Influence of mulching and foliar nutrition and chemical components of Spanish bluebell

What is it about?

Hyacinthoides hispanica (Mill.) Rothm. is a typical spring geophyte and has been cultivated for a long time in gardens as an ornamental bulbous plant. Bulbs are not only the storage and dormant organs, but also a means for the plant’s vegetative reproduction. In Poland, due to the climate, the wintering and reproduction of this plant can be a problem. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of foliar nutrition using phosphorous fertilizer and soil mulching on the formation of bulbs and content of some components in leaves and bulbs of H. hispanica. To this end, a field experiment was carried out in 2010-2012. Mulching the soil with pine bark had a beneficial effect on the weight of bulbs in the core, the average weight of one bulb and the weight, length, diameter and circumference of the largest bulb from the H. hispanica. Foliar fertilization positively influenced the growth of H. hispanica bulbs, increasing the weight of bulbs in the core and the length of the largest bulb. Leaves of H. hispanica accumulated more nitrogen, potassium, calcium and flavonoids than bulbs and also showed higher antioxidant activity. Leaves of H. hispanica contained [in g kg-1 d.m.], average amounts of 38.6 N, 4.0 P, 24.6 K, 13.2 Ca and 0.6 Mg, while bulbs had 24.5 N, 3.8 P, 8.7 K, 3.1 Ca, 0.3 Mg. Mulching the soil with pine bark positively influenced the content of nitrogen and potassium in the leaves of Spanish bluebell, while less N-total and potassium was determined in the bulbs. The content of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in the leaves and bulbs of H. hispanica did not depend significantly on the soil mulching and foliar nutrition using Fostar.

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