container)nursery)) produc1on)fer1lizaon)€¦ · ec)levels)for)osmocote)plus®)and)polyon®...

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Container Nursery Produc1on Fer1liza1on Amy Fulcher University of Tennessee Assistant Professor Sustainable Ornamental Plant Produc1on and Landscape Management Some content adapted from that originally prepared and presented by Donna Fare, Mark Halcomb and Amy Fulcher at the Container Dogwood Produc1on Workshop, November 18, 2010 in McMinnville, TN.

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Page 1: Container)Nursery)) Produc1on)Fer1lizaon)€¦ · EC)Levels)for)Osmocote)Plus®)and)Polyon® TopYapplied)Treatments) 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 h April y June July August r November Polyon

Container  Nursery    Produc1on  Fer1liza1on  

Amy  Fulcher  University  of  Tennessee  

Assistant  Professor  Sustainable  Ornamental  Plant  Produc1on  and  Landscape  Management    

Some  content  adapted  from  that  originally  prepared  and  presented  by  Donna  Fare,  Mark  Halcomb  and  Amy  Fulcher  at  the  Container  Dogwood  Produc1on  Workshop,  November  18,  2010  in  McMinnville,  TN.  

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Whole  Systems  Approach  

Substrate  

Fer1lizer  

Temperature  Light  

Humidity  Water  

Years  in  Produc1on  

Container  Size  and  Shape  

Wind  

Plant  Size  (leaf  area)  

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Container  Nursery    Produc1on  Fer1liza1on  

•  pH,  alkalinity,  EC  guidelines  •  Monitoring  nutri1on  •  Controlled  release  fer1lizers  •  Types  of  fer1lizer  applica1ons  •  Rates  –  at  poTng  and  bumping  up  •  Changing  pH  

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Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

•  Op1mal  pH  5.0  –  6.0  (pour  thru)  – Lower  than  ideal  soil  pH  range    – Why?  

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Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

•  Op1mal  pH  5.0  –  6.0  – Lower  than  soils  ok  because  excess  Al  not  a  problem  

•  pH  -­‐  A  figure  expressing  the  acidity  or  alkalinity  of  a  solu1on  on  a  logarithmic  scale  from  0  to  14  (where  7  is  neutral  and  greater  than  7  is  more  basic  and  less  than  7  is  more  acidic).      – 10x  difference  

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Macro  elements  Complete  fer1lizer  

Minor  elements  

Bilderback,  2001  

Nutrient  Availability  

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Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

•  Op1mal  alkalinity  range  (water  supply)  –  <61  ppm  no  problem  –  61-­‐214  ppm  degree  of  problem  increasing  –  >214  ppm  severe  alkalinity  level  

•  Alkalinity  –  the  amount  of  carbonate  and  bicarbonate  anion  in  solu1on.  Carbonate  and  bicarbonate  anions  contribute  to  alkalinity  due  to  their  basic  nature,  hence  their  ability  to  neutralize  acid.      –  Buffers  against  pH  change  

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Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

•  Op1mal  EC    –  0.2  to  0.5  mmhos  CRF  only  –  0.5-­‐1.0  (+)  mmhos  CRF  +  solu1on  or  solu1on  only  

•  Soluble  salts  -­‐  the  total  dissolved  salts  in  the  root  substrate  (substrate  solu1on)  at  any  given  1me    – Measured  by  electrical  conduc1vity  (EC).  

•  More  fer1lizer  -­‐>  more  salty  -­‐>  higher  EC  

Whipker  and  Cavins.  2000.  Electrical  Conduc1vity  (EC):  Units  and  Conversions.  NCSU.  FLOREX  002.  

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Measuring  Container  Nutri1on  

•  Pour  thru  –  Mark  discussing  •  Saturated  paste  extract*    – Add  dis1lled  water  to  substrate  un1l  glistens  

•  2:1  dilu1on  – 2  dis1lled  water:1  substrate  

– *not  liquid  feed-­‐  so  s1rring  not  desirable  – Consistent  technique  – Acceptable  range  varies  with  technique  

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Whipker  and  Cavins.  2000.  Electrical  Conduc1vity  (EC):  Units  and  Conversions.  NCSU.  FLOREX  002.  

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Whipker  and  Cavins.  2000.  Electrical  Conduc1vity  (EC):  Units  and  Conversions.  NCSU.  FLOREX  002.  Whipker  and  Cavins.  2000.  Electrical  Conduc1vity  (EC):  Units  and  Conversions.  NCSU.  

FLOREX  002.  

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Types  of  Controlled  Release  Fer1lizers  

•  Osmocote®  -­‐  Longevity  70F    •  Granule  is  covered  with  an  organic,  semi-­‐permeable  coa1ng  of  

biodegradable  resin  made  of  vegetable  oils.    – Water  penetrates  through  the  coa1ng  and  dissolves  the  nutrients.    

