Growth Responses and Nutrient Absorption Characteristics of Ardisia Pot Plants in Two Growth Stages as Influenced by Nutrient Solution Strengths

摘要

Ardisia pot plants have been popularly marketed as an interior ground cover and a foliage pot plant because of its shiny red berries in winter season. This study was carried out to investigate the plant growth and nutrient absorption characteristics of Ardisia pot plants according to the growth stage and nutrient solution strength. The Sonneveld solutions were diluted to 0, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 times to make treatment solutions. The plants were examined at the vegetative (rooted cutting that have not flowered) and reproductive (more than one year old plant that have flowered) growth stage. A. pusilla showed no remarkable changes in plant growth according to growth stage and nutrient strength. The excess nutrients of the higher strength treatments of 1/2and 1 times accumulated in the nutrient solution; therefore, the nutrient concentration of 1/4 times was the most effective treatment to economize nutrient supply and improve plant growth. However, some nutrients should be adjusted in the nutrient solution. The compositions of nutrient solution must be adjusted to supplement the contents of total nitrogen as calcium in leaves decreased during the flowering and fruiting. In A. japonica, the nutrient strength must be supplied in different levels accordingto the growth stage. The nutrient solution strength of 1 times was recommended at the vegetative stage and 1/4 times at the reproductive stage. The leaf contents of calcium and magnesium decreased in the nutrient treatments compared to control; so nutrient solution composition must be regulated for this two nutrients. The excess nutrients accumulated in the higher strength treatments of 1/2 and 1 times until 18 weeks, but the nutrients of ammonium, phosphate, potassium, and magnesium were absorbed suddenly after 18 weeks in these treatments. Therefore, supplementation of these nutrients during this period must be considered. According to this study, the needed nutritional conditions of the two plants in the same genus were different. Therefore, the nutrients must be supplied in the proper time for each plant to harvest high quality products.