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Effect of fertilization level on some physiological, morphological and growth characteristics of Ficus benjamina
Author(s) -
Ceulemans R.,
Gabriëls R.,
Impens I.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1983.tb00767.x
Subject(s) - human fertilization , photosynthesis , stomatal conductance , chlorophyll , biology , horticulture , botany , agronomy
Young Ficus benjamina L. (weeping fig) plants were grown in perlite under low photon flux density regime in the greenhouse. Influence of seven fertilization levels – ranging from nutrient deficiency to saline conditions – on photosynthetic, morphological and growth characteristics was studied. The compensation point for photosynthetic photon flux density was minimal and the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis was maximal at a fertilization level with an electrical conductivity of 1.75 mS. Dark respiration was not affected by the level of fertilization. Chlorophyll content per unit leaf area increased while stomatal conductance slowly decreased with increasing fertilization level. Growth expressed in terms of either height, total dry weight or total leaf area attained an optimum at 1.75 mS, i.e. at the level where the compensation point for photon flux density and the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis were optimal. Leaf size and visible quality decreased at higher fertilizer levels.