A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN NUTRIENTS
ON THE GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF
HYACINTHUS ORIENTAL IS LINN.

By
FOUAD YEHIA AMIN

A THESIS
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State College of Agriculture and Applied Science
in p artial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Horticulture

1952

DEDICATION

' 'It is a knowledge to know that you
do not know what you do not know.''

To the Arabian philosopher who said this thoughtful prov­
erb, the author dedicates this work.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is indebted to Dr. Donald P. Watson for valuable
suggestions and direction throughout the conduction of this

study.

He deeply appreciates the respected counsel of Dr. Alvin
L. Kenworthy.
An expression of deep gratitude is directed to P ro fesso rs
Elroy J.

Miller and Erwin J. Benne, of the Department of Agri­

cultural Chemistry, for their valuable help.

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION............................................................................
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

..........................................................................................

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

5

..............................................................................

9

F i r s t E x p e r i m e n t ..............................................................................................................

9

P re p a ra tio n of the nutrient solutions
Planting

12

....................................................

13

............................................................................

14

.....................................................................................................

15

Method of recording data
Second Experiment

P re p a ra tio n of the nutrient solutions

............................................

......................................................................................................................

Method of recording data
RESULTS

9

.............................................................................................................................

Exposing the bulbs to the daylight

Planting

.....................................

15
16

.....................................................................

17

..................................................................................................................................

18

Time Required for the Various Stages of Growth . . . .
From planting until the appearance of
vegetative p a r t s .................................................................................................
F rom the appearance of vegetative p a rts
until norm al l i g h t ....................................................................................................

18

18

22

V

Pa g e

From planting until exposure to normal light
During the normal light

........................................................................

Prom planting until flowering
Comparison of results
Flowering period
Quality of Plants

........................................................

for two years

Length of leaves

27
28

.....................................

32

............................................................................................

35

........................................................................................
........................

................................................................................................

Root g r o w t h ...............................................................................................
Chemical Analysis

25

.............................................................................

Length of racem es

Width of leaves

. . . .

................................................................................................

37
42
44
46
62

Tissue c o n t e n t ....................................................................................................
The pH of the culture m e d i u m ............................................................

65

DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................

70

The D pression of Growth by High Concen­
trations of Phosphorus
................................

71

The Effect of N u t r i e n t s ....................................................................................

76

SUMMARY................................................................................................................................

82

BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................

84

LIST OF

TABLES

TABLE

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.
XI.

Page

Nutrient Elements and Concentrations
of the Nutrient Solutions . . .
...........................................

.

10

Average Number of Days Required from
Planting Until the Appearance of Vegetative
P a r ts , ''Stage I ''

21

Average Number of Days Required from
the Appearance of the Vegetative Growth
Until Light Period, ''Stage II1'

23

................

Average Time in Days Required in the
Dark Period
........................

26

Average Number of Days Required During
the Normal Light, ''Stage III11

29

Average Time in Days Required From
Planting Until Flowering, ''Stages I, II,
and III"
..........................................................................................................

30

Average Time in Days Required From
Planting and Flowering, 1951
.
...................

33

Time in Days Required From Planting
Until Flowering
.....................................................................................

35

Average Time in Days of the Flowering
Period, 1'Stage IV '1 .............................................................................

36

Raceme

39

Length

....................................

Average Length of the Three Outer
Leaves
...............................

43

vii
TABLE

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

Page

Average Width of the Three Outer
..................................................................................................................
Leaves

45

Chemical Content of Hyacinth Bulbs,
Five Bulbs for Each Treatm ent, 1 9 5 1 .............................

63

Chemical Content of Hyacinth Bulbs,
Five Bulbs for Each Treatment, 1952 . . . . . . . .

66

pH Values of the Leachate

68

..........................................................

LIST OF

FIGURES

FIGURE

Page

1.

Time

...............................................................

20

2.

Height of p l a n t s ...................................................................................................

41

3.

Effect of moderate nutrient levels,
forty-one days after planting; f ir s t
experiment, 1951

48

Effect of moderate nutrient levels,
forty-two days after planting; second
experiment, 1952

50

Growth of bulbs
forty-one days after
planting, showing effect of high, moderate,
and low levels of complete solutions, 1951

52

Growth of bulbs forty-two days after
planting, showing effect of high, moderate,
and low nutrient levels with the omission
of nitrogen, 195 1

52

Growth of bulbs
forty-one days after
planting, showing effect of high, moderate,
and low nutrient levels with the omission
of phosphorus, 195 1

54

Growth of bulbs
forty-one days after
planting, showing effect of high, moderate,
and low nutrient levels with the omission
of potassium, 195 1

54

Growth of bulbs
forty-one days after
planting, showing effect of high, moderate,
and low nutrient levels with the omission
of calcium, 1951

56

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

required for flowering

ix
FIGURE

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Page

Growth of bulbs forty-one days after
planting, showing effect of high, moderate,
and low nutrient levels with thi- omission
of magnesium, 195 1

56

Microelements supplied at high, moderate,
and low levels, 1 9 5 1 .................................................................................

