E. AVRAMAKI1, C. CHATZISSAVVIDIS2, I.PAPADAKIS1 and I. THERIOS1
1 Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece
2 Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 68 200 Orestiada, Greece
AVRAMAKI, E., C. CHATZISSAVVIDIS, I. PAPADAKIS and I. THERIOS, 2007. Enhancement of P, K, Ca, Zn and Fe accumulation in gardenia plants (Gardenia jasminoides) grown in nutrient solution as a function of P and Fe interaction. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 13: 325-331
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) plants were grown in black plastic bags containing perlite and sand (1:1). The plants were irrigated with 16 modified half strength Hoagland No2 nutrient solutions containing four Fe concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg L-1) in the form of Fe-EDDHA (Fe 6g 100g-1) in combination with four P concentrations (0, 31, 62 and 124 mg L-1).
Increasing P and Fe concentrations in the nutrient solution significantly increased leaf P and K concentrations. However, leaf Ca concentration was slightly decreased by increasing P concentration in the nutrient solution. No significant effects of P and Fe concentration were found concerning leaf Mg and Mn concentrations. Furthermore, the leaf Zn concentrations in plants treated with 0, 31 and 62 mg L-1 P and 0 mg L-1 Fe were significantly increased. By increasing Fe concentration in the treatments containing 62 and 124 mg L-1 P, leaf Fe concentration was increased.
In gardenia roots, the increase of P and Fe concentration in the nutrient solution led to a general increase of root P concentration. Concerning Ca, it was significantly increased in the roots, when P concentration in the nutrient solution increased. There were no significant effects of P and Fe concentration of solution in Mg concentration of roots. Manganese and Zn concentration in roots was only increased in plants treated with 124 mg L-1 P plus 0 or 0.5 mg L-1 Fe. Finally, not significant differences were recorded in root Fe concentration among the studied treatments. In conclusion, the combined PxFe fertilization in gardenia may solve also other nutritional problems like K, Ca and Zn deficiencies.