ISHS Acta Horticulturae 486: II International Symposium on Ornamental Palms & other Monocots from the Tropics
INCREASE OF PHOENIX ROEBELENII GROWTH RATES BY HYDROCULTURE ON VOLCANIC CINDER |
| Authors: | M.C. Cid, M. Caballero, M.A. Díaz, P. Mansito |
| Keywords: | pygmy date palm, soilless culture, hydroponics, plant spacing, ornamental palms |
| Abstract:
A non-recirculating hydroponic system was set up to study the growth rates of Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien (pygmy date palm) cultivated on basaltic volcanic cinder and the influences of substrate volume and plant spacing. Plants of P. roebelenii with an average of 13 leaves were transplanted into cinder-filled pots (at densities of 45 plants/m2 for 1.8 L pots and 25 plants/m2 for 5.7 L pots) and beds (cinder depth of 12 cm, using both 45 and 25 plants/m2), all drip irrigated at 75 min intervals during daylight hours with nutrient solution (N-P-K-Ca 160–40–120–100 mg/l). Control treatments were set up in pots, using the same pot sizes and planting densities, with a commercial nursery medium (loamy soil, peat, cinder, plus fertilizers); plants were hose-irrigated with the same nutrient solution although at a lower concentration to avoid excessive salt buildup. After nine months of cultivation growth parameters were evaluated. Hydroponic cultivation considerably improved growth of P. roebelenii. Number of leaves, plant height, and base stem diameter were considerably higher in the hydrocultured palms than in the control plants. Fresh weights of aerial part and roots of the hydroponically grown palms were higher than those of the control group, double in the case of the high density planting. When comparing hydrocultured plants in beds and pots, those in beds produced more leaves and fewer primary roots. This cultivation system allows reduced substrate volume and plant spacing without growth loss, or with a minimum loss. Densely planted hydroponically grown P. roebelenii produce longer leaves resulting in taller palms and produce slightly fewer leaves than those planted at a lower density. Both parameters, as well as stem diameter and fresh weights, were significantly higher than those obtained using a standard substrate. | |
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