Title

Post-Transplant Water Utilization of Zinnia Seedlings Grown in Humectant-Amended Substrate Maintained at Two Moisture Thresholds

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2020

Publication Title

Journal of Environmental Horticulture

Volume Number

38

Issue Number

3

DOI

10.24266/0738-2898-38.3.101

Abstract

Humectant treatment and substrate moisture content (SMC) were studied to determine their impact on post-transplant water utilization in ‘Thumbelina' zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.). Four-week-old seedlings were transplanted from plug trays into pots containing soilless substrate amended with an aqueous solution of 1.6% Hydretain® or an equal volume of water (0% humectant). Seedlings were placed in an automated, sensor-controlled irrigation system and grown for 30 days at SMC levels of 0.45 or 0.25 cm3·cm−3 (0.06 or 0.03 fl oz·oz−1). Plant-water potential (Ψw) was significantly higher (less negative) in transplants grown in humectant-treated substrate at both SMC levels, and water-use efficiency (WUE) was 2X greater for seedlings grown in treated substrate maintained at 0.25 cm3·cm−3 than it was for transplants grown in untreated substrate at the same SMC level. No significant differences in height, stem diameter or shoot dry weight were observed when comparing plants grown in treated and untreated substrate. Root dry weight was significantly greater for seedlings grown in untreated substrate. Flowering was not affected by humectant treatment or by SMC. The results show that transplanted zinnia ‘Thumbelina' seedlings require less irrigation when grown at a lower SMC threshold in soilless substrate amended with 1.6% Hydretain®.

ISSN

2573-5586

First Page

101

Last Page

106

Link Out URL

https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-38.3.101

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