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Title: CONTAINER SPACING EFFECT ON RUNOFF DURING PRODUCTION OF SWEET VIBURNUM

Author
item MILLION, JEFF - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item YEAGER, TOM - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item Albano, Joseph

Submitted to: Southern Nursery Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Plant spacing management has a major influence substrate temperature and light interception by plants. Both of these factors greatly affect plant growth and quality. In turn, plant growth influences runoff (un-intercepted irrigation and rainfall) volume by affecting water demand irrigation captured through canopy interception. Because temperature is the main factor for nutrient from controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), plant spacing management may indirectly affect nutrient quantities in runoff beyond that indicated by container density.

Technical Abstract: Plant spacing management plays a crucial role in optimizing production per unit area. It influences substrate temperature (Ingram et al., 1988) and light interception (Million et al., 2005) which greatly affect plant growth and quality. In turn, plant growth influences runoff (un-intercepted irrigation and rainfall) volume by affecting water demand through evapotranspiration and irrigation capture through canopy interception (Beeson and Yeager, 2003). Because temperature controls rates of nutrient release from controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), plant spacing management may indirectly affect nutrient quantities in runoff beyond that indicated by container density. The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of two plant spacing arrangements on the quantity and quality of runoff collected continuously during production of sweet viburnum [Viburnum odoratissimum (L.) Ker-Gawl.], an ornamental shrub with relatively high water and fertilizer requirements.