‘ l 1 I mnwnumxm w ( : : , — __—’__ __ _.. —.’—- _______. ~ # i- '—_——;—_—. — 4 1 H THS THE EFFECT OF "THREE METHODS OF WATERING ON THE PRODUCTION OF CARNATEONS 2N SEVERAL SOILS AND SOIL MIXTURES Thesis fer fho Degree of M. S. MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE {Sordun fiames Van Lean €949 r‘w This is to certify that the thesis entitled "The Effect of 1hree Methods of Watering on the Production of Carnations in several 50118 and Soil Mixtures" presented by Gordon J. VanLaan has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for Jase—degree mwce {mm Major professor THE EFFECT OF THREE METHODS OF WATERING OR THE FRODUCTION 0F CARKATIOLS IN SEVERAL SOILS AND SOIL MIXTURES by GORDON JAM-ES VAN LAA‘N W A THESIS submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Nfichigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Soil Science 1949 ACKQOMLEDGEHENT the author desires to express sincere gratitude to Dr. R. L. Cook of the Department of Soil Science and to Prof. C. E. Wildon of the Department of horticulture for their helpful advice and suggestions in the research re- ported in this paper and in the preparation of the manu- script. V The author is also indebted t; Dr. A. E. Erickson of the Soil Science Department for his kind assistance. 21.83530 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Review of Literature Description of Soils and Soil Fixtures Methods of Proceedure Soil Moisture Determinations and the Effect of the Various Methods of watering on Porosity and Aggregation The Effect of Soils and Methods of Watering on Flower Production and Quality Summary and Conclufi ion Table 1. Soil Moisture Constants on the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures Table 2. Volume of hoisture in the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures Table 3. Percent Total Pore Space of the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures on a Volume Basis Table 4. Volume {eight of the Various Soils and D"oil Mixtures Table 5. Porosity Relationships of the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures Table 6. The Effect of Watering on Aggregation of the Soils and Soil Mixtures Table 7. Number of Flowers and Percentage of Split Calyxes from each of the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures Table 8. Vegetative Veight at the Termination of the Experiment from the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures Table 9. Arerage Flower Production Per Square Foot on the Various Soils and Soil Mixtures Fig. 1. Growth of Carnations on Cshtemo Sand, Surface Watered Fig. 2. Growth of Carnations on Brookston Clay Loam and Muck, D'uzrface Watered Obtfiml-J 14 19 21 22 25 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Fig. 3. Growth of Carnations on Oshtemo Sand, Under Sub-irrigation' Fig 4. Growth of Carnations on Brookston Clay Loam and Muck, under Sub-irrigation. Fig. 5. Growth of Carnations on Cshtemo Sand Under Constant Water Level Fig. 6. Growht of Carnations on Brookston Clay Loam and Muck Under Constant Water Level. Fig. 7. Accumulation of Aggregates Larger Than 8 Given Size in Miami Soil as Affected by three Methods of Watering Fig. 8. Accumulation of Aggregates Larger Than a Given Size in Wauseion Soil as Affected by three Methods of Watering Fig. 9. Accumulation oprggregates Larger Than a Given Size in Brookston L'lay Leam as Affected by three Methods of Watering Fig. 10. Accumulation of Aggregates Larger Than a Given Size in brookston Slay Loam and Muck as Affected by three Methods of Watering Bibliography 31 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 THE EFFECT CF THREE METHOQS OF WATERIKG IN THE PROJUCTION OF CARLATIONB IR SE'ERAL SOILS AED SCIL MIXTURES For the past few years, greenhouse Operators have been faced with a steadily increasing cost of labor. Accordingly, they have been searching for methods of decreasing their labor requirements, in order that they might continue to operate at a profit. One labor consuming phase of flower production has been the prevailing method of hand watering. Several new ways of watering have been developed to eliminate some of this hand labor. Of these, sUb-irrigation and constant water level sub-irrigation seemed to he the most promising. It was the purpose of this experiment to compare the production achieved on various soils and soil mixtures, using the three above mentioned methods of watering: surface watering by