"Smart" fertilizer improves plant growth, prevents pollution from run off [EXT]

Interesting article that I like to share


From Penn State


University Park, Pa. -- A new "smart" phosphorus fertilizer, developed by Penn State horticultural scientists, improves plant root growth, drought tolerance, shoot quality and flowers while also preventing up to 90 percent of the nutrient run off that can foul waterways. The new fertilizer is currently undergoing its first Pennsylvania field trials with the aid of a grant from the Commonwealth's Department of Agriculture. However, field trials in Florida have been ongoing since 1998 and have shown high performance of ornamentals grown in sandy soils prone to leaching.

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How To Determine Ammonium/Nitrate Ratio [EXT]

This is good article to understand the impact of low/high Ammonium/Nitrate Ratio.


How To Determine Ammonium/Nitrate Ratio


Nitrogen is the building block of amino acids, proteins and chlorophyll. Plants can absorb nitrogen either as Nitrate (NO3-) or Ammonium (NH4+), and therefore, the total uptake of nitrogen usually consists of a combination of these two forms.

The ratio between Ammonium and Nitrate is of a great significance, and affects both plants and soil/medium.

For optimal uptake and growth, each plant species requires a different ammonium/nitrate ratio. The correct ratio to be applied also varies with temperature, growth stage, pH in the root zone and soil properties.

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August 09 Bloom

by Richard Chew

August is good month. Lots of sun and this time managed to reduce the fertilizer burnt. Check out the photos!











 

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Top Layer - Soil Ammendment

by Richard Chew

It is almost a year since I started this blog. I am really glad that I make many new friends. I like to thank you for visiting and dropping your kind comments.

Though I made some good progress and experience some success, I feel there is still more to learn.

In this posting, I like to write about soil amendment. I learned that after transplanting the rose plants, over time the soil may deplete in certain nutrients or the soil pH may deviate outside the favourable range.

And sometimes the varying factor may be caused by neither of the above, the weather itself may affect how the plant uptake the nutrients, and this could be why you may hear that rose plant deteriorate due to lack of sun or too much direct noon sun or rain and etc.

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Fuller Flower Development

by Richard Chew

After experimenting some ways to get long & short burst flower buds, I noticed it compromised fuller flower development. And very often the flower petals burnt when fertilizer dosage is too high.

I reasoned if I can maintain strong stem development but reduce the rate of flower bud development, I may get fuller flower development.

The following is some of the progress of my Fusilier Rose. Pay attention to the size and depth of flower petal.

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