Open Access

ARTICLE

Effects of Nitrogen Exponential Fertilization on Growth and Nutrient Concentration of Hydrangea macrophylla Seedlings

Xueying Wang¹, Yonghong Hu^2,3, Fiza Liaquat⁴, Xianquan Zhang^2,3, Kang Ye^2,3, Jun Qin^2,3,*, Qunlu Liu^1,*

1 Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
2 Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Urban Tree Ecology and Applications, Shanghai, 200020, China
3 Shanghai Chen Shan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
4 School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

* Corresponding Authors: Jun Qin. Email: ; Qunlu Liu. Email:

(This article belongs to this Special Issue: The Effect of Soil Quality Degradation on the Plant Growth, Quality and Food Safety in Subtropical Agroforestry Ecosystems)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2022, 91(2), 395-407. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.017981

Received 21 June 2021; Accepted 03 August 2021; Issue published 26 September 2021

Abstract

Slow growth rate restricts the development and growth of seedlings due to nutrients deficiency or nutrient imbalance. Exponential fertilization can enhance the internal nutrient reserves in seedlings at the nursery-stage and strengthen their resistance to adverse conditions. In this study, nitrogen requirements for producing Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hanatemari’ that robust seedlings, nutrient dynamics, biomass and growth, was examined utilizing exponential fertilization. The potted seedlings were fertilized with urea under exponential regime at rates of 0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 g nitrogen/plant (EF1, EF2, and EF3), respectively. In addition, an unfertilized group treated with equal volume of deionized water was used as control. The results showed that seedlings under 1.5 g N/plant (EF2) had the highest plant growth index and total biomass. The nutrient concentrations of different organs varied in different fertilization treatments. Based on the results of current study, it is concluded that 1.5 g N/plant (EF2) is suitable exponential fertilization treatment for the culture of hydrangea seedlings. Our treatments results showed that 2.0 g N/plant is not suitable for seedling culturing, because of serious nutrient toxicity. These findings will help to improve seedling quality and strengthen the production of H. macrophylla for plantation.

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Keywords

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