• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of different fertilizer combinations on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry cultivar and the water quality of growth medium. The experiment was carried out with three year old 'Duke' blueberry bushes which were cultivated in containers ($60{\times}80{\times}40cm$) filled with 130 L peat moss and 40 L pearlite (v/v). Sawdust was used as the mulch in growth containers. Three different fertilizer combinations (FC) i.e., FC-1 consisted with standard solution, FC-2 consisted with nitrogen reduced by 10% from FC-1, and FC-3 consisted with nitrogen reduced by 20% from FC-1 were tested while, the ground water used as the control. The effects of different fertilizer combinations on shoot diameter, shoot length, number of shoots, leaf length, SPAD value (the relative content of chlorophyll), berry weight, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, and yield per bush in 'Duke' blueberry were examined. Also, the effects of different fertilizer combinations on pH, EC, $NH_4$ and $NO_3$ in 'Duke' blueberry growth medium were monitored. The highest pH and lowest EC, $NH_4$ and $NO_3$ in growth medium was recorded with control treatment during the experiment period. The maximum shoot diameter (3.7 mm) and shoot length (35.7 cm) was recorded for the FC-1. Highest number of shoots (47%) were recorded from 'Duke' blueberry bushes supplemented with FC-1 compared to other treatments. The fertilizer combinations supplemented with nitrogen showed significant influence on leaf length and SPAD value compared to control 'Duke' blueberry bushes. However, the fruit quality attributes, i.e., berry weight, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity were not significant different among fertilizer treatments. The significantly highest yields per bush were recorded for FC-1, FC-2, and FC-3, as 2.2, 2.9, and 2.7 kg, respectively compared to control (0.2 kg). Although, the FC-1 was supplemented with highest nitrogen content it resulted low yield per bush while having high number of shoots and vigorous growth.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2011

Effect of concentrations of different plant growth retardants (PGRs) supplied to a recirculated nutrient solution in an ebb and flow system on the growth and development of potted Spathiphyllum 'Top-Pin' and 'Mini' was examined. Plants were planted in 10 cm diameter plastic pots filled with a mixture of peat moss and perlite (1 : 1, v/v) on 30 June 2005 and grown until 23 Sep. 2005. In a closed ebb and flow system, 50, 200, 350, $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ daminozide (B-9), 10, 40, 70, $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ paclobutrazol (Boundy), 5, 15, 25, $35mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ ethephon (Florel), and 1, 4, 7, $10mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ uniconazole (Sumagic) were supplemented to a nutrient solution at the initiation of experiment. On every irrigation, the nutrient solution containing PGRs was supplied at a 2 cm depth and kept for 15-20 minutes. The surplus nutrient solution was drained back into the tank for next irrigations. Paclobutrazol gave the most pronounced effect in inhibition of stretchiness. The greatest reduction of leaf length, fresh and dry weights of shoot, and elevated chlorophyll content were recorded in Spathiphyllum, with increasing paclobutrazol concentration. Daminozide concentration greater than $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ resulted in minor stunting. The lowest concentration ($1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) of uniconazole showed greater leaf length, leaf width, and leaf petiole length than the control ($0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). Uniconazole concentration greater than $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ resulted in similar plant growth as the plant in the control ($0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). High concentration ($35mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) of ethephon resulted in the shortest leaf length, and the greatest chlorophyll content. Inhibition of stretchiness was observed even in the lowest concentration treatments. Among the PGRs, paclobutrazol was most effective in suppressing plant stretchiness. In both cultivars, ethephon and paclobutrazol, but not daminozide and uniconazole, significantly inhibited stretchiness. The results suggested that plant growth retardants (ethephon or paclobutrazol) selected in this study may be used as the most effective agents for inhibition of stretchiness in Spathiphyllum.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2019

In this study, the effect of supplying volume and frequency of a nutrient solution consisted with $NO_3-N$ 4.6, $NH_4-N$ 3.4, $PO_4-P$ 3, K 3, Ca 4.6 and Mg $2.2mmol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ on growth and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry was investigated. Three years old 'Duke' blueberry bushes cultivated in containers ($60{\times}80{\times}40cm$) filled with 130L peat moss and 40L pearlite (v/v) were selected for the experiment. The growth containers were mulched with sawdust. Two different volumes (4L and 8L) of nutrient solution was tested at three different supplying frequencies (one time, two times, and three times) per week and the drainage quality of nutrient solution and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry was evaluated. The optimal drainage rate for the vegetable cultivation is known to be 20-30%. The results revealed that the average drainage rates of 27% and 29% for the nutrient solution supplied in 'Duke' blueberry growth medium at 4L, 2 times/7 days and 4L, 3 times/7days, respectively. The highest shoot diameter (4.2mm) and shoot length (31cm) of 'Duke' blueberry was recorded with the 8L of nutrient solution supplied at 3 times per 7 days. According to the analysis of inorganic components in the drainage of nutrient solution, there was a tendency of absorbing nitrogen at the early stage of growth. The supplying volume and frequency of nutrient solution was not significantly affected on 'Duke' blueberry fruit weight, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity. The highest yield per bush (2.7kg) was recorded for the nutrient solution supplied with 4L at three times per 7 days, while the 4L nutrient solution supplied at one time per 7 days resulted the lowest yield of 1.4kg per bush. Consequently, the tested nutrient solution can be applied for the 'Duke' blueberry bushes with the volume of 4L at three times per week for the better crop growth.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2019

This study was conducted to determine the effects of a pre-planting fertilizers with various $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios in a coir dust:peatmoss:perlite (3.5:3.5:3.0, v/v/v) medium on the growth of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nokkwang) plug seedling. Nitrogen levels were fixed to $300mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and the $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios were varied to 0:100, 27:73, 50:50, 73:27, and 100:0. The 50-cell trays were filled with treatment media containing pre-plant fertilizers, then seeds were sown. After seeds were germinated, the trays were moved to greenhouse and seedlings were feed with 13-2-13 and 20-9-20 fertilizers, alternatively. The changes in pH and EC were measured every week and soil solution for nutrient concentrations were analyzed in week 0, 3, and 7. The measurements of seedling growths as well as analysis of tissue nutrient contents were also conducted in week 7. The varied $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios did not influence on the pHs of root media after incorporation of pre-planting fertilizers, but the ECs were heightened as proportion of $NH_4{^+}$ to $NO_3{^-}$ were elevated. During the raising of seedlings, the pHs rose over time in the treatments of 0:100 and 27:73 ($NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$). The concentrations of all macro-elements in root media decreased gradually as seedlings grew in all treatments. The seedling growths 7 weeks after seed sowing were the highest in the treatments of 27:73 and 50:50 ($NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$) and those became worse in the treatments of higher $NH_4{^+}$ ratios than 73%. In terms of inorganic element contents based on the dry weight of above ground tissue, the treatment of 0:100 showed the lowest content of Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Mn, and Zn. Based on the results, it is desired that $NH_4{^+}$ ratio in pre-planting fertilization is maintained to be 50% or less for the raising of hot pepper plug seedlings.