Agronomy journal, Vol. 67 No. 2-4, 2005.
Conference paper
Soil reaction_ a crucial preconditions for choosing horticultural plants
Mirjana Herak Ćustić
Lepomir Čoga
Tomislav Ćosić
Marko Petek
Milan Poljak
Vesna Jurkić
Ivan Pavlović
Martina Ljubičić
Srećko Ćustić
Abstract
Economy and aesthetic quality of landscaping require a good knowledge of soil and plant, but also of all the factors that affect them.
Landscaping, wether a private holding or any other segment of the landscape: orchard, vineyard, vegetable garden, flower garden or lawn, which means horticulture in the full sense of the word, requires careful planning and preparation. One of the very important factors in soil preparation is a good understanding of soil reaction (pH). Soil reaction has a strong influence on all nutrients uptake and varies, dependending on crop requirements, from acid to alkaline.
The aim of this paper is to deal in detail with the soil reaction requirements of particular ornamental species, using the results of field research and comparing them with the literature reports.
For this purpose, use was made of the chemical analyses (soil reaction in 1M KCl) made in the Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, along with visual monitoring in the landscape.
According to the research results, 47% of the 131 analyzed samples are neutral soils (D), 37% alkaline soils (E), 11% weakly acid soils (C), 5% acid soils (B), while only one sample belongs to the category of very acid soils (A).
Hence our results show that literature reports for particular ornamental species are often not absolutely applicable in the given conditions, or that their application requires certain corrections.
Weakly acid to neutral soil reaction (5,5-7,2 – CD) is generally recommended for landscape planning of individual and public areas, because most ornamental plants grow well within this range. For species that prefer extreme pH reaction of the soil, corrections should be made by applying adequate fertilizers or substrates.
Thus, Erica sp. and Rhododendron sp. are recommended for very acid and acid soils (pH 4,0-5,5 – AB) while we suggest Abies sp., Cupressus sp., Juniperus sp., Pinus sp., and grasses for weakly acid soils (5,5-6,5 – C). Hydrangea (blue), Ilex sp., and Picea sp. are recommended for acid soils (4,5-5,5 – B). Chrysanthemum sp., Magnolia sp., Quercus sp., Rosa sp. and Hedera sp. are recommended for weakly acid and neutral soils (5,5-7,2 – CD). Neutral reaction (6,5-7,2 – D) is optimal for genera Chamaecyparis and Prunus. A larger number of species from the genera Acer, Araucaria, Buxus, Crataegus, Forsythia, Hydrangea (pink and white), Lavandula, Thuja, and Vinca are recommended for soils of neutral and alkaline reaction (6,5-7,2 – DE). Species of the genera Carpinus, Cedrus, Corylus, Cotinus, Cotoneaster and Taxus tolerate a wide range of soil reaction (5,5-7,5 – CDE).
Keywords
soil reaction; ornamental plants; landscaping
Hrčak ID:
2242
URI
Publication date:
10.5.2005.
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