Landscape Growth and Aesthetic Quality of Coleus Managed with Irrigation Deficits

Previous research indicated that bedding plants can be maintained in landscape soils allowed to dry to substantially less than field capacity before irrigation; however, canopy size and aesthetic quality were compromised. Continuing this research, 'Yalaha' coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHortTechnology (Alexandria, Va.) Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 561 - 566
Main Authors Scheiber, S.M, Beeson, R.C. Jr
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 2007
Subjects
appearance (quality)
bedding plants
deficit irrigation
drought
dry matter accumulation
dry matter partitioning
field experimentation
height
irrigation rates
irrigation water
nursery crops
plant growth
soil water content
Solenostemon scutellarioides
water stress
Florida
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Summary:Previous research indicated that bedding plants can be maintained in landscape soils allowed to dry to substantially less than field capacity before irrigation; however, canopy size and aesthetic quality were compromised. Continuing this research, 'Yalaha' coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) were grown in drainage lysimeters in an open-sided clear polyethylene-covered shelter and a companion uncovered field plot to assess growth characteristics and landscape quality when irrigated at various managed allowable deficits. Using tensiometers, plants were irrigated back to field capacity when plant-available water within a soil was depleted to 70% or 50%. Deficits were evaluated against a control treatment of 0.5 inch daily irrigation. Total irrigation volume applied was significantly greater for the control treatments than deficit irrigation treatments. The net result was 78% and 90% average reductions in total volume applied to lysimeter and field-grown coleus respectively. On average, height was 20% and 15% greater for well-watered controls grown in lysimeters and field plots respectively than plants grown in deficit irrigations. Canopy size of nondeficit controls was 26% and 72% greater on average than deficit treatments in lysimeter and field plots respectively. However, shoot and root dry weights, total biomass, shoot-to-root ratios, and landscape quality were similar among treatments for both locations.
ISSN:1063-0198
1943-7714
DOI:10.21273/HORTTECH.17.4.561