ARS | Publication request: ANION SPECIES IN FERTILIZERS AFFECT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN BEDDING PLANTS

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 14, 2004
Publication Date: July 1, 2004
Citation: Pitchay, D., Frantz, J., Locke, J.C. 2004. Anion species in fertilizers affect growth and development in bedding plants. Hortscience. 39(4):776-777.

Technical Abstract: Currently, formulation of inorganic fertilizers is based on cation amounts such as NH4, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn, whereas anion species and amounts are viewed, with few exceptions, as necessary fillers. The delivery of cations in the nutrient solution is associated with an anion such as Cl, SO4, NO3, PO4 or CO3. These anions at higher concentrations can result in different growth responses by altering the rhizosphere pH, soluble salts, and influencing the uptake of both cations and anions. The impact of these anions has not been extensively studied in the formulation of inorganic fertilizers. Several experiments assessed the effect of SO4 and Cl on root and shoot growth and development of bedding plants represented by petunia, impatiens, and vinca. In all treatments, plant height, shoot and root dry weight, and flower number decreased with an increase in Cl concentration. Root morphology was marked by fewer total roots and shorter primary and secondary roots when grown with Cl anions compared to the plants grown with SO4 anions. This indicates that anions have a larger role in determining optimum fertilizer formulation than previously believed. This information provides an additional tool in formulating fertilizers for greenhouse bedding plant production.