Abstract
Four cultivars of Osteospermum were grown under six constant liquid fertilizer regimes, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 mg L-1 N. Fertilizer rates sufficient for optimal plant growth were determined by analyzing plant height, diameter and dry weight after a period of 12 weeks. Tissue samples were collected and analyzed for the content of 12 elemental nutrients every two weeks for a period of 12 weeks. Sufficiency ranges were established for each nutrient over time, with upper and lower limits of the range defined as the mean tissue concentration ±1.28 SD. An overall trend of decreasing tissue concentration over time was observed for N, P, Mg and S. An overall increasing trend was observed for Mn, B and Mo. A positive correlation was observed between tissue nutrient concentration and fertilizer rate for N, P, K, Mg, Zn, Cu, and B. Compared to concentrations previously published for Osteospermum, concentration ranges observed in this study were broader. This study accounts for differences in tissue nutrient concentrations over the entire crop cycle and reflects levels associated with current fertilization practices.
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