Abstract
Monopotassium phosphate is a widely used phosphorus and potassium fertiliser for ornamental plants, but it is not known what concentration will result in optimal flower production, root growth and nutrient uptake of rose plants. We compared potted rose plants fertilised with six different concentrations (0.0 as a water-only control, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 g·L−1) of an aqueous monopotassium phosphate solution as a combination of foliar and soil applications over two consecutive flowering cycles. Rose growth, flower production and nutrient accumulation responded differently to fertilisation with different concentrations of monopotassium phosphate. During the first flowering cycle, shoot and root dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content, flower diameter, total root length and surface area, and total fine root length significantly increased in response to increased monopotassium phosphate concentrations from 0.0 to 3.0 g·L−1 but decreased in response to fertilisation with 4.0 or 5.0 g·L−1 monopotassium phosphate. Similar trends were observed in shoot dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content, flower diameter and number, phosphorus and potassium accumulation during the second flowering cycle. According to quadratic equations derived from both flowering cycles, the optimal concentration of monopotassium phosphate, based on flower diameter and dry weight, as well as total phosphorus and potassium accumulation, was 2.6–3.0 g·L−1. Furthermore, total root length was significantly correlated with flower diameter, flower dry weight, and total phosphorus and potassium accumulation (p < 0.05). These results indicated that fertilisation with optimal concentrations of monopotassium phosphate can increase rose growth, flower productivity and nutrient uptake through enhanced root growth.
Highlights
Roses (Rosa spp.) have been cultivated by Chinese, western Asian and northernAfrican civilisations for at least five thousand years [1]
The results clearly demonstrated that fertilisation with the optimal concentration of present study, the results clearly demonstrated that fertilisation with the optimal concenMKP significantly improved rose growth and flower production
This study showed that the application of the optimal concentration of MKP had a positive effect on plant growth and flower production compared to treatment with water only
Summary
Roses (Rosa spp.) have been cultivated by Chinese, western Asian and northern. African civilisations for at least five thousand years [1]. The rose is the world’s favourite flower because of its beautiful ornamental blooms available in a wide variety of colours [2]. There has been a pressing need to increase the quantity and quality of cut and potted flowers to meet the high market demand, especially in China [3]. Fertiliser plays an essential role in the production and productivity of rose plants. Excessive fertilisation is widespread among small farmers in China [4]. Improved nutrient management has become an important issue in sustainable rose production
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