hand, sub-irrigation, and constant water level sub-irrigation. Carnations were chosen as the indicator crop, as they are widely grown commercially, and are in constant demand. They are fairly easy to grow and require about 10-11 months in the greenhouse bench, which was considered sufficient to show any differences in the soils and soil mixtures as af- fected by these methous of watering. Various tests were made on the soils to determine what effect these three methods of water had on the soils and soil mixtures. REVIEW'OF LITfiRATURE Carnations (gganthus carygphyllus, family Caryophyl- laceae) are specific in their culture requirements. Accor- ding to Wildon (Q), they grow best in a cool house, at a night temperature of 4C°-500 F., with plenty of fresh air and sunshine. pH is best at 6.3, and nutrient levels de- termined as follows: Nitrogen, 10-50 ppm; Phosphorus, 5/ ppm; and Potassium, 15-25 ppm. The most serious pest is red spider, which can be eliminated by Spraying. JJis» eases of carnations are eliminated by careful selection of the cuttings, and then re-seleution of the plants from cuttings, when.the plants are benched from the field. Carnations are generally benched in July, with the first blooms maturing in late December. Ward, 1903 (8), considered sub-irrigation extremely valuable in the culture of carnations. He constructed water-tight tanks and inside these, fitted T-shaped pcrous clay pieces on top of which the soil rested. The bottom of the tank was constantly supplied with water, and water moved upward by capillarity through the porous clay to the soil. Post and Seeley (2), reported that cut flower crops grown in benches or beds of soil are frequently sub-irri- gated. Considerable amounts of water are injected at each watering, and the surplus is drained atay. This methou has been found to work Satisfcctorily in some soils, but poorly in others. In water-tight benches, it was found possible to regu- late sub-irrigation by injection and thus make it an outc- matic method. This methOd uses less water, so that watering Can be done less frequently. Benches that are sub-irrigated do not dry out as fast as surface Watered benches. An experiment was conducted with carnation, using a surface watered bench and an automatic watered, sub-irri gated bench. hutrient levels were maintained and both benches were watered at a capillary tension of 8 cm of Hg. controlled through the use of tensiometsrs. Early production was higher on the surface watered bench, but the total production was slightly higher on the automaticly watered bench. Stephens and Volz (6) grew stocks and China asters on four Iowa soils in a constant-water level bench. 4he three soils having over 5 per cent organic matter produced signifi~ cantly better crops than did the soil with only 2 per cent of organic matter. DESCfilfiTITR CF SOILS Alb SOIL MIXTURES The six soils and soil mixtures used, as described by Veatch (7) are as follows: 1. Oshtemo; light brown loamy sands and light sandy loams underlain by Leavious sand with a small admithe of clay and gravel. Dry, low in fertility, and low in organic matter. Level or pitted dry sandy plains and terraces. 2. Oshtemo, two thirds by volume, aha muck, one third by volume. The muck was Carlisle huch and was Well-decom- 3. hiami; light browniSh loam and silt loam over brownish, compact, and retentive but granular gritty clay. The Clay extends to a depth of several feet. Moist, acid surface, high fertility gently rolling upland clay plains, The soil used was a slightly sandier associate of the Liami. 4. waHseon; dark gray to blackish sands and sandy loans over grayish waterlogged Sand which rests upon clay at one or two feet. hoist, neutral, medium iertility. This soil was from a Section mapped as lrookston, as it is sometimes found in association with hr.okston. 5. brookston; loams and clay loams. park colored plow soil underlain by wet, motted, gritty clay to depths of several feet. Ioist, slightly acid to neutral, high fertility and organic matter. Level plains and valleys, associated with rolling land such as Miami. 