Growth of Juniperus and Potentilla using Liquid Exponential and Controlled-release Fertilizers

Abstract

Juniperus scopularum Sarg. (Rocky Mountain juniper) and Potentilla fruticosa L. `Gold Drop' (gold drop potentilla) plants grown in containers had similar or better morphology, higher nitrogen concentrations and contents, and higher N-use efficiency when grown with liquid fertilizer applied at an exponentially increasing rate as compared to the same amount of N applied via controlled-release fertilizers. More importantly, plants grown with a half-exponential rate were similar to those grown with controlled-release fertilizer but with a higher N-use efficiency, indicating that this type of fertilization may be a method for reducing the amounts of applied nutrients in nurseries and subsequent nutrient discharge.