58

Growth of bulbs forty-two days after
planting, showing effect of low phosphorus
concentrations added to the high, moderate,
and low nutrient levels, 1952 .........................................................

58

Growth of bulbs at full bloom, showing
effect of high, moderate, and low nutrient
levels of complete solutions, 1952

61

Growth of bulbs at full bloom, showing
effect of high, moderate, and low nutrient
levels with the omission of phosphorus,
1952

61

Growth of bulbs at full bloom, showing
effect of low phosphorus concentrations
added to the high, moderate, and low
nutrient levels, 1952

61

INTRODUCTION

The name of the genus Hyacinthus was derived from the
Greek mythology.

Apollo killed his beloved youth Hyacinthus by

an unlucky throw of the discus.

In another version it is stated

that Hyacinthus was killed by Zyphyrus, God of the west wind, b e­
cause of jealousy (Thayer,

1928).

Actually there is no proof that

this was the hyacinth of today.
The hyacinth is a native of the E urasian region, but p a r ­
ticularly in the vicinity of Aleppo and Baghdad.

It has been cul­

tivated as an ornamental plant since Grecian times
and is planted in temperate
the temperature

regions

(Thayer,

1928),

as well as in countries where

can be controlled to favor its growth.

It is f r e ­

quently called the Dutch hyacinth, probably because the Netherlands
is leading in the production of this bulb.

Since

19 44, the acreage

of hyacinths grown in the Netherlands has steadily increased to
1,027 acres

in the

1950-1951 season.

It had reached 1,302 acres

in 1938, but dropped severely between 1939 and 1944 (Agriculture
Attache of the Netherlands Embassy,

Washington, D. C.).

Since

1946, an average of approximately twenty-one million hyacinth
bulbs have been imported by the United States of America from

2

the Nettierlands.

During

1950, the number of hyacinth bulbs im ­

ported. by the United. States of A m erica was approximately twentyfour m illio n --a total expenditure of $1,4 70,000 (Bureau of Agricul­
tural Economics,

USDA).

The growth of the hyacinth is grouped into three phases of
development, each of which is controlled by tem perature and light:
heat treatm ent after the bulbs are

dug from the

soil, growth under

dark conditions, and growth under norm al light.
When the bulbs a re
ets are p re sen t.
raceme,

dug from the soil in the field, no f l o r ­

The initiation of the floral p a rts ,

and the number of the flo rets

by the tem perature

quality of the

on each raceme are

during the f i r s t phase (Beijer,

controlled

1936).

The second phase of growth to be considered occurs when
the bulbs are planted and light is withheld.

The growth during this

phase is governed by conditions of tem perature
ing this phase to excess
peduncle and leaves;

and light.

I n c re a s ­

resu lts in increasing the length of the

while decreasing this phase reduces the growth

of the roots, leaves, peduncle, and the plant becomes short and
produces flowers of poor quality (Biekart,

1928).

During the third phase, when the bulbs are exposed to normal
light conditions,

an increase in tem perature

shortens the time

req uired fo r flowering, but re s u lts
(Biekart,

in flow ers of ligh ter colo r

192 8).

Although initiation and elongation p ro c e s s e s
governed by te m p e ra tu re
ceed favorably unless

of growth are

and light conditions, they could not p r o ­

the nutritional content of the bulb provided

the n e c e s s a ry elem ents.

Assuming that a bulb was planted in a

soil deficient in one nutritional element, the most favorable time
to supply this

elem ent would seem to be during the second phase

when the bulb is f i r s t planted and placed in the dark.

