RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improving nursery production of fifteen California native plant species: the effect of air-filled porosity
JF Native Plants Journal
JO NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 249
OP 258
DO 10.3368/npj.16.3.249
VO 16
IS 3
A1 Braslow, Juliet
A1 Evans, Richard
YR 2015
UL http://npj.uwpress.org/content/16/3/249.abstract
AB Many studies have shown the importance of air-filled porosity (VA) for optimal growth and dry weight of container-grown plants, but few have examined its effects on California native plants. Anecdotal evidence suggests that various upland native species require higher substrate aeration or less frequent irrigation than do standard nursery crops. We tested effects of VA and irrigation frequency on 15 California native species that had been identified by growers as challenging because of their aeration needs and sensitivity to overwatering. Plants were grown in substrates with 10% or 22% VA and were irrigated once (up to 574 ml) or twice daily (up to total of 972 ml). None of the applied treatments preferentially influenced plant survival or growth. Results indicate that these species may tolerate both normal and high VA values. The high survival and growth rates in these experiments indicate that growers’ experiences of plant death or poor plant growth are attributable to something other than VA.