Influence of Shade and Fertilizer on Light Compensation Point of Ficus benjamina L.1

Abstract

Abstract Light and fertilizer significantly affected light compensation point (LCP) in Ficus benjamina in a 3 × 4 factorial experiment with 0%, 30%, 55% and 80% light exclusion and of 784, 1568 and 2352 kg N+K/ha/year. Increasing shade levels decreased LCP and at each shade level increasing fertilizer rates increased LCP. Fertilizer was less effective than shade in altering LCP. The highest LCP at 0% shade and 784 kg N+K/ha/year was nearly 3 times higher than the lowest LCP at 80% shade and 784 kg N+K/ha/year. Increasing shade and fertilizer levels increased chlorophyll content, plant size and visible quality.