Abstract
An experiment on the effect of Osmocote fertilizers on growth and nutrient status of <em>Carex buchananii</em> was conducted in the years 2008–2009. <em>Carex buchananii</em> is a dense-tufted sedge growing up to 60 cm in height, with very narrow, stiff, red, copper and olive colored leaves throughout the season. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in pots with peat substrate for 18 weeks. The differentiating factors included the type of fertilizer, i.e. Exact Standard 16:11:11 and Osmocote Exact High Start 11:11:19, and fertilizer application rates of 2 and 4 g dm<sup>−3</sup>, the phase of growth, i.e. 1 to 9 weeks and 9 to 18 weeks of culture. The greatest increment in the tuft circumference of <em>C. buchananii</em> was recorded in the first 9 weeks of culture, while that of the fresh weight of aboveground parts – in the period from 9 to 18 weeks. The application of Osmocote Exact High Start at 4 g dm<sup>−3</sup> in the culture of <em>C. buchananii</em> resulted in the production of the desired quality of the plants with a greater tuft circumference and shorter leaves. It was shown that best quality plants contained in their aboveground parts the following amounts of macronutrients and sodium (g kg<sup>−1</sup>): N – 18.9, P – 3.5, K – 37.2, Ca – 5.8, Mg – 3.0, and Na – 0.3.
Highlights
The genus Carex belongs to the family Cyperaceae and comprises approx. 1500–2000 species
The tuft circumference in C. buchananii in the first year of analysis ranged from 10.2 cm to 12.3 cm and in the second year – from 4.7 cm to 9.7 cm, the leaf length ranged from 64.3 cm to 89.7 cm and from 57.8 cm to 93.2 cm, respectively, while the fresh weight of aboveground parts in the first year ranged from 9.6 g to 28.4 g and in the second year from 7.1 g to 28.1 g, respectively (Tab. 2)
A greater tuft circumference was obtained in week 18 of culture after the application of Osmocote Exact High Start at 4 g dm−3 substrate
Summary
The genus Carex belongs to the family Cyperaceae and comprises approx. 1500–2000 species. Carex buchananii is a dense-tufted sedge growing up to 60 cm in height, with very narrow, stiff, curved leaves, occasionally twisted at the tips, red, copper and olive colored throughout the season. It grows in the wild in New Zealand in lowlands and in montane forest understories, coastal scrubs, and along streams [1,3]. As young plants may be propagated from seed, this sedge may become an attractive addition to the range of balcony plants [6,7,8] Since this species is at present being introduced to horticultural production, cultivation recommendations need to be developed
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