–  Start-­‐up  takes  1  to  2  weeks,  depending  on  the  longevity.    –  Only  the  temperature  is  important  in  the  release.      

Image  Credit:  hip://everris.us.com/plant-­‐nutri1on/coated-­‐fer1lizers/paierned-­‐nutrient-­‐release-­‐fer1lizers    

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Types  of  Controlled  Release  Fer1lizers  

•  Nutricote®  •  Resin  (Polyolefin)  coa1ng  •  Longevity  controlled  by  the  composi1on  of  the  resin  and  the  quan1ty  of  a  special  "chemical  release  agent"  added  to  the  resin  

•  Molecular  passageways  in  the  coated  resin  in  a  maze-­‐like  structure.    

•  Water  in  the  soil  enters  the  granule  through  the  passageways  and  dissolves  the  nutrients.    

Image  Credit:  hip://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=hip://www.mortonproducts.com/images/nutricote.jpg&imgrefurl=hip://www.mortonproducts.com/page.cfm/1557&h=325&w=361&sz=43&tbnid=zoNPn8p-­‐Hu_iM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=104&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnutricote%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=nutricote&usg=__opgJUdz3WIP_kV0A9MPYLVbZ0k=&docid=ItT7eKxdWwAv8M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kztyUISVJIGE8QSx9oHoCg&ved=0CCgQ9QEwAQ&dur=652    

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Types  of  Controlled  Release  Fer1lizers  

•  Polyon®  –  polyurethane  coa1ng  •  Reac1ve  Layers  Coa1ng™    •  Temperature  dependent  release  •  Longevity  gauged  at  ~80F  

hip://polyonthinkgreen.com/howitworks.html    

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CRFs  

•  Longevity  indicates  the  period  of  1me  over  which  a  granule  con1nues  to  release  nutrients  – 5-­‐6  months  – 8-­‐9  months  

•  Coa1ngs  can  be  damaged  •  Sand  in  substrate  +  mixing  =  damage  •  Mixing  with  front  end  loaders  can  scrape  and  damage  

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Types  of  Applica1ons  

•  Topdress  •  Dibble  •  Incorporate  

Graphic  Credit:  Dr.  James  Altland,  USDA  

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Top  Dress  

•  Can  do  any1me  in  produc1on  •  Less  likely  to  burn  roots  •  Less  likely  to  leach  out  before  nutrients  are  absorbed  by  the  roots  

Alam  et  al.  2009.  Evalua1ng  Fer1liza1on  and  Water  Prac1ces  to  Minimize  NO3-­‐N  Leachate  from  Container-­‐grown  Forsythia.  HortScience.  44(7):1833–1837.     Graphic  Credit:  Dr.  James  Altland,  USDA  

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Top  Dress  

•  Osmocote®  with  Fusion  Technology™  •  “No  spill  prill”    

Photo  Credit:  hip://everris.us.com    

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Incorporate  

•  What  if  incorporate  and  then  substrate  isn’t  used  for  a  long  1me?  

•  Coa1ng  can  be  damaged  by  mixing  •  Puts  fer1lizer  where  the  roots  are  •  Can’t  fall  out  if  pot  1ps  over  

Graphic  Credit:  Dr.  James  Altland,  USDA  Altland,  J.  Fer1lizer  Placement  affect  weed  control  and  plant  growth.  hip://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-­‐weeds/research/dibbling/dibbling_feritlizer.html  

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Dibble  

•  Can’t  fall  out  •  Fer1lizer  is  where  the  roots  are  •  Poten1al  to  burn  roots  

Graphic  Credit:  Dr.  James  Altland,  USDA  Altland,  J.  Fer1lizer  Placement  affect  weed  control  and  plant  growth.  hip://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-­‐weeds/research/dibbling/dibbling_feritlizer.html  

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Dibble  

•  With  no  herbicide  – Topdressing  and  incorpora1ng  resulted  in  about  60%  weed  control.  

– Dibbling  fer1lizers  resulted  in  over  95%  weed  control.  

 

Graphic  Credit:  Dr.  James  Altland,  USDA  Altland,  J.  Fer1lizer  Placement  affect  weed  control  and  plant  growth.  hip://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-­‐weeds/research/dibbling/dibbling_feritlizer.html  

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Dibble  

•  Dibbling  fer1lizers  resulted  in  superior  weed  control  and  shoot  growth,  but  slightly  reduced  root  growth.  

•  Incorpora1ng  fer1lizers  resulted  in  moderate  weed  control,  poor  shoot  growth,  but  excellent  root  growth.  

•  Topdressing  fer1lizers  resulted  in  poor  weed  control,  excellent  shoot  growth,  and  slightly  reduced  root  growth.  

