1. Liming improves herbage yield, essential oil yield and nutrient uptake of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum×P. radens) on acidic soils
- Author
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Joachim M. Steyn, Puffy Soundy, and Hintsa T. Araya
- Subjects
biology ,Randomized block design ,Horticulture ,engineering.material ,biology.organism_classification ,complex mixtures ,Pelargonium capitatum ,law.invention ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Nutrient ,chemistry ,Agronomy ,law ,Geranium ,Soil pH ,engineering ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Geraniol ,Essential oil ,Lime - Abstract
A field experiment was conducted on rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.) in Pretoria, South Africa, to evaluate plant response to liming on acidic soils. Treatments were dolomitic limestone at 0 (control), 2, 4 and 6 t/ha, laid out as a randomized complete block design. Soil pH was not influenced by liming for any of the treatments at the first harvest, whereas at the second, third and fourth harvests an increase in pH was observed for all the limed treatments. At the time of the first harvest, plants did not respond significantly to 2 and 4 t/ha of liming, but responded positively to 6 t/ha, with higher herbage yield compared with the control and 2 t/ha lime treatments. At the second, third and fourth harvests fresh herbage and essential oil yield increased significantly due to liming. The differences among limed treatments were not significant for fresh herbage and essential oil yield. Cumulative fresh herbage and essential oil yields of all harvests were higher on the limed treatments than the contr...
- Published
- 2011
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