(346) Effect of Rhizosphere pH on Root Growth of Two Landscape Species

Abstract

Rhizosphere pH preferences vary for species and can dramatically influence root growth rates. Research was conducted to determine the effect of root zone pH on the root growth of BuxusmicrophyllaSieb. & Zucc. `Green Beauty' (boxwood) and KalmialatifoliaL. `Olympic Wedding' (mountain laurel). Boxwood plants removed from 3.8-L containers and mountain laurel plants removed from 19-L containers were situated in the center of separate Horhizotrons™. The key design feature of the Horhizotron is four wedge-shaped quadrants (filled with substrate) that extend away from the root ball. Each quadrant is constructed from glass panes that allow the measurement of roots along the glass as they grow out from the root ball into the substrate. For this experiment, each quadrant surrounding a plant was filled with a pine bark substrate amended per m3 (yd3) with 0.9 kg Micromax (Scotts-Sierra, Marysville, Ohio) and 0, 1.2, 2.4, or 3.6 kg dolomitic limestone. All plants received 50 g of 15N–3.9P–9.8K Osmocote Plus (Scotts-Sierra), distributed evenly over the surface of the root ball and all quadrants. Plants were grown from May to Aug. 2003 in a greenhouse. Root lengths were measured about once per week throughout the experiment. Root length increased linearly over time for all species in all substrates. Rate of root growth of boxwood was highest in pine bark amended with 3.6 kg·m3 lime and lowest in unamended pine bark. Rate of root growth of mountain laurel was lowest in pine bark amended with 3.6 kg·m3 lime. Results support the preference of mountain laurel and boxwood for acidic and alkaline soil pH environments, respectively.