6. hrookston, two-thirds by volume; Carliule Inch, one— third by volume. All of these soils or similar soils and soil mixtures are generally available to the greenhouse citrator in Michigan. HHTHCLS 0F PLCCZULRE Six soils and soil mixtures were placed in 25 by So inch plots in each of three V-bottom concrete benches. The plots were in duplicate in randomized blocks. A single row of bench tile was placed in the "V“ of each bench. Over this, one inch of gravel, and then one inch of coarse Sand were placed. next, wooden partitions were fitted into the bench at intervals of 28 inches. The soils and soil mixtures were placed in the proper com- partments and filled to the surface of the bench. A small, galvanized metal tank with a poultry-watering float was placed in one end of one bench to make possible the Lain- tenance of a Constant Water level in the sand just below the soil. Lime was added to the Cshtemo sand. and to the Cshtemo sand and Muck to bring the pH to the level of 6.5. The pH of all of the other soils was deemed chose enough to the desired level. Ammonium sulphate, superphosphate, ard potassium chloride fertilizers were added to bring the nutrient levels to those decided as best for carnation; nitrogen- 50 ppm, phosphorus-5 ppm, and potash-25 ppm. These levels were maintained as nearly as possible throughout the course of the experiment. Fifteen carnation plants, variety Puritan, were planted in each section and spot-Watered for approximately two weeks until established. From this time, until the conclusion of the experiment, they were watered by the following methods: 1. Surface watering. Water was applied on the surface of each plot whenever it was needed. 2. Sub-irrigation. The plots were watered when any one on them showed need, then were drained. The entire bench was watered at once. No mechanical means were used to determine the time of watering in either of the above two benches. 3. Constant water level sub-irritation. the water level was maintained in the sand layer just below the soil The plants were supported by wire and string and were pinched and disbudded as is common in carnation culture. Adequate ventilation was maintained at all times, and temperature was controlled as closely as possible with thermostatic control of the Steam lines. Red Spider was controlled by the use of Parathron, applied as a spray when needed. hutrient levels wer~ maihtained as nearly as possible at the desired levels throughout the course of this exper- iment. Tests were made frequently according to the methods devised by gpurway (5). Pore space and volume weights of the soil were deter- mined as follows: Coge samples were taken from the various plots. The volume of each was determined by water displace. ment. The cores were then saturated, allowed to drain one minute, weighed, oven dried, and re-weighed. The resulting figures gave the volume of soil, weight of soil, and volume of water in the saturated soil. From these figures, the pore space by volume and the volume weight of the soil were deter- mined. The percent moisture of the soils, measured while the plants were growing, was determined by determining loss of weight in an oven at approximately 110° Centigrade. Heights of soils were converted to'a volume basis and the percent moisture by volume determined. Aggregate analyses were made by the method suggested by Yoderth). Moisture equivalent was determined by the centrifuge method, and wilting coeficient by use of the following equation; Wilting coefficient:; E££3393002%?6§06ff12}ent Records of the number of flowers out and the number which were split were kept during the growing season. The vegetative weights of the tops were taken at the time of harvest. SOIL MOISTURE DETThHINATICES AND THE EFFEVT OF THE VARIOUS NETHODS OF WATERING OE TOROSITY AND AGGREGATICN One of the most important considerations in the pro- duction of any crop in a soil or soil mixture, is the mois- ture relations of the soil. Table 1. shows the percent of moisture available to the plant in the various soils and «soil mixtures, determined on the basis on the difference between the moisture equiValent and the wilting coefficient. 'It can be seen that the heavier soils have considerable more available moisture than the lighter soils, but that the lighter soils can be greatly improved, and the heavier. soils somewhat improved by the addition of organic matter (one third mudk by volume in this case.) The commercial grower who has only the lighter soils available can thus improve his crops by improving the water relationships of the soil through the addition of suitable organic matter, such as muck. The outstancing difference in the soils and soil mixtures due to the different methods of watering, Was the percent moisture in the soil during the growing period. Table 2 shows that the percent moisture Was greater in the sub-irrigated plots than in the surface watered plots, and still greatest in the constant water level plots. The samples for the moisture oeterminations were taken from the subéirrigated plots 45-50 hours after watering, and from the surface watered plots, 35-60 hours after watering. 