Evaluation of Irrigation Frequency and Quantity on Leaf Gas Exchange, Growth, and Nitrate Leaching of Coleus in a Simulated Landscape

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 881 - 884
• Main Authors: Scheiber, S.M, Beeson, R.C. Jr, Chen, J, Wang, Q, Pearson, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Society for Horticultural Science 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gardens; gas exchange; irrigation rates; irrigation scheduling; landscaping; leachates; leaching; leaves; nitrate nitrogen; nursery crops; ornamental plants; photosynthesis; plant growth; Solenostemon scutellarioides; stomatal conductance; transpiration; Irrigation; Solenostemon scutellarioides; Nitrogen compounds; Ornamental crop; Nitrates; Inorganic element; Water engineering; application quantity; Macronutrient(mineral); Evaluation; drainage lysimeter; Underground leaching; Landscape; Landscaping; water management; Inorganic ion; Quantity; Plant leaf; Lysimeter; Drainage; Inorganic anion; Inorganic nitrogen; Simulation; landscape irrigation; Bedding plants; Vegetative apparatus; Frequency; Gas exchange
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.43.3.881

Solenostemon scutellarioides (coleus) were grown in drainage lysimeters in concurrent experiments to evaluate effects of irrigation quantity and frequency on growth responses, leaf gas exchange, and nitrate leaching. Lysimeters in Expt. 1 were irrigated either with 13 mm daily or 13 mm every other day. Daily irrigation increased mean leachate and doubled nitrate leached compared with every other day (22.9 kg·ha-1 N versus 10.8 kg·ha-1 N, respectively). In Expt. 2, lysimeters were irrigated every 2 days with 13 mm or every 3 days with 18 mm such that total depth applied was equivalent. Irrigation frequency had no effect on irrigation quantity or nitrate leached. In these experiments, assimilation rates, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates were influenced by day since irrigation with values lower on days without irrigation. However, neither irrigation quantity nor frequency affected final shoot dry weight, root dry weight, height or growth indices (P > 0.05).