The Optimal Concentration of KH 2 PO 4 Enhances Nutrient Uptake and Flower Production in Rose Plants via Enhanced Root Growth

Qinghua Ma, Xinghong Wang, Weijie Yuan, Hongliang Tang and Mingbao Luan
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Qinghua Ma: Experimental Centre of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 102300, China
Xinghong Wang: Experimental Centre of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 102300, China
Weijie Yuan: Experimental Centre of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 102300, China
Hongliang Tang: School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
Mingbao Luan: Institute of Bast Fiber Crops/Centre of Southern Economic Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: Monopotassium phosphate is a widely used phosphorus and potassium fertiliser for ornamental plants, but it is not known what concentration will result in optimal flower production, root growth and nutrient uptake of rose plants. We compared potted rose plants fertilised with six different concentrations (0.0 as a water-only control, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 g·L −1 ) of an aqueous monopotassium phosphate solution as a combination of foliar and soil applications over two consecutive flowering cycles. Rose growth, flower production and nutrient accumulation responded differently to fertilisation with different concentrations of monopotassium phosphate. During the first flowering cycle, shoot and root dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content, flower diameter, total root length and surface area, and total fine root length significantly increased in response to increased monopotassium phosphate concentrations from 0.0 to 3.0 g·L −1 but decreased in response to fertilisation with 4.0 or 5.0 g·L −1 monopotassium phosphate. Similar trends were observed in shoot dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content, flower diameter and number, phosphorus and potassium accumulation during the second flowering cycle. According to quadratic equations derived from both flowering cycles, the optimal concentration of monopotassium phosphate, based on flower diameter and dry weight, as well as total phosphorus and potassium accumulation, was 2.6–3.0 g·L −1 . Furthermore, total root length was significantly correlated with flower diameter, flower dry weight, and total phosphorus and potassium accumulation ( p < 0.05). These results indicated that fertilisation with optimal concentrations of monopotassium phosphate can increase rose growth, flower productivity and nutrient uptake through enhanced root growth.

Keywords: monopotassium phosphate; optimal concentration; flower production; root growth; P and K accumulation; Rosa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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