10 The plots, at the time of tampling, contained as close to the average amount of moisture as it was possible to esti- mate._ This increase in percent moisture is advantageous to the point at which aeration becomes a limiting factor in plant growth. This minimum need for air is believed to be somewhere between 30 and 10% co per liter of soil. As pore space is practically constant (see table 3) for each soil or soil mixture under all three methods of watering, the degree of aeration in the soil depends upon the percent moisture in the soil. The results of the two pore Space determinations that show the greatest Variation, the sur- face watered Cshtemo sand, and one sub-irrigated plots of Miami, are beliered to be erronéous. From the table of volume weights, table 4, it is evident that the addition of muck materially decreases the volume weights of the soils, thus increasing porosity. In soils, where nutrient levels are maintained at a sufrieiently high level, successful crop production depends largely upon the amount of moisture present, and the physical condition of the soil. Table 5 shows the moisture aeration relationships of the six soils and soil mixtures as affected by the three methods of watering. Aeration was sufficient on all soils and soil mixtures that were surfaced watered. There is a pos ibility, with this method of watering, that soil moisture might become 11 a limiting factor in plant growth. in the Cshtemo sand for instance, the amount of moisture available to plants can be only 4.27 percent \Table 1). As the soil becomes dry, the actualvclume available to the plants may become very low. The data show however, that the quanity may be greatly increased by the addition of muck to the sand. All cf the other soils and soil mixtires probably contained suf.icient moisture as a result of this methou of watering, even though there was less moisture than where the other two methods of watering tere employed. The addition of the muck to the hrookstcn clay loam only slightly increased the amount of available moi ture, while the wilting coef- ficient of the soil was materially increased. The amount of moisture varied considerably in the sub-irrigated plots. This was due to differences in soil as they were all watered at the same time. Moisture in any one of the soils or soil mixtures could have been better controlled in separate benches. As evidenced by plant growth, aeration seemed to be sufficient in all of the sub-irrigated soils, although the volume of air per unit volume of soil was much less than in the surface watered soils. It is believed that any soil or soil mixture can be used satisfactorily with this method of wate_ing under properly controlled conditions, although the heavier soils with orgtnic mat er should be the'best 12 In the constant water level bench, all of the soils received su'ficient moisture at all times. 'Water rose so freely in the lighter tsandier) soils that air was almost entirely excluded. This was particularly true of the Cshtemo, and to a lesser extent with the waflsecn soil. The addition of muck to the Cshtemo Sand increaSed aeration by the increase in the amount of pore Space, and probably by the effect of the organic matter-in slowing up capillary rise of water. The reason for the low amount of aeration in the sandier soils is believed to be due to the rapid capillary action in the sand which filled most of the pore spaces mere rapidly than the moisture could evaporate or be used by the plants. bhere capillarity was slowed down by the finer pores in the heavi.r soil, evaporation and plant use were fast enough to use up the water ahd allow suf- ficient air for the plant roots. ‘ For best possible moisture-aeration relationships, heavier soils, containing considerable organic matter should be used with the constant water level method of watering. The Oshtemo sand produced heavier growth than the brookston clay loam and muck under surface watering, as shown in figures 1 and 2, and in the vegatative weight at the termination of the experiment. Under sub-irrigation, the growth was superior in the Eroohston clay loam and muck, 13 showed very good growth under constant water level, while those in the Cshtemo sand were severely retard d or killed as shown in figures 5 and 6. Surface watering has a tendency to break down ag- gregation faster than do the methous of sub-irrigation or constant water level, as shovn in table 6. This is shown also in figures 7-10. 