The effect of soluble salt concentration and two organic media on the growth and quality of Brassaia actinophylla and Dieffenbachia maculata "Lodd" G. Don

• Main Author: Davis, Donald Joseph
• Other Authors: Horticulture
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 2017
• Subjects: LD5655.V855 1978.D385
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76388

Brassaia actinophylla and Dieffenbachia maculata "Lodd" G.Don were grown in two organic media and treated with five salt solutions to determine the effect of soluble salt concentration on growth and quality. The soluble salt concentration was determined using the saturated paste extract method. Dieffenbachia growth and quality were better when 0.45 g/l 15-30-15 fertilizer was applied than when 0.225 g/l 15-30-15 plus 1.5 g/l NaCl was applied, regardless of medium considered. Dieffenbachia growth and quality were significantly reduced at a conductivity of 4.5 nunho/cm in the peat and sand medium and at 4.1 mmho/cm in the medium containing pine bark. The maximum Dieffenbachia growth and quality occurred at a conductivity of 0.8 to 1.3 mmho/cm. Brassaia growth and quality in medium 1 were poorest with application of 0.225 g/l 15-30-15 plus 1.5 g/l NaCl, and were more favorable with application of 0.225 g/l 15-30-15 plus 0.5 g/l NaCl. The more favorable conductivity range was 2.2 to 2.4 mmho/cm in the peat and sand medium. The growth of Brassaia in the medium containing pine bark was more favorable under application of 1) the low rate of complete fertilizer (0.225 g/l of 15-30-15), 2) the high rate of complete fertilizer (0.45 g/l 15-30-15), and 3) 0.225 g/l 15-30-15 plus 0.5 g/l NaCl than under application of 0.225 g/l 15-30-15 plus 1.5 g/l NaCl. The mean conductivity of the pine bark bearing medium under the three more ' beneficial treatments ranged from 0.7 to 2.4 mmho/cm. Brassaia and Dieffenbachia were shown to be less tolerant of salinity than was determined previously. === Master of Science