Effect of Biostimulants on Drought Tolerance of Ornamental Annuals

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 33; no. 3; p. 539
• Main Authors: Geer, S.A, Smalley, T.J, Rieger, M.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.1998
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.33.3.539d

This study determined the effect of the granular humate Earthgreen (Menefee Mining Corp., Dallas) and the biostimulant ROOTS2™ (LISA Products Corp., New Haven, Conn.) on drought tolerance of the ornamental annuals Impatiens wallerana `Accent White' and Salvia splendens `Red Hot Sally'. Earthgreen was incorporated into the soil and ROOTS2™ applied as a root drench at transplanting and 30 days after transplanting, Transplants were established in greenhouse beds under irrigated conditions for 8 weeks, then subjected to a five week drought. Data indicates rates of 43.9 and 87.9 g·m –2 of Earthgreen or 300 ml of 1% or 2% ROOTS2™ per plant had no significant effect on Salvia shoot dry weight or chlorophyll content of Salvia or Impatiens at the end of the 8-week establishment period. However, Salvia flower dry weight was significantly increased with the higher rate of Earthgreen. During the 5-week drought, Earthgreen or ROOTS2™ did not significantly affect xylem pressure potential of Salvia or relative water content of Impatiens . After the 5-week drought no significant effect of either product on shoot dry weight of Salvia or Impatiens or flower dry weight of Salvia was observed.