11'; the "Nanseon, crookston, and Lrooxston and muck, the curves show that the aggregates ale definitely smaller in those plots that were surface watered. In the Iiami soil, the CchCS for s.rfa (E watering and sub-irrigation cross, indicatin; very little difference in the effect of treatment. The gr .nhouse operator that leaves his soils in the benches for several years should get better results with subsequent crops by using either the sub-irrigation or constant water level methods of watering. The volume weights of the soils and soil mixtures were only slightly affected by the method of watering, as eVidenceu in table 4. r1 ‘ ' T11 ‘ w ,-'v -— -' o‘va “Hr Y"."u:' ’1 w 2".“ r l-» lei--CL C2 CIL.. sari} 3.-..-1111L-isb C: '..1‘x...“3.1 .G .‘f‘ fi't'r x1 (“1”) '9f",,' ; ' "r «'"K' 33' ,-' ' , 7* T 7- Cr. .14.. "|v_.al‘L i in .1}. LIlen .*~.-~..;/ Q mien-I'll high production of qualit; carnation flowers is sutject to many variables, amoug which are; variety, temgeraidre, nutrient level, climate, goisttre, and soil— noisture relations. lt mas atteugt_d in this exteriment to control as many of the variatles as gossitle in oreer to have con- paratle records or prou ction on the various Soils and soil m'xtores, under the vario s nethous of watering. Table 7 gixes tne production oi flomers and the ter- centaLe oi split calyxes in each of the plots, ano. the average for each soil uneer each of the three tyres of watering. High flower production WaE maintained on the surface tatered plots of Cshtemo sand, and there has fair production on the sub-irrigated plots. Production on the constant water level plots Lonever was very poor, and the flowers were of the lonest duality or an' of the L,lots, many of them being unsaleable. Lhe plants in theSe plots were either killed or materially injured Ly the high moisture content and lack or aeration. figure 5 shows this poor grontn, and table a, vegetative weight at the clOse of the experiment, shows the limited vegetation on these plots. The Cshtemo sand with muck show d a Slightly lower production on the surface watered glots, poxsibly dot to 15 the fact that, although the moisture content was higher at the time the tangles mere tahen, the wiltinb coefJicient was quite a cit higher than on the Cshtemo sand alone, and thus more water was needed. There may thus have Leen sometimes a shortage of availalle moisture. The increase in production, caused by the much in the Cshtemo sand, in the constant water level plots, over 250 percent, was probably due largely to better aeration. Even then, however,the yield was still lower than normal production Standards. The hiami soil, a heavy sandy loam, produced good yields under all three methods of watering. Abparently, ample moisture and sufficient soil air were present at all times on all plots. .This soil, and similar soil types are very prevalent in hichitan and are easily available to many greenhouse operators. There were differences in the quality of the flowers procuced under the different watering methods. Those of the surface Watered plots were slightly smaller and with somewhat poorer stems. Some evidence or this is noted in table 8. The data for the eanseon sandy loam shows inconsistency in both the srrface watered and the sub-irrigated plots. In the strface watered bench, one of the Wanseon plots was at the end of the bench nearest the door to the outside of the greenhouse. The traffic tnrou h the greenhouse seemed to have affected the prodtcticn of this plot. 16 In the plants as received from the yield, it was later discovered that some plants of the Variety Lillers' Yellow, “zere mixed in with the variety Puritan. All of these plants app ared in the fourth and fifth plots of the sub-irrigated bench, being the hauseon and Lrookston plots, respectively, The dauseon plot consisted of all plants of this variety, and the hrookston plot, about half and half. The number of blooms per plant of killers' Yellow appeared to be less than the number of blooms per plant of Puritan. The someuhat lower yield, as compared to other soils, of the constant water