Abstract

Swedish ornamental nurseries are supplying fertiliser to field crops only during the first half of the growing season, due to the concern of growers that late fertilisation will delay development of freezing tolerance. Effects of fertilisation on freezing tolerance were investigated in two climate chamber experiments. Three different fertilising strategies were used on plants of silver birch and blue holly; one treatment according to ordinary practice with all fertiliser applied within the first half of the growing season, secondly a treatment with all fertiliser almost evenly spread out over the growing season, and the third treatment as the second one but with additional potassium and phosphorus added at the end of the growing season. The total applied amount of nitrogen was the same for all treatments. The plants had a growing season of 12 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of autumn climate, simulated in the climate chamber. During the autumn period plants were tested for freezing tolerance in freezing tests. The study showed that a fertiliser strategy with an almost even distribution of a balanced fertiliser during the growing season had no negative effect on the development of frost tolerance in silver birch and blue holly. Growth and freezing tolerance showed small differences between treatments, although the rate of development of freezing tolerance seemed to be slightly faster in the third treatment. However, the results showed differences in growth and development of freezing tolerance between the experiments, indicating that other growth factors than nutrient distribution had an impact on developing freezing tolerance. Nevertheless, the results indicate that growers can even out the application of fertilisers over the entire growing season without jeopardising the development of freezing tolerance and, thus, decrease the risk for nutrient leakage to underlying soil and water table.

Keywords

Fertiliser strategy; frost tolerance; hardiness development; Betula pendula; Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Princess'

Published in

European Journal of Horticultural Science
2010, Volume: 75, number: 4, pages: 165-171
Publisher: EUGEN ULMER GMBH CO

SLU Authors

• Kosiba Held, Andrea

  • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lindqvist, Hans

  • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Asp, Håkan

  • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/47825