Initial soil-mix and postplanting liquid fertilization effects on nutrient concentrations
      in Valencia orange seedling leaves

Labanauskas, C; Nauer, E; Roistacher, C

Initial soil-mix and postplanting liquid fertilization effects on nutrient concentrations in Valencia orange seedling leaves

Authors

C. K. Labanauskas
E. M. Nauer
C. N. Roistacher

Authors Affiliations

C. K. Labanauskas was Lecturer and Associate Horticulturist in the University of California Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station, Riverside; E. M. Nauer was Associate Specialist in the Horticultural Science Department in the University of California Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station, Riverside; C. N. Roistacher was Laboratory Technician IV, Plant Pathology, in the University of California Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station, Riverside.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 38(15):569-577. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v38n15p569. November 1967.

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Abstract

Effects of mix composition, fertilization, and pH on citrus seedlings grown in several U.C.-type potting mixtures in containers were studied. A liquid fertilizer containing NH₄NO₃, KCI, and NH4H2P04 significantly increased plant top weight, eliminated micronutrient deficiency symptoms, and increased N, P, K, CI, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, and Fe concentrations in leaves to optimum levels as compared with seedlings watered with liquid fertilizer containing Ca(NO₃)₂, MgSO₄, and KNO₃, Availability of micronutrients to plants appeared to be influenced primarily by soil pH. When pH of soil-leachate was higher than 7.0, the plants exhibited more micronutrient deficiency symptoms and made considerable less growth than when pH was lower than 7.0. These findings have been successfully applied in several large scale greenhouse operations which had previously had much difficulty in producing vigorous citrus seedlings free of nutrient-deficiency symptoms.

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Also in this issue:

Effects of mix composition, fertilization, and pH on citrus grown in U.C.-Type potting mixtures under greenhouse conditions