level hauseon plots was probably due to the lack of proper aeration as shown in table 5. Lrookston clay loam, a heavier soil, high in org.nic matter, produced goou yiélds on both the surface watered and constant water level plots. The reasons for the lower yields on the sub-irrigated plots are partially explained by the Variety mix up already mentioned, and partially due to the inability to properly control the moisture Content due to the fact that more than one soil was in the bench. The addition of muck to the Brookston soil lowered the production on the surface watered plots because the wilting coefficient was increased to a much greater extent than the moisture in the soil, thus causing the possibility of cocasionally too low a moisture content. 17 The increase in yield on the sub-irrigated plots, caused by the addition of muck to the Lrookston clay loam, is believed due the fact that the moisture-aeration relations for these plots were better than for the Brookston plo's. There was no material increase in the yield obtained on the constant water level plots due to the addition of muck to the Brookston soil, because the Lriokston soil was already heavy enough and sufficiently high in organic matter for good production. It can also be seen from table 7 that there should have been some method of time control of watering on both the surface watered and sub-irrigated plots, and that only one type of soil or soil mixture should have been used in the sub-i:rigatei Lench. Best yield results, using the constant water level method of Watering, mere obtained by the use of heavier soils, high in organic matter. Table 7 does not show that the flowers were of super- ior quality, both as to size of bloom and length and sturdi- ness of stems, in all of the sub-irrigated and constant except those water level plotsAof Cshtemo sand. Table 8, showing the vegetative weights of the plants at the termination of the experiment, serves to indicate this sturdiness of the plants. The plant growth averaged 5.97 pounds per plot on all sub-irrigated plots, and 6.5o pounds on all constant water level plots, omitting 18 the Cshtemo sand figures from this last average. As compared wihh an average of 4.15 pounds obtained of the surface these watered plotskaigures snow the superiority of the sub- irrigation methoas of watering, The size and qualimg of the flowers varied in much the Same order as did the plants at the end of the experiment. Actual size records on the flowers were not recorded. Table 9 is another form of expressing the average production data in thble 7, and is included to give the commercial grower a comparison of yields on a square foot basis, as this is the basis on which the; measure their production. A quick glance shows that best production was obtained on hrookston clay loam and broohston clay loam plus much, but that the muck did not improve the natural brookston soil. This mi ht not be true with certain other crops. 19 .SUMMLRY LED CONCLUSIONS Carnations were grown in six soils and soil mixtures. Watering was done at the surface in the conventional manner, by sub-irrigation, and by constant water level sub-ir- rigation. The effect of the different methods of watering was shown by porosity relationships, moisture determinations, and aggregate analyses of the soils and soil mixtures, and by recording the number of blooms per plot, ano taking the vegetative weights of carnation plant from each plot at the termination of the experiment. Judging from the effects of the soil, number and qualifir of blooms, and total vegetatite growth of plants, sub- irrigation proved to be superior to surface watering. It was found necessary to use a heavy soil, high in organic matter, to achieve the best results with the constant water level method of watering. heavier soils with organic matter were also found superior to the more sandy soils in the sub-irrigation method of watering. Best results can only be achieved by this method when only one 8011 is used to a bench, and the time of watering is controlled to fit the sail. The reason the Bandy soils were not satisfactory in the constant water level method was that the rapid capillary action in the sand filled up the pore spaces faster than evaporation and the plants could use the moisture,emd 20 consequently limited aeration to the extent of affecting the growth of the plants in the soil Soils to which a large amount of organic matter has been added