To continue

the addition of n utrients as long as the bulb is growing and in ­
creasing in size would possibly prevent any fu rth e r deficiency.
This would enable the nutritional

status

favorable fo r the initiation of the

racem e

time the bulb is

of the bulb to be m ore
and the flo rets

at the

subjected to the heat tre a tm e n t fo r stimulation of

the floral axis.
Very little
tance of various
hyacinth.

information is available concerning the im p o r­
soil n utrients upon the growth and flowering of the

The purpose

of this

study was to le a r n the effect of

some n utrient elem ents on the growth of the hyacinth bulb, the
quality of the

racem e,

period of flowering.

the perio d required fo r flowering, and the
The m acroelem ents

used were nitrogen,

phosphorus, potassium ,
were iron,

copper,

zinc,

calcium,

and magnesium;

manganese,

and boron.

the m icroelem ents

REVIEW O F

LITERATURE

Few research, re p o rts were found that related d irectly to
the influence of soil n utrients on the growth of bulbs.

No detailed

experim ents have been located where the influence of n utrients on
the growth of the hyacinth was

studied.

B iek art (192 8) recommended the addition of ammonium
phate o r ammonium n itra te

su l­

e a rly in the spring, because it was

found to be noticeably helpful to hyacinths grown in m ost soils.
He maintained that since the florets
ing, the

were in the bulb before p lan t­

soil did not need to be highly rich, but that the flowers

would be l a r g e r
Griffiths

(1930)

and stro n g e r under b e tte r nutrient conditions.
suggested a crop of Vigna catjang followed by a

crop of Sec a le , to be turned over a month before planting hyacinth
bulbs.

Such treatm en t,

the rate of 1,000 to

supplemented by a complete f e r t i l i z e r at

1,200 pounds p e r

acre

at planting time with a

top d ressing of 150 to 200 pounds of ammonium sulphate p e r acre
in the spring when the leaves
good hyacinths.

appear above the soil,

should produce

He advised, for greenhouse purposes,

a good loam

soil p re fe ra b ly of sod, and composted for a year with sod and f e r ­
tiliz e r.

Volkersz (193 8) stated that the b e st soils were composed

of 94.1 p e rc e n t sand,

4 p e rc e n t calcium carbonate,

and 0.1 p e rc e n t humus, with, a pH of 7.7.

1 p e rc e n t clay,

With, such soils in the

N etherlands, he said the phosphorus content was norm ally good,
-but addition of potassium in co m m ercial f e r t iliz e r s

was very im ­

portant.

Generally phosphorus was applied in the autumn before

planting,

either as basic

slag o r as

superphosphate.

era l f e r t i li z e r s were given as top d re ssin g s,
the late autumn before mulching,
much care to avoid leaching

Other m in­

usually o ne-th ird in

and two-thirds in the spring, with

resulting from

rainfall.

He continued

to re p o rt that organic nitrogen in manure might be incorporated
during the autumn,
addition.

and m in eral

M ineral nitrogen was

sources

were usually n e c e s s a ry in

supplied as ammonium sulphate or

am m onium -nitro-chalk at a total rate of 700 to
p e r h ectare

(638 to 957 pounds p e r acre).

1,0 50 kilogram s

V olkersz said that

granulated 6-18-30 f e r t i li z e r had been widely used at a rate of
1,000 to
acre),

1,400 kilogram s p e r h ectare

(911 to

1,275 pounds p e r

supplemented with nitrogen and usually potassium.

In o r­

ganic nitrogen appeared to induce e a r l i e r flowering than organic
nitrogen.

He also

in f e r t i li z e r

stated that different v a rie tie s

req u irem en ts.

of hyacinth varied

Hargrave and Thompson (1939)

studied

the influence of bulb size on the dry m a tte r, nitrogen, and m ineral

7

content.

They chemically analyzed hyacinth bulbs,

6 to 16 centim eters
potassium, ash,

ranging from

in circum ference, for nitrogen, phosphorus,

and dry m atter.

and ash contents were le s s

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,

in the 6- than in the 8-centimeter bulbs,

but they increased with increasing the size of the bulb from
16 centim eters

in circum ference.

10 to

They explained the rise in m in­

eral content of a l a r g e r bulb by increasing capacity of the bulb for
flower formation,

root development,

and foliage production.

The

importance of producing well-developed roots for b e tte r growth and
quality of hyacinth bulbs was emphasized by Bailey (1947), and
Biekart (1923).
More nutritional studies have been conducted on Narcissus
and Tulip a .

Stuart (1947) found that potassium increased the yields

of N arcissus bulbs and flowers.
omission of potassium
weight in c r e a s e ,"

Bould (1939) observed that the

resulted in reduction in N arcissus

M
bulb

while omission of nitrogen reduced the general

growth, quality of flowers, and flower stem length.

Bould (1939),

working with Tulip a, found that omitting potassium had a small
effect on the general appearance, although it reduced the
weight in c r e a s e ."

