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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Horticultural Crops Water and Fertilizer Management
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Horticultural Crops Water and Fertilizer Management

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 July 2022) | Viewed by 10395

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amanda Bayer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 210 Bowditch Hall, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Interests: container production; irrigation management; fertilizer application; herbaceous perennials; nursery crops; landscape establishment; propagation
Dr. Stephanie Burnett

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Interests: sensor-automated irrigation; organic plant production; plant propagation; greenhouse production
Prof. Dr. Jongyun Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plant Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Interests: controlled environment agriculture; irrigation; garden; ornamental plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticultural plant production is input intensive with frequent irrigation and fertilization common to maximize plant growth and to reduce production time. Improvements in water and fertilization management are important for reducing production inputs, increasing efficiency, and mitigating the environmental impacts of production. New production practices, materials, and technologies provide opportunities for growers to optimize production while saving costs and the environment with sustainability.

The purpose of this Special Issue titled “Horticultural Crop Water and Fertilizer Management” is to present best management practices and innovations in improving water and fertilizer management in horticultural plant production. This includes, but is not limited to, irrigation technology such as sensors, controlled-release fertilizers, fertigation, additives, and other innovations that improve the efficiency and sustainability of production.

Dr. Amanda Bayer
Dr. Stephanie Burnett
Dr. Jongyun Kim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • irrigation
  • nursery plants
  • greenhouse plants
  • container production
  • growing media
  • fertilization
  • soil moisture sensor
  • evapotranspiration
  • soilless substrates
  • water use efficiency
  • fertigation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 3247 KiB  
Article
Root Exploration, Initial Moisture Conditions, and Irrigation Scheduling Influence Hydration of Stratified and Non-Stratified Substrates
by Kristopher S. Criscione, Jeb S. Fields and James S. Owen, Jr.
Horticulturae 2022, 8(9), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8090826 - 8 Sep 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2218
Abstract
Soilless substrate stratification (i.e., layering unique substrates within a single container) is an emerging substrate management strategy that may provide opportunities to augment nursery resource use. As such, this research aimed to analyze water movement through containers during hydration events under different initial [...] Read more.
Soilless substrate stratification (i.e., layering unique substrates within a single container) is an emerging substrate management strategy that may provide opportunities to augment nursery resource use. As such, this research aimed to analyze water movement through containers during hydration events under different initial moisture conditions. The results indicated substrate stratification had minimal influence on water movement compared to non-stratified systems (uniformly filled nursery containers). Cyclic irrigation significantly increased the stratified substrates’ ability to retain water when irrigated at 20% volumetric water content (p < 0.0001) and significantly decreased the total volume leached (p < 0.0001). Moreover, irrigating the substrate profile with shallow and more frequent irrigations facilitated stratified substrates ty reach effective container capacity conditions (p < 0.0001n compared to non-stratified systems. The stratified systems took longer to leach all gravitational pores (p = 0.0266). In dry moisture conditions, non-stratified substrates were more hydrated when cyclic irrigation applications were applied compared to single applications (p = 0.0492). This study demonstrated that cyclic irrigation scheduling enhanced water retention in both non-stratified and stratified profiles under different initial moisture conditions and can be used as an irrigation strategy when dry substrate conditions prevail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Crops Water and Fertilizer Management)
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9 pages, 2002 KiB  
Article
Optimum Moisture Conditions for English Lavender Cuttings Are Drier for Root Development than Shoot Development
by Ryan Recardo Rock, Seong Kwang An and Jongyun Kim
Horticulturae 2022, 8(8), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8080753 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3051
Abstract
Providing proper moisture conditions is critical for successful cutting propagation. This study aimed to investigate the optimal substrate moisture level for enhancing the survival and rooting rates of Lavandula angustifolia cuttings. Apical cuttings of L. angustifolia were propagated under four irrigation thresholds (−1.0, [...] Read more.