require more water than those low in organic matter. This is especially noticable in the surface watering methou, and must be carefully watched. Aggregate analyses showed that surface watering tended to break down aggregation faster than the other two methods of watering. Superior size of flowers and stems in the sub-irrigation and the constant water level methods was due to the greater moisture content of the soil at all times. Perhaps sufficient moisture could be kept in the surface watered bench by using some mechanical means of controlling the time of watering, or by increasing the labor involved. TABLE 1: SOIL MOISTURE CONUTLNTS SOIL AND SOIL MIXTURES E VARIOUS Moisture hilting Available Eguivalent Coefficient Moisture Soil . #percent _peroent ‘_percent OShtemO 50 90 4 o 27 Cshtemo and Muck 18.85 13.75 Miami 15.45 12.66 T'Haaweon 16010 12072 Brookston Clay Loam 26.60 20.86 Brookston Clay Loam and Muck 34.00 22.24 22 TABLE 2: VOLUfE OF MOISTURE IN THY VARIOUS 4 SOILS AND SOIL MIXTD S SURFACE WATERED LB-IREIChTICN coasrinr WATER LEV* ‘ Average Averag Average Soil Percent Percent Percent Percent__Percent Percent ‘ Oshtemo 7.8 30.0 ‘ . 38.0 9.6 .8.7 26.1 28.0 42.8 40.4 Cshtemo 14.9 37.0 42.8 and Muck 18.7 16.8 ' 41.9 39.5 48.4 45.6 Miami 15.1 26.8 . 37.6 17.7 16.4 26.3 ‘26.6 35.8 36.7 Wauseon 19.1 i 28.8 - 42.4 21.2 20.2 § 30.8 29.8 42.2 42.3 g i o Brookston 29.4 37.7 ‘ 34.9 Clay Loam 21.8 25.6 37.4 37.5 41.0 38.9 Brookston 24.1 41.7 46.9 Clay Loam 34.1 29.1 39.1 40.4 46.5 46.7 and Muck 'IAJfilE 3: PtolC’ilfT T TILL 370-133 [SIX-.0"? Ts" TEE: ‘2’MilCil’S SOILS his SCIL LIXTURLS CI A VOLUKE EASIS SLRFACE hACEhhn SUB-InfilGaTICh COL TAIT MATER L233 ‘ . A—-———~ — ‘-,,__u ‘ .-_.__ m"1'l.".'""“"" ..u.wmu~.,um u: . . Wflw 5011 ‘_ Average average Average Cshtemo 2 40 50 51.0 46 46 45.0 41 43.5 Cshtemo 55 61 and fuck -- 55.0 48 54.5 59 - 56.5 liiami 50 51 54 wry—v .v— wauseon 49 51 -- 49.0 52 48 51.5 49 48.5 Erookston 56 ' 55 52 Clay Loam -- 56.0 61 I57.o 58 55.0 Brookston 58 Clay Loam 68 and Kug5*_ 62 61 63.0 62 62.0 64 62.5 . Q. N. —-—§~¢—-- VCLUfE hTIGHZ OF 2713:; vgiaious so iLs AID SOIL LIXKLH" SL1".L-J‘ 1615.51 8L ' ”'3‘ .7: JngILAJ Average Soil .11...._m_. Cshtemo 1.25 1.24 1.24 Cshtemo .99 and huck ---- .99 Miami 1.13 "'"""" 1015 “Mauseon 1.11 ’--' loll ZErookston .98 Clay Loam -.~A .98 Brookston .83 Clay Loam 1.03 .98 and Kuck‘“~ ~‘_‘J-‘ ION no... kc"... .— w v.— Average ' .- A.“ _‘_ 1r 1:3v "L Avera ge -1--~‘~‘-_l- .‘ 1006 1.07 .84 1.40 1.06 1.18 1.18 .96 .79 25 11113 5: POEC‘ITY HELATICLSHIPS CE 123 VARLCUS SOILS AKD SOIL MIXTURES * * 1.1/111234." “"“TCWTR‘KGE‘fiE-‘I" :ILI‘S AVERAGE 1111””; Soil gRL§1LLNT POAE SPACE 11'801; SPACE IL 901L§ I “IIwIIII “"Bc#péi:liter cc per liter" ccjper 11533 Cshtemo Surface Watered 510 87 423 ' Cshtemo sub-Irrigated 450 280 150 Cshtemo Constant Water Level 435 404 31 _ f Cshtemo S. W. 550 168 382 1 and tuck } - s. I. 545 595 150 § - c. w. L. 565 456 109 E Eiami S. w. 500 164 336 f " s. I. 465 £266 199 i x : u c. w. L. 525 E36? 158 hauseon s. w. 490 £202 288 - s. I. 515 g298 217 1 i 5 n c. w. L. 485 {425 62 i Brookston s. w. 560 256 504 i Clay Loam i L g ' s. I. 570 575 195 f l = ‘ n c. a. L. 550 '385 151 Brookston S. w. 630 1291 339 Clay Loam i and Muck E w s. I. J620 404 216 i S ' c. W. L. ‘625 1&67 ¥_}58 ”_L 26 TABLE 6: 1H: EFFECT or VATERILG 0m AGGREGATION 03 THE SOILS AED 5011 MIXTURES _ AGGREGATE SIZE 1: { l [ Less 3 than Ever 025‘ 0125' i 0125 mm 2-4mm l-2mm .5-lmm .5mm, .25mm ? mm per- per- per- per- per- per- Eper- 1 Soil Treatment cent cent cent cent cent cent icent ___ 1 E .1 Miami Surface 5.28'3.76 3.86 6.20 16.64325.64 138.62 watered / ‘ i ! nuami sub- 2.36 4.18 4.22 6.62 18.10327.32 §37.10 irrigation 1 3 ‘Miami Constant 19.52 3.42 § 3.22 §5.30 l6.70§23.66 €28.18 water level , g ‘ g wenscol s. W. 2.38 2.98 5.60 i9.28 19.24§27.84 132.68 Wanseon So I. 905813098 4016 58006 20012 28086 E25024 I . wanseon c. w; L. .8.18§5.86 5.70 £9.68 19.24 25.52 25.82 Brookaton s. w. 0 !1.30 2.44 $4.78 14.44.15.36 61.68 Clay Loam. 1 ; g ‘ , t - s ? Brookston s. I. 3.32 2.38 12.34 55.80 19.94 33.50 '32.72 Clay Loam. { g i I E ‘3 Brookston c. w. L. 3.76 3.08 2.90 54.72 13.74 24.22 47.58 Clay Loam . g Brookston s. w. 11.38 4.70 5.70 £5.22 10.44 20.74 51.82 ; Clay Loam. f i and Muck . a - s. I. 19.16 3.82 4.00 4.34 10.86 16.92 40.90 § ' c. w. L. 3.38J§.58 5.72 16.14 10.32 17.18 50.68 2; TABLE 7: and FROM EACH OF 1.2 VARIOUS SOILS AID SOIL MIXTURES NUMBER OF FLOWERS AKD PERCENTAGE OF SPLIT CALYXES SURFACE WATElED SUB-IRRIGATION ONSTANT WATER LEVEL m0. glooms Splits ”4h0. BloomsJ Splits ho. Bloomsl Splfits av. IaV. av. av. Ea'V. 18V. Per-'Per- Eer- Per- ; Per- Per- 8011 i A; Cent'Cent Cent Cent Cent Cent : ; Cshtemo 134 15 * 1113 8 33 : 33 119 1127 26 -21 100 107 27 12 ' 30 ; 32 37 35 . i 5 Cshtemo 121 ’ 21 . 