Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances

• Main Authors: Lorenzo Rossi, Lukas M. Hallman, Sawyer N. Adams, Walter O. Ac-Pangan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: citrus physiology; fertilization; soil amendment
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/7/812

Growers in Florida face unique challenges regarding maintaining proper citrus nutrition.<br />Poor draining soils with low fertility, low C.E.C., and high rates of leaching are common in this<br />region. In response to these challenges, interest has grown in products labeled as soil conditioners.<br />Using a completely randomized experimental design, this greenhouse study tested the effects of 5<br />different combinations of a traditional fertilizer (TF) and a new soil conditioner (SC) on lemon and<br />orange seedling physiology. Eight-month-old ‘Bearss’ lemon and ‘Valencia’ sweet orange grafted<br />on sour orange rootstocks were employed, and five repetitions were used for each treatment. Plant<br />biomass (dry weight), height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance and<br />nutrient uptake were analyzed after 120 days of treatment. The results show that SC has a positive<br />impact upon both chlorophyll levels and stomatal conductance values in both orange and lemon<br />seedlings. However, based on dry weight growth data, we can only conclude that the SC was<br />effective for orange seedlings at 50% TF and 0.5% SC. Based on this short 120-day evaluation, the<br />SC achieved positive growth promotion for orange (50% TF) but not for lemon seedlings.