Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances
Growers in Florida face unique challenges regarding maintaining proper citrus nutrition. Poor draining soils with low fertility, low C.E.C., and high rates of leaching are common in this region. In response to these challenges, interest has grown in products labeled as soil conditioners. Using a com...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/812 |
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| author | Lorenzo Rossi Lukas M. Hallman Sawyer N. Adams Walter O. Ac-Pangan |
| author_facet | Lorenzo Rossi Lukas M. Hallman Sawyer N. Adams Walter O. Ac-Pangan |
| author_sort | Lorenzo Rossi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Growers in Florida face unique challenges regarding maintaining proper citrus nutrition. Poor draining soils with low fertility, low C.E.C., and high rates of leaching are common in this region. In response to these challenges, interest has grown in products labeled as soil conditioners. Using a completely randomized experimental design, this greenhouse study tested the effects of 5 different combinations of a traditional fertilizer (TF) and a new soil conditioner (SC) on lemon and orange seedling physiology. Eight-month-old ‘Bearss’ lemon and ‘Valencia’ sweet orange grafted on sour orange rootstocks were employed, and five repetitions were used for each treatment. Plant biomass (dry weight), height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance and nutrient uptake were analyzed after 120 days of treatment. The results show that SC has a positive impact upon both chlorophyll levels and stomatal conductance values in both orange and lemon seedlings. However, based on dry weight growth data, we can only conclude that the SC was effective for orange seedlings at 50% TF and 0.5% SC. Based on this short 120-day evaluation, the SC achieved positive growth promotion for orange (50% TF) but not for lemon seedlings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:49:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c6fbaffeba94948807f65818bf8960f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:49:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c6fbaffeba94948807f65818bf8960f2023-11-20T05:14:14ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-06-019781210.3390/plants9070812Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological PerformancesLorenzo Rossi0Lukas M. Hallman1Sawyer N. Adams2Walter O. Ac-Pangan3Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USAHorticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USAHorticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USAHorticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USAGrowers in Florida face unique challenges regarding maintaining proper citrus nutrition. Poor draining soils with low fertility, low C.E.C., and high rates of leaching are common in this region. In response to these challenges, interest has grown in products labeled as soil conditioners. Using a completely randomized experimental design, this greenhouse study tested the effects of 5 different combinations of a traditional fertilizer (TF) and a new soil conditioner (SC) on lemon and orange seedling physiology. Eight-month-old ‘Bearss’ lemon and ‘Valencia’ sweet orange grafted on sour orange rootstocks were employed, and five repetitions were used for each treatment. Plant biomass (dry weight), height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance and nutrient uptake were analyzed after 120 days of treatment. The results show that SC has a positive impact upon both chlorophyll levels and stomatal conductance values in both orange and lemon seedlings. However, based on dry weight growth data, we can only conclude that the SC was effective for orange seedlings at 50% TF and 0.5% SC. Based on this short 120-day evaluation, the SC achieved positive growth promotion for orange (50% TF) but not for lemon seedlings.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/812citrus physiologyfertilizationsoil amendment |
| spellingShingle | Lorenzo Rossi Lukas M. Hallman Sawyer N. Adams Walter O. Ac-Pangan Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances Plants citrus physiology fertilization soil amendment |
| title | Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances |
| title_full | Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances |
| title_fullStr | Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances |
| title_short | Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances |
| title_sort | impact of a soil conditioner integrated into fertilization scheme on orange and lemon seedling physiological performances |
| topic | citrus physiology fertilization soil amendment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/812 |
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