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The Effects of Reduced Mineral Fertilisation Combined with the Foliar Application of Biostimulants and Fertilisers on the Nutrition of Maiden Apple Trees and the Contents of Soil Nutrients
The Influence of Combined Pruning and the Use of Root Application of Two Biostimulants and Foliar Nutrition on the Growth and Flowering of Panicle Hydrangea Plants
The aim of this experiment was to assess how the interaction of two treatments influenced the growth and flowering of two varieties of Panicle hydrangea shrubs. The first treatment was plant pruning. Simultaneously, the plants received one of the three following treatments: root application of Trichoderma atroviride, root application of BlackJak biostimulant, or foliar application of a multi-component fertilizer. Simultaneous pruning and inoculation of the plants with the Trichoderma atroviride mycelium improved the length of hydrangea shoots the most, as compared with the control plants (18%). These two treatments also increased the number of flowers (16–47%, depending on the variety) and the fresh weight of plants (10–28%) compared with the control plants. T. atroviride alone improved the number of flowers in both varieties (19–24%) and the diameter of inflorescences in the ‘Silver Dollar’ one (17%). The foliar nutrition increased the fresh weight of plants by 7–57%, depending on the cultivar and pruning. It also increased the diameter and number of inflorescences in one of the varieties. Together with pruning, it intensified the growth of shoots in both cultivars (5–10%). The BlackJak biostimulant treatment gave ambiguous results. In combination with pruning, it improved the length of shoots (15%) in one cultivar and the fresh weight in the other (18%). Without pruning, the treatment increased the number of flowers (16%) and the diameter of inflorescences (9%) in one cultivar. It increased the fresh weight of plants in both cultivars (19–21%). Regardless of the other treatments, pruning increased the length of the shoots and the fresh weight of the plants. On the other hand, it reduced the number of flowers and their diameter. In most cases, the biostimulant treatment and foliar fertilization improved the growth and flowering of the plants. In combination with pruning, they improved the growth of the hydrangea shrubs but reduced the number and diameter of flowers. The simultaneous Ta treatment and pruning were the most beneficial for the growth and flowering of the panicled hydrangea plants grown in containers in a nursery.
The Effect of the Foliar Application of Biostimulants and Fertilisers on the Growth and Physiological Parameters of Maiden Apple Trees Cultivated with Limited Mineral Fertilisation
The article describes an experiment conducted on maiden apple trees of selected cultivars growing in a nursery. The aim of the study was to investigate how the foliar application of four biostimulants (Aminoplant 0.4%, Biamino Plant 0.2%, Bispeed 0.2% and Fylloton 0.4%) and two fertilisers (Basfoliar 6-12-6 and Basfoliar 12-4-6+S both at a concentration of 0.5%) affected the growth of the trees cultivated with the mineral fertilisation reduced by half. The plants were sprayed with the preparations and fertilisers four times at three-week intervals, between late May and late July. Selected parameters of the plants’ physiological processes were also assessed: net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (C) and intracellular CO2 (I). The foliar application of all the biostimulants and fertilisers significantly improved the growth of the maiden apple trees. The lowest values of the plant growth parameters were noted in the control combination, which was treated with a full dose of mineral fertiliser. The foliar spraying of the apple trees particularly improved the total length and number of side shoots and the fresh weight of maiden apple trees. The apple tree cultivars differed in their growth parameters, and the influence of individual foliar treatments was not conclusive. The foliar application of selected preparations intensified the leaf transpiration coefficient and the internal concentration of carbon dioxide, but it did not increase the net photosynthesis intensity or stomatal conductance.