The influence of irrigation system and nutrient solution concentration on potted geranium production under various conditions of radiation and temperature

Subirrigation of containerized vegetable crops is a promising strategy to increase water and nutrient use efficiency, however, the longer growing seasons for cultivation of vegetable species may cause marked changes in the physical and chemical substrate properties. This study determined the effects of the irrigation system, subirrigation vs. drip-irrigation, and the concentration of the nutrient solution on the substrate physical and chemical properties in containerized tomato plants. Plants were irrigated with solutions at concentrations of −0.072, −0.058 and −0.043 MPa. Root dry weight of subirrigated plants was decreased by 35% in the substrate top layer when the highest concentration was used. Substrate electrical conductivity increased while pH was acidified as solution concentration increased and from the bottom to the top substrate layers in subirrigated plants. Salts buildup was associated with increased concentration of oxalic and tartaric acids and pH acidification. The improved substrate physical and chemical properties in subirrigated plants were associated with higher fruit yield (11.0 kg per plant) provided nutrient solution concentration was reduced to −0.043 MPa; in contrast, the highest yield in drip-irrigated plants (10.1 kg per plant) was obtained when the solution concentration was −0.072 MPa. In conclusion, subirrigation with reuse of the nutrient solution is a promising strategy to reduce water waste through runoff and leaching as water use efficiency increases due to greater water retention properties in the substrate, the maintenance of an EC within a range the plants can tolerate, and a lower acidification of substrate pH.

Download Full-text

The Influence of Drip Irrigation or Subirrigation on Zucchini Squash Grown in Closed-loop Substrate Culture with High and Low Nutrient Solution Concentrations

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.44.2.306 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 306-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Youssef Rouphael ◽

Giuseppe Colla

Keyword(s):

Mineral Composition ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Closed Loop ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Solution Concentration ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Nitrogen Phosphorus

Zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo L. cultivar Afrodite) were grown during a summer–fall season in closed-soilless systems using a mixture peat–pumice to evaluate the effects of irrigation system (drip irrigation and subirrigation) and nutrient solution concentration (half = 1 dS·m−1 and full = 2 dS·m−1) in terms of substrate electrical conductivity (ECs) using the dilution 1:1.5 media:water method, growth, yield, leaf mineral composition, fruit quality, and mineral solution composition. At the end of the cultural cycle, the highest ECs at the upper (0 to 7.5 cm) and lower (7.5 to 15.0 cm) layers were recorded with subirrigation using a full nutrient solution concentration. The highest plant growth, yield, and leaf macroelements concentration (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) were recorded in both irrigation systems using a full-strength solution, followed by drip irrigation, and finally by subirrigation treatment using a half-strength nutrient solution. Fruit yield, fruit mineral composition (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), and leaf macroelements concentration (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium) were substantially reduced when the concentrations of macronutrients in the feed solution were lowered to 50% of control. Using half-nutrient solution concentration, the marketable yield reduction was more pronounced with subirrigation (58%) than with drip irrigation (42%). The variation of the macronutrient and EC in the solution during the growing cycle was less pronounced in the subirrigation than with the drip irrigation system, which represents an important aspect for the simplification of the closed-loop management of the nutrient solution.

Download Full-text

Irrigation of Geraniums with an Automatic Controlled Water Table System

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.522d ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 522d-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J.W. Buxton ◽

D.L. Ingram ◽

Wenwei Jia

Keyword(s):

Water Potential ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Water Table ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Central Area ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Run Off ◽

Optimum Water

Geraniums in 15-cm pots were irrigated automatically for 8 weeks with a Controlled Water Table (CWT) irrigation system. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution supplied by a capillary mat with one end of the mat suspended in a trough below the bottom of the pot. The nutrient solution remained at a constant level in the trough. Nutrient solution removed from the trough was immediately replaced from a larger reservoir. The vertical distance from the surface of the nutrient solution and the bottom of the pot determined the water/air ratio and water potential in the growing media. Treatments consisted of placing pots at 0, 2, 4, and 6 cm above the nutrient solution. Control plants were irrigated as needed with a trickle irrigation system. Geraniums grown at 0,2 and 4 CWT were ≈25% larger than the control plants and those grown at 6 CWT as measured by dry weight and leaf area. Roots of plants grown at 0 CWT were concentrated in the central area of the root ball; whereas roots of plants in other treatments were located more near the bottom of the pot. Advantages of the CWT system include: Plant controlled automatic irrigation; no run off; optimum water/air ratio.

Download Full-text

Effect of nutrient solution concentration and NH4:NO3 ratio on Maranta growth

Scientia Horticulturae ◽

10.1016/s0304-4238(98)00225-8 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 80 (1-2) ◽

pp. 105-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Z Strojny

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Solution Concentration

Download Full-text

Inmobilización y retención nutrimental en aserrín de pino como sustrato agrícola.

REVISTA TERRA LATINOAMERICANA ◽

10.28940/terra.v37i3.448 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 261

Author(s):

Joel Pineda Pineda ◽

Felipe Sánchez del Castillo ◽

Esaú Del Carmen Moreno Pérez ◽

Luis Alonso Valdez Aguilar ◽

Ana María Castillo González ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Solution Concentration ◽

Particle Sizes ◽

Similar Concentration ◽

Volcanic Tuff ◽

Pine Sawdust ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Growing Medium ◽

Leachate Water ◽

Main Substrate

Pine (Pinus sp.) sawdust has been used as a growing medium for the cultivation of vegetables and ornamentals. In the present work the objective was to assess the immobilization or retention of N, P, K, and Ca in pine sawdust as the main substrate component by applying Steiner nutrient solution at different concentrations (20, 30 and 40 meq L-1). We used uncomposted sawdust, alone or in mixtures (70/30, v/v) with volcanic tuff of different particle sizes (fine ≤ 3 mm, medium 3-6 mm, and coarse 6-12 mm). For two months, leachate was collected daily, and every 10 days, the average concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca, as well as pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured. The effect of the interaction substrate × nutrient solution concentration on N, P, K and Ca in the leached water was observed. These nutrients increased in concentration in the leachate water in accord with the nutrient solution concentration and as the diameter of volcanic tuff particles diminished. Irrigation with 20 meq L-1 (2 dS m-1) concentration of nutrient solution reduced the concentration of N, P, K, and Ca in leached water below its concentration in the supplied nutrient solution, while irrigation with 30 or 40 meq L-1 (2 or 4 dS m-1) resulted in similar concentration in leached water up to 20 or 30 dat, but at 40 dat, concentration of these nutrients in the leached water was higher. Immobilization of N and P, K, and Ca retention in the sawdust substrate occurred during the first 40 ddt, related to an increase in pH (up to 8.6), a decrease in EC (until 0.5 dS m-1) and low concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in the leached water.

Download Full-text