`Rotundifolia' Holly Growth and Nitrogen Accumulation Influenced by Supraoptimal Root-zone Temperatures

Abstract

Ilex crenata Thunb. `Rotundifolia' grown in sand culture with the root zone at 40C for 6 hours daily had smaller root and shoot dry weights after 6 weeks than plants grown with root zones at 28 or 34C. Root and shoot N accumulation (milligrams N per gram of dry weight) decreased when root-zone temperatures were increased from 28 to 40C and plants were fertilized twice dally with either 75, 150, or 225 mg N/liter. Nitrogen application rates of 150 or 225 mg·liter-1 resulted in increased root and shoot N accumulation for plants grown with root zones at either 28, 34, or 40C compared with the 75 mg N/liter treatment. Increased N fertilization rates did not alleviate reduced plant growth due to the high root-zone temperature.