Nitrogen Source Effects on Growth and Tissue Content of Selected Foliage Plants

Abstract

Abstract Nine nitrogen fertilizer treatments composed of 25% NH4:75% NO3, 50% NH4:50% NO3, 75% NH4:25% NO3, 25% urea:75% NO3, 50% urea:50% NO3, 75% urea:25% NO3, 100% NH4, 100% urea, and 100% NO3 were applied to Aglaonema Schott, × Silver Queen, Dieffenbachia maculata (Lodd.) G. Don ‘Camille’, Aphelandra squarrosa Nees ‘Dania’, Chamaedorea elegans Mart., Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott. ‘Florida Ruffle’, Peperomia obtusifolia (L.) A. Dietr., and Philodendron scandens oxycardium (Schott) Bunt. Growth and grade of Dieffenbachia and Nephrolepis were not influenced by N source, whereas Aglaonema and Philodendron were improved when they received N sources containing 25% to 100% NH4-N or 100% urea-N. Aphelandra, Chamaedorea, and Peperomia responded to N source, but differences were of no commercial significance.