Providing proper moisture conditions is critical for successful cutting propagation. This study aimed to investigate the optimal substrate moisture level for enhancing the survival and rooting rates of Lavandula angustifolia cuttings. Apical cuttings of L. angustifolia were propagated under four irrigation thresholds (−1.0, −2.5, −5.0, and −10.0 kPa) over six weeks. At the final harvest, cuttings grown at −2.5 kPa demonstrated the highest survival rate (83.3%), and those grown at −10.0 kPa demonstrated a mortality > 50%. A high rooting percentage (53.0 and 47.2%) was observed in cuttings grown at −1.0 and −2.5 kPa, while the lowest rooting percentage (<10%) was present in those grown at −10.0 kPa. Adventitious root formation and root growth occurred within a month for all treatments, except for the −10.0 kPa treatment; the general root growth was similar among treatments at the final harvest. Shoot growth was negligible in all treatments until four weeks, and it increased rapidly with increasing substrate moisture levels after the formation of adventitious roots. The adventitious root system was established within four weeks, which was followed by accelerated leaf and shoot growth. The optimal substrate moisture level for high survival and rooting of English lavender cuttings was approximately −2.5 kPa, but higher moisture tension at −1.0 kPa could enhance the shoot growth after adventitious roots are established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Crops Water and Fertilizer Management)
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24 pages, 2947 KiB  
Article
A Fine Line between Phytotoxicity and Blue When Producing Hydrangea macrophylla in a Nursery at a Low Substrate pH
by Grace M. Pietsch, Julie C. Brindley, James S. Owen, Jr. and Amy Fulcher
Horticulturae 2022, 8(8), 690; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8080690 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2300
Abstract
Hydrangea macrophylla exhibiting blue sepals (versus purple or pink) have improved marketability; however, little research has been conducted to evaluate aluminum (Al), the element responsible for bluing, on crop growth, effectiveness of bluing sepals, and characteristics of flower clusters in an outdoor nursery. [...] Read more.
Hydrangea macrophylla exhibiting blue sepals (versus purple or pink) have improved marketability; however, little research has been conducted to evaluate aluminum (Al), the element responsible for bluing, on crop growth, effectiveness of bluing sepals, and characteristics of flower clusters in an outdoor nursery. This study compared substrate Al availability, crop growth, flower color, number, and size over a 56-week period in two locations. A polymer coated (90-day release) or ground aluminum sulfate [Al2(SO4)3; water soluble] was either incorporated into a non-limed pine bark substrate, applied to the surface of the substrate as a top dress, or as a routinely applied Al2(SO4)3 drench (low concn.) or applied once (high concn.). In general, application of Al increased plant foliar Al concentration, but also decreased substrate pore-water pH and increased electrical conductivity (EC) with varying effects based on the applied product’s solubility and subsequent longevity. Aluminum sulfate increased the potential of Al phytotoxicity negatively affecting root morphology and creating an undesirable rhizosphere electrochemistry due to the pH being continually acidic, <4, and the EC being temporarily increased to >1.5 mS·cm−1. These suboptimal rhizosphere conditions resulted in a lower quality or smaller plant. No plants exhibited clear, deep blue flower cluster sought by consumers. Neither the effect of pore water pH or EC could, alone or in combination, account for the lack of plant vigor or blue flower clusters when substrate and foliar Al concentrations were adequate in flowering H. macrophylla. More research is needed to investigate the effect of pore-water electrochemical properties, possible mineral nutrient co-factors that provide Al synergisms or toxicity protections, and holistic plant health on ensuring blue coloration of a vigorous H. macrophylla. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Crops Water and Fertilizer Management)
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18 pages, 856 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen Rate, Irrigation Frequency and Volume Differentially Influence Growth, Flowering, and Nutrient Uptake of Container-Grown Rhododendron during the Following Growing Season
by Guihong Bi, Carolyn F. Scagel and David R. Bryla
Horticulturae 2022, 8(7), 647; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8070647 - 16 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2062
Abstract
Sustainable nutrient and water management are critical for optimizing the quality and subsequent landscape performance of nursery plants. In this 2-year study, we investigated the influence of different nitrogen (N) rates [N-free fertilizer (0 N) or N-free fertilizer plus 7 (0.5 N) or [...] Read more.
Sustainable nutrient and water management are critical for optimizing the quality and subsequent landscape performance of nursery plants. In this 2-year study, we investigated the influence of different nitrogen (N) rates [N-free fertilizer (0 N) or N-free fertilizer plus 7 (0.5 N) or 14 (1.0 N) mg N per day from NH4NO3] and irrigation frequencies and volumes [once daily to 50% or 100% container capacity (CC) or twice daily with the same total amount of water as 100% CC] on plant growth, flowering, and nutrient uptake of three rhododendron cultivars, including one deciduous cultivar, Rhododendron ‘Gibraltar’ and two evergreen cultivar, Rhododendron ‘P.J.M.’ and Rhododendron ‘Catawbiense Album’. In each case, the plants were grown in soilless media in year 1 and transplanted to soil in year 2. Increasing the N rate in year 1 increased plant biomass and N content in both years and improved flowering performance the following year. Furthermore, in year 1, irrigation once daily to 50% CC or twice daily to 100% CC enhanced the uptake of several nutrients in each cultivar and the growth of the evergreen cultivars. Plants that were irrigated more frequently during year 1 performed better in the landscape the following year, while those irrigated to 50% CC only performed better in the deciduous cultivar. In the evergreen cultivars, lower irrigation volume altered nursery plant qualities, resulting in a trade-off between flower production and growth in year 2. Our results indicate that manipulating N rates and irrigation frequency and volume can be used to alter nursery stock qualities and improve subsequent performance in the landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Crops Water and Fertilizer Management)
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