• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.210-216
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the plant growth of various foliage plants affected by the nutrient solution strength. Ficus benjamina, Hedera helix, Philodendron tatei, Rhapis excelsa, Spathiphyllum spp. were used in this experiment. The Sonneveld solution was diluted to 0, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 folds and applied through a subirrigation system. Plant height and width, leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of shoots were measured to compare the responses to the different treatments. The required amounts for nutrients were different among the various foliage plants. The growth of Ficus and Philodendron was improved as the nutrient solution strength got higher, but that of Hedera and Spathiphyllum showed the best growth in the lower nutrient solution strength of 1/4 and 1/2 folds. The growth of Rhapis was improved in the nutrient solution strength of 1 fold but the other treatments did not affect on plant growth. N, P, and K were the most important nutrients that had influence on the growth of the foliage plants in this study. There was not an accurate criterion for fertilization and irrigation to each foliage plant. Moreover, the foliage plants grew slowly during the early stage and this period must be shortened for commercial production. Therefore, the experiment was executed to make up these defects. The plants applied with proper strength of Sonneveld solution grew faster and had better quality.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.485-490
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the plant growth of various foliage plants affected by the amount of nitrogen application. There was not an accurate criterion for fertilization to each foliage plant. Moreover, the foliage plants grow slowly during the early stage and this period must be shortened for commercial production. Ficus benjamina, Hedera helix, Philodendron tatei, Rhapis excelsa, and Spathiphyllum spp. were used in this experiment. Nutrient nitrogen concentrations were 120, 150, 180, and $210mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ (N1, N2, N3, N4) and they were based on the Sonneveld solution. Plant height and width, leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of shoots were measured for 8 weeks to compare the responses to the different treatments. The nitrogen contents of various plant parts were also analyzed. The growth of Ficus and Hedera was improved at the N1 treatment and that of Philodendron, Rhapis and Spathiphyllum at N4 treatment. The required amounts for nitrogen nutrients were different among the various foliage plants. The nitrogen treatments had no effects on SPAD values and there were no correlations between nitrogen treatments and nitrogen contents of plant parts. Therefore, the various foliage plants should supply with each proper nitrogen treatments to grow faster with better quality. In this case, the plant growth played a more important role than nitrogen levels of plant parts in deciding the proper nitrogen levels for each foliage plant.