The Effect of Excessive Application of K2O during Root Production on Plant Growth, Mineral Concentration and Yield of Edible Part in Witloof Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

• Published in: Environment control in biology Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 147 - 154
• Main Authors: KUMANO, Takahiro, ARAKI, Hajime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Fukuoka Japanese Society of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Engineers and Scientists 2017; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Biomass; Capacity; Chicory; Cichorium; Cichorium intybus; Cultivation; Forage; forcing culture; mineral concentration; Plant growth; potassium uptake; Roots; Soil; Uptake; witloof; Yields
• ISSN: 1880-554X; 1883-0986
• DOI: 10.2525/ecb.55.147

Under a high-K stressful condition in a greenhouse pot cultivation, the biomass production and the K absorption capacity of witloof chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) were compared with forage chicory. The root biomass of witloof chicory was greater than that of forage chicory among all treatments, indicating that witloof chicory has a certain level of tolerance against high K stressful conditions. As K2O application increased, the biomass, in top and root, tended to decrease in both types, however, there was not a significant negative impact on the yield or quality of the obtained roots in witloof type at the treatments under 2,000 kg ha−1 level. The K-uptake amount per plant of witloof chicory was 40% to 58% greater comparing forage chicory, at the K2O treatments from 1,000 to 2,000 kg ha−1. The quality of the etiolated heads, obtained after the forcing culture, could be kept at the same level of the commercially available fresh products when the K2O application was lower than 2,000 kg ha−1. Through this experiment, witloof chicory showed its potential to be utilized as a remedy for K accumulated soils, concurrently, obtaining an agricultural income from the forcing culture by using roots which absorbed K from soils.