86 E8 f -91 : 17 and Muck 98 110 14 ’18 130 .108 23 20 :84 88 11 15 I 3 11am: 132 17 123 E9 g113 16 120 126 14 16 113 118 29 14 _118 116 14 15 ‘danseon 133 517 i. 79 10 I 96 27 77 105 310 14 124 102 28 '19 105 101 21 .24 i . Brookston 126 314 r 91 £8 l 134' . 10 Clay Loam 120 $123 322 18 115 103 19 14 124 129 18 14 i : i ‘ ‘ Brookston 98 £19 ; 116 9 {1251 ’24 Clay Loam 100 99 514 ‘17. 138 127 5 17 '143‘134 17 20 and Muck L g * 3 I 1 26 T ~12 8. VEGETATIVE HEIGHT AT THE TERHINATION'OF THE E. EIIMERT FROM THE VARIOUS SOILS AND SOIL MIXTURES "”‘SURTLCC_LLTSRHO SUB-IRRIGATION consTALT WAEER'IEVELr Soil, .1 _£fyer§ge ' Average 4f__ Averag§_ Cshtemo % 4.65 4.65 E 1.80 , ‘ ; 4.45 4.55 5.80 g 5.23 1.15 1.48# z , i Cshtemo g 4.75 g 4.65 i 5.45 and Muck g 4.35 4.55 g 6.60 g 5.63 4.35 4.90 21am: ‘ 5.05 E 7.55 7.40 I 4.45 g4.75 E 5.80 6.68 7.05 7.23 Wauseon 3.85 I i 5.15 6.55 Lrookston 4.45 i i 5.95 6.85 Clay Loam 3.65 €4.05 5 6.35 6.15 7.20 7.03 Broohston 3.35 E 5.85 6.90 Clay Loam 4.20 , 3.78 g 6.95 6.40 9.05 7.93 and Enck L J AVERAGE 4.15 5.97 6.56 #2 Not 1fiéluded In method 3? watering average- 29 TABLE 9: AVERAGE FL ME” PRODUCTION ICE SQUARE FOOT ON THE VARIOUS SOILS AND SOIL FIXTURES So 11 5114112011- ImTEE‘EO SUB-IPRIGATION ; CONSTANT _ ~42 WATER LEVEL__ Cshtemo 21 18 i 5 Cshtemo and tuck 18 18 15 Miami ! 21 20 ' 19 wauseon E 18 17 17 Brockston Clay Loam E 20 17 23 Bflofiketon Cleyflgoam & Euck; 16 21_*¥ 22 ”n.'~\..4u. pv' --.~ ..-. . _ . .. -’- ~I-‘lv_-u—- - 30 _; ,2, SURFACE IRRIGATION Fig. 1 GROWTH OF CARLLATIOLZS OI." OSIYi‘LI-IIO SAND, SURFACE IIATERIIID. SURFACE IRRIGATION fl "4 “N I ,I .\.7,. M.‘.‘O3" -. “E ' 2_% . ‘3‘ Fig. 2 GR WTH OF CARI-EATIOIJS 1‘1 BROOk‘STOl.‘ CLAY LOAII'. AK!) ITUCK, SURFACE ‘vIATEPSfiD 51 Fig. 5 GROWTH OF CARL’ATIOIQS ON OSHTEIJIO SAM, SUB-IRRIGATYID " 6UB-5URFA.7E '?RIC/ 710M Fig. 4 GROWTH OF CARNATEUNS ON BROOKSTON CLAY LOML'T Ala) MUCK SUB-IILRIGATED 32 Fig. 5 GROWTH 0;" CARNATI03:1}.~ ON OSHTIEIMO SAND, UNDEB CONSTANT ‘JIATLR LEVEL MGM/VT WATER LEVE -- .P . . g .A Fig. 6 GROWTH OF CARNATIOHS ON IBROOKSTOLT CLAY LOAN. All) LICK UNDER CCl-TLJ TAITT "JATER LEVEL 100 NI 0 8 ZPEROENTAGE or ORIGINAL 3mm. 8 8 10 113. 7 “caustic: of mm Larger thnn 3 Gina 8120 in mm 3011 as Affect“! Three lothoda of Water 118.8 Aoomlntiu 01‘ Wt“ boo 84 than a 01m: am in waiiaoon an. as Affected _ lothodo at RCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL SAMPLE PE 10° 0.8 Lag Anna-mt- 812.0 in h- 005 1.0 in. § 9 ‘0th or Aggregates Larger than e Given Size in Brooks“: Clay Loan ee Affected Three Iethoda of later 30 1 0 '0 0'5 Log Aggregate 8122 111 III. '5 35 1.0 4“? i" -W.."—-—A- _ ’ ‘1‘ .5’ film- I i II " Fifi?— ! l I I E ! —— 1'13. 10 36 Momletieu of Wine larger thn e Given Sine 1n Brooketon Clay Lee- and luck as Affected by Three Methods of watering w .00 PERCENTAGE OF ORIGINAL SAMPLE 5 '1-1 A”; leo 0.5 o 0.5 1.0 (2) (3) (4) (5) ('7) (8) (9) (10) 37 BIBLIOGRAPHY Post. k. Automatic Watering, N}Y. State Flower Growers' Bul. 7:3-14. 1946. Post, I; and Seeley, J.G. Automatic Wateringgg green. ggy£g_gggpg, k.Y. (Cornell) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 793. 1943. Post, K. and Seeley, J.G., Automatic watering g; §2$l in Greenhouse fienches, Florists Rev. 86, 2227:13. Aug. 1 g 1940. Bane, Wm. F., Sub-irrigation in the Grzenhouee, W. Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 33. 255-270. 1893. Spurway, C.B., Soil Testing, Michigan State College Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. rul. 132, 2nd rev: 1-38. 1938. Stephens, J.h., and Vclz, E.C., Egg Growth.g§ Stocks Egg China Asters gglgggg,;gfig Soils with Constggt,;gzgl Syb—irriggtion., Proc. Amer. Soc. for Hort. Sci. Vol. 51 1948. Veatch. J.O., Agricultural Land Classification and gang 21p3§_2£,fiichigan. MkS.C. Agr. Exp. Sta. Spec. Bul. 231 (First revision), 1941. Ward,C.W., The American Carnation. 1123 to 93933 33;. p. 1-296, 1903. Wilden, C.E., Unpublished Data. Yoder. R.E., é direct Method of Aggregate Analysis and a Stud: 22 the Physical Mature _§_Erosion Loeegg. Jr. Amer. Soc. Agron. Vol. 28:337-351. 1936. 3