Preliminary nutrient diagnosis norms and optimum ranges in potted ornamental plants grown under saline conditions

Abstract

Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) norms for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl) and sodium (Na) and nutrient sufficiency ranges for Aloe vera, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Lavandula multifidi, and Rosmarinus officinalis were based on two experiments. DRIS norms and nutrient ratios were computed and selected. Nutrient sufficiency ranges were developed using the data of the whole population according to the DRIS approach. The development of DRIS norms revealed that only K. blossfeldiana and R. officinalis showed limiting nutrients. The nutrient sufficiency ranges for each species expressed in mg g−1 were: A. vera (N (9–28), P (1–3), K (37–48), S (8–10), Cl (47–50), Na (17–37)), K. blossfeldiana (N (16–22), P (2–3), K (35–39), S (7–10), Cl (45–54), Na (7–19)), L. multifida (N (15–16), P (1–7), K (18–37), S (7–8), Cl (41–60), Na (21–49)), R. officinalis (N (9–23), P (2–5), K (31–48), S (7–8), Cl (36–40), Na (7–12)). The establishment of these DRIS norms will useful to manage the nutritional status of the species studied under saline conditions.