The impact of lime and organic fertilization on the growth of wild-simulated American ginseng

Abstract

A 5-yr experiment was undertaken in a red maple forest to evaluate the effects of lime and organic fertilizer application on the growth parameters of wild-simulated American ginseng growing on a very acidi c soil. The application of lime had a positive impact on ginseng emergence and survival rate; it also significantly increased soil Ca, as compared to no application (control). During the last years of the experiment, adding lime also increased leaf area, a s well as shoot and root mass of ginseng. Adding lime and organic fertilizer together positively affected ginseng survival rate and root mass, as compared to adding lime alone. These results indicate that liming can improve the growth and survival of Amer ican ginseng during the first 5 yr of its development in this very acidic maple forest soil. The improvement could be due, at least partly, to increased Ca content in the soil. Addition of organic fertilizer would be beneficial as long as sufficient Ca2+is provided to alleviate the Al toxicity of this soil. Thus, using such cultural practices, wild-cultivation of American ginseng, even in red maple forests, could constitute a valuable alternative to field-cultivation. Key words: