Abstract
Effects of the nutrient level at planting time on growth and quality of cut flower in spray chrysanthemums were investigated. An equal amount of fertilizer measuring approximately N 267 mg/shoot was applied to each plot with different basal fertilizer ratios of 0 %, 25 %, 75 % and 100 %, respectively. The residual nutrients divided into 10 equal dosages were applied every week. For reference, fertilizer was also applied according to the conventional recommended method (N 500 mg/shoot).
Initial growth of plants in 25 % and 50 % plots was better than that in the other plots. Necrosis due to excessive fertilization was observed in the leaves of plants in the 75 % and 100 % plots. Regardless of the ratio of basal fertilizer to total application, the quality of cut flowers was good and marketable. The quality of cut flowers from the conventional plot was lower than that from other plots due to excessive growth of leaves and stems.
It is desirable to maintain the initial nutrient levels at planting time in a range between 50 and 300 ppm nitrate using a soil solution in spray chrysanthemum production.
