Beneficial effects of slow release fertilizers incorporated into the rooting medium of mango cuttings.
Reuveni O., Castoriano M.
Author Affiliation: The Volcani Center, ARO, PO Box 6, Bet-Dagan, Israel.
: 512-517
Abstract : The effects of incorporating slow-release fertilizers into the rooting medium on the growth rate of rooted mango cuttings was investigated. Semi-hardwood cuttings (cultivars Turpentine and 13/1) were planted in pots (750 ml). These contained different combinations of 3 commercial slow-release fertilizers (14:14:14, 3-4 months; 38:0:0, 8-9 months; 0:0:45, 3-4 months) mixed with the rooting medium (peat:polystyrene, 1:1 v/v) to form different N:P, N:K and K:P ratios. For each ratio, 3 concentrations of fertilizers were added, forming 9 treatments. In all treatments, a constant amount of a slow-release fertilizer of microelements was also added. An additional treatment without fertilizers was used as a control. After rooting under intermittent mist, the containers were transferred to a greenhouse for further development where they were irrigated with a complete nutrient solution. The number of flushes produced by the rooted cuttings was significantly affected by the slow-release fertilizers in the media. The concentration of fertilizers, rather than the ratio, affected growth rates. Three months after planting, 3 new flushes occurred in all 3 high concentrations, compared with 1.5 in the control. The total number of leaves/plant and leaves/flush increased as the number of flushes increased. The height increase in the high concentration treatments was 35-50 cm, compared with 5 cm in the controls. The best results were obtained when 0.6:0.2:1.4 g NPK/litre (3-4 months slow-release fertilizer) was added to the medium.