Nitrogen Uptake and Growth Response to Short Periods of Low Nitrogen by Two Bedding Plants

Abstract

`First Lady' marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) and `Selenia' New Guinea impatiens (NGI; Impatiens sp. hyb.) were grown in solution culture for 60 days. At 10-day intervals, plants received low N for 10 days (marigold) or 20 days (NGI). Low-N treatment was 5% and 10% of the control, respectively, for marigold and NGI. After each low-N period, FW of treated and control plants was measured and N uptake by the controls was determined by solution depletion. Nitrogen uptake by marigold reached a peak 40 days after planting, and then decreased somewhat during the final 20 days of the experiment. In contrast, N uptake by NGI increased gradually after planting, reaching its highest level at the end of the experiment (60 days). Low-N periods 10 to 20 and 20 to 30 days after planting reduced the FW of marigold about 35% vs. control. FW reductions resulting from earlier or later low-N periods were much smaller or did not occur. Reductions in NGI FW resulted from low-N periods 20 to 40, 30 to 50, and 50 to 60 days after planting. While short periods of low N reduced the growth of both species, these reductions were desirable and not excessive, and no foliar symptoms of N deficiency were apparent at any time. Results of these experiments have implications for efficient fertilizer use and growth suppression using short periods of low nutrition.