 Altland,  J.  Fer1lizer  Placement  affect  weed  control  and  plant  growth.  hip://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-­‐weeds/research/dibbling/dibbling_feritlizer.html  

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Applica1on  Technique  Leads  to:  

•  Temperature  and  moisture  differences  •  Substrate  surface  exposed  to  radia1on,  dries  out  compared  to  within  substrate…  

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Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

•  Fer1lizer  analysis    –  3-­‐1-­‐2  ra1o  

•  Fer1lizer  rate  –  3  grams  actual  nitrogen/gallon  container  size  –  Does  the  fer1lizer  last  the  season?  

•  Longevity  –  8-­‐9  or  12-­‐14  month  CRF  at  poTng  –  What  if  selling  in  2  months?  

     

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EC  Levels  for  Osmocote  Plus®  and  Polyon®    Top-­‐applied  Treatments  

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

March Ap

ril May

June Ju

ly

August

September

October

November

Polyon High Top JunePolyon High Top No JunePolyon Medium Top JunePolyon Medium Top No June

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

March

April

May

June Ju

ly

August

September

October

November

Osmocote Top JuneOsmocote High Top No JuneOsmocote Med Top JuneOsmocote Medium Top No June

Yes,  the  fer1lizer  lasts  the  season.  Lower  fer1lizer  release  in  May  reflects  decrease  in  temperature.    

Fulcher,  A.,  W.  Dunwell,  D.  Wolfe,  and  R.  McNiel.  2004.  Effect  of  Fer1lizer  Brand,  Rate,  Applica1on  Technique,  and  June  Reapplica1on  on  Growth  of  Amelanchier  x  ‘Autumn  Brilliance’  in  Above  Ground  Container  Produc1on.  Proc.  Southern  Nursery  Associa1on  Research  Conference.  49:111-­‐113.  

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•  Fer1lity/Nutri1on  – Winter  poTng  &  placed  in  overwintering  •  Can  get  release  due  to  warm  temperatures  •  Important  to  keep  substrate  moist  otherwise  fer1lizer  salt  will  burn  root  1ps  

Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

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•  Fer1lity/Nutri1on    

– How  to  address  micronutrients  for  a  2  year  produc1on  cycle?  

Container  Plant  Nutri1on  

hip://everris.us.com/sites/default/files/micromax_micronutrients.pdf  

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Container  Nutri1on  

•  Fer1lity/Nutri1on  

– Micromax        6.0    %    Calcium  (Ca)      3.0    %    Water  Soluble  Magnesium  (Mg)    12.0    %    Combined  Sulfur  (S)      0.10  %  Boron  (B)        1.0    %    Water  Soluble  Copper  (Cu)  17.0    %    Iron  (Fe)  -­‐-­‐  13.60%  Water  Soluble  Iron      2.5    %    Water  Soluble  Manganese  (Mn)      0.05  %    Molybdenum  (Mo)          1.0    %      Water  Soluble  Zinc  (Zn)    

hip://everris.us.com/sites/default/files/micromax_micronutrients.pdf  

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Bumping  up  -­‐  Container  size    

15  gallon  7-­‐  gallon  

15  -­‐  gallon  

Backfill

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 3  gal                15  gal        =  20  %    80  %    7  gal                15  gal        =  44  %    56  %    10  gal                15  gal        =  70  %    30  %    15  gal                25  gal        =  58  %    42  %  

     

 

Displacing                        Adding  

Bumping  up  -­‐  Container  size    

     3  gal  =      674  cu  in.        7  gal  =  1342  cu  in.    10  gal  =  2373  cu  in.    15  gal  =  3396  cu  in.    25  gal  =  5811  cu  in.  

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•  Lime  or  dolomi1c  lime  – None  to  liile  recommended  in  substrate  

•  However,  woody  plant  crop  cycle  can  outlast  the  lime  in  substrate  at  plan1ng  

•  Repeated  fer1liza1on  can  lower  pH    •  IBDU  Isobutylidene-­‐diurea,  S-­‐coated  urea,  urea  and  ammoniacal  nitrogen  

•  Test  irriga1on  water  annually  –  Jan/Feb  and  Jul/Aug  are  2  best  1mes  

Container  Nutri1on  -­‐pH  

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Container  Nutri1on  -­‐  pH  

•  Blueberries,  azaleas,  hydrangeas  •  Top  dress  sulfur  in  container  produc1on  –  carefully!!  

•  Small,  incremental  changes  –  be  pa1ent!  

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•  Aluminum  sulfate  •  Al  is  necessary  to  produce  the  blue  pigment  

•  S  lowers  pH  so  Al  is  available  •  P  1es  up  Al  making  it  unavailable    – Leads  to  pink  flowers  

Hydrangea  pH  &  Nutri1on  

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Resources  

•  BMP  Guide  for  Producing  Container-­‐grown  Plants.  Southern  Nursery  Associa1on.  Marieia,  GA.  

•  Argo  and  Fisher.  Understanding  pH  management  for  container-­‐grown  crops.  Meister  publishing.  

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Ques1ons?