-351.
  16. Hartman, P. L., H. A. Mills, and J. B. Jones. 1986. The influence of nitrate-ammonium ratios on growth, fruit development, and element concentration in Floradel tomato plants. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., 111: 487-490.
  17. Henry, L. T., and C. D. Raper. 1989. Effects of root-zone acidity on utilization of nitrate and ammonium in tobacco plants. J. Plant Nutr., 12: 811-826.
  18. Hoagland, D. R., and I. Arnon. 1950. The water-culture method for growing plants without soil. Circular 347, University of California, U.S.A.
  19. Hohjo, M., C. Kuwata, K. Yoshikawa, and T. Ito. 1995. Effects of nitrogen form, nutrient concentration and Ca concentration on the growth, yield and fruit quality in NFT-tomato plants. Acta Hort., 396: 145-152.
  20. Kirkby, E. A. 1979. Maximizing calcium uptake by plants. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal., 10: 89-113.
  21. Kotsiras, A., C. M. Olympios, J. Drosopoulos, and H. C. Passam. 2002. Effects of nitrogen form and concentration on the distribution of ions within cucumber fruits. Sci. Hort., 95: 175–183.
  22. Lorenzo, H., M. C. Cid, J. M. Siverio, and M. Caballero. 2000. Influence of additional ammonium supply on some nutritional aspects in hydroponic rose plants. J. Agric. Sci., 134: 421-425.
  23. Magalhaes, J. R., and G. E. Wilcox. 1983. Tomato growth and nutrient uptake patterns as influenced by nitrogen form and light intensity. J. Plant Nutr., 6: 941-956.
  24. Marschner, H. 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 2nd San Diego: Academic Press, U. S. A.
  25. Mengel, K., and E. A. Kirkby. 2001. Principles of Plant Nutrition. 5th Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, U. S. A.
  26. Mengel, K., R. Planker, and B. Hoffman. 1994. Relationship between leaf apoplast pH and Fe chlorosis of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). J. Plant Nutr., 17: 1053–1064.
  27. Michalczuk, B., D. M. Goszczynska, R. M. Rudnicki, and A. H. Halevy. 1989. Calcium promotes longevity and bud opening in cut rose flowers. Isr. J. Bot., 38: 209-215.
  28. Mortensen, L. M., C. O. Ottosen, and H. R. Gislerod. 2001. Effects of air humidity and K:Ca ratio on growth, morphology, flowering and keeping quality of pot roses. Sci. Hort., 90: 131-141.
  29. Nielsen, B., and K. R. Starkey. 1999. Influence of production factors on postharvest life of potted roses. Postharvest Biol. Technol., 16: 157-167.
  30. Nikolic, M., and V. Romheld. 2003. Nitrate does not result in Fe inactivation in the apoplast of sunflower leaves. Plant Physiol., 132: 1303–1314.
  31. Norisada, M., and K. Kojima. 2005. Nitrogen form preference of six dipterocarp species. Forest Ecol. Manage., 216: 175–186.
  32. Peet, M. M., C. D. Raper, J. L. C. Tolley, and W. P. Robarge. 1985. Tomato responses to ammonium and nitrate nutrition under controlled root zone pH. J. Plant Nutr., 8: 787-798.
  33. Pill, W. G., and V. N. Lambeth. 1977. Effects of NH4 and NO3 nutrition with and without pH adjustment on tomato growth, ion composition, and water relation. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., 102: 78-81.
  34. Raven, J. A. 1988. The iron and molybdenum use efficiencies of plant growth with different carbon and nitrogen sources. New Phytol., 109: 279-287.
  35. Reddy, K. S., and R. C. Menart. 1989. Vegetative growth, flowering and leaf nutrient concentration of boronia as affected by nitrogen level and form. Hort., 40: 335-344.
  36. Rothstein, D., and B. M. Cregg. 2005. Effects of nitrogen form on nutrient uptake and physiology of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). Forest Ecol. Manage., 219: 69–80.
  37. SAS Institute. 2001. SAS User’s Guide, version 8.02. SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC.
  38. Savvas, D., V. Karagianni, A. Kotsiras, V. Demopoulos, Karkamisi, and P. Pakou. 2003. Interactions between ammonium and pH of the nutrient solution supplied to gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) grown in pumice. Plant Soil, 254: 393–402.
  39. Starkey, R. K., and A. R. Pedersen. 1997. Increased levels of calcium in the nutrient solution improve the post-harvest life of potted rose. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., 122: 863-868.
  40. Torre, S., A. Borochov, and A. H. Halevy. 1999. Calcium regulation of senescence in rose petals. Physiol. Plant., 107: 214-219.
  41. Torre, S., T. Fjeld, and H. R. Gislerod. 2001. Effects of air humidity and K/Ca ratio in the nutrient supply on growth and postharvest characteristics of cut roses. Sci. Hort., 90: 291-304.
  42. White, J. W. 1987. Fertilization. In: Roses, ed. Langhans, R. W., pp. 87-135. Roses Incorporation, S.A.
  43. Woodson, W. R., and J. W. Boodley. 1982. Effects of nitrogen form and potassium concentration on growth, flowering and nitrogen utilization of greenhouse roses. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., 107: 275-278.
Iranian Journal of Soil Research
Volume 23, Issue 1
March 2009
Pages 23-33

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics