Effect of a Novel Phosphorus Fertilizer on Production of Florist Azalea and Pythium Resistance of Geranium
Subject:
AI-P Fertilizer resists root rot and improves drought tolerance
Abstract:
We have developed a novel phosphorus (P) fertilizer which acts as a buffer. This is it releases P into the medium as plants remove it from the soil solution. This maintains a low but constant supply of P to the roots. Previous research indicated that buffered-P fertilizer (Al-P) provided adequate P nutrition to bedding plants and resulted in more compact, drought tolerant plants. In this study, we tested two additional hypotheses: (1) that Al-P could provide adequate P to crops with a long production time, e.g., florist azalea; and (2) that Al-P might increase resistance to disease, specifically Pythium root rot, which had previously been shown to be exacerbated by high fertilizer rates.
Source: • American Floral Endowment Special Research Reports #502
Libraries: Floriculture