"bulb

He also found that omitting nitrogen reduced

"bulb weight in c re a s e "

and flower stem length, especially the

8

second year.

E m sw eller (1938) indicated that addition of boron

in crea sed the num ber of N a rc iss u s flowers
of growth.

during the f i r s t y e a r

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

F i r s t E xperim ent

Preparation, of the nutrient solution.
pyrex bottles were

Twenty-five

cleaned by using hydrochloric acid,

solution, and distilled water.

Rubber and glass tubes

20- lite r

detergent
cleaned in

the same way were connected to the bottles.
The aim of the following pro cedure was to p re p are
levels

of n utrient

solutions:

Nitrogen, potassiu m ,

a high, m oderate,

calcium,

as

sulphate.

were p re p ared in

The chemically pure chem icals used

so u rces f o r each element were:

phoric acid, potassiu m

and low level.

and magnesium stock salt solutions,

as well as orthophosphoric acid stock solution,
the 20- l i t e r p yrex b o ttle 3.

three

chloride,

ammonium n itrate,

orthophos­

calcium chloride, and magnesium

The three levels of n u trien t solutions were prepared,

one of the elements being omitted from
there would be a s e r i e s
elem ent was lacking.

of five

each combination,

so that

solutions, in each one of which an

A sixth solution was made in which all the

n utrients were included (Table I).

10

TABLE I
NUTRIENT ELEMENTS AND CONCENTRATIONS OF THE
NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS

E lem ent

N utrient Levels in P a r t s p e r Million
-------------------------------------------------------------------------High.
Moderate
Low

N

200

100

50

P

200

100

50

K

200

100

50

Ca

200

100

50

Mg

100

50

25

1.0

0.5

0.25

Zn

0.2

0.1

0.05

o

0.1

0.05

Cu

I

B

Mn

1.0

0.5

0.25

Fe

4.0

2.0

1.00

11

Chemically pure zinc sulphate, copper sulphate, manganese
sulphate,

and boric

acid used as

added to distilled water,

sources of microelements were

making a stock solution a thousand times

the concentration used for the high level of the microelements
(Table I).

A dilute solution of the microelements

was made which

served as the high level of the nutrient solution containing only
the microelements.

The moderate level of the microelements was

prepared by adding an equal volume of distilled water, and a low
level, by adding three volumes of distilled water to one volume of
the high level solution.
Chemically pure iron lactate was dissolved in distilled water
to make a solution five hundred times the concentration used in the
high level (Table I).

Iron lactate solution was not added to the

other solutions until they were used.
In o rder to supply the bulbs with only the desired nutrients,
eight 2,000-milliliter Erlenmeyer pyrex flasks and eight 200-milli­
lite r pyrex beakers were cleaned,

and a separate flask and beaker

were labeled and used for each treatment.
The treatm ents were arranged as follows:
(a) Complete, containing all nutrients.
(b) Minus nitrogen.

12

(c) Minas phosphorus.
(d) Minas potassium.
(e) Minus calcium.
(f)

Minus magnesium.

(g) Microelements.
(h) Distilled water.

Planting.
in diameter,

One hundred and sixty-eight flower pots,

6 inches

were thoroughly cleaned and painted with asphalt paint

on the inside walls to reduce the possible accumulation of the nu­
trients.

Each pot was labeled indicating the level of the nutrient

added, treatm ent,

and pot number.

A piece of glass wool was

placed in the bottom of each pot to maintain the level of the 3-1/2
pounds of clean silica sand that were placed in each pot.
weights were recorded for each of the
Gertrude,

The

504 bulbs of the variety

17 centim eters in circum ference.

Each three bulbs of

closely the same weight were planted in a 6-inch pot on December
30,

1950.

Bulbs of the various

all the treatm ents,
the bulbs to the

weights were distributed among

and the pots were

randomized to subject all

same possible variations

plants were grown in the greenhouse.

of environment.

All the

In o rd er to prevent any

foreign nutrients flowing through the hole in the bottom of a pot

13

and entering another pot, the planted pots were placed inside new
4-inch pots; and thus the experimental pots were prevented from
touching the surface of the tables on which they were placed.
The nutrients were
200 m illiliters

supplied immediately after planting by adding

of the previously p repared solutions to produce the

three levels of all the treatm ents,
of each treatm ent.

L ater,

making seven pots for each level

200 m illiliters of the various

were added every five to six days.

Shortly before the bulbs were

brought into the daylight, the solutions were
three days.

Two hundred m illiliters

solutions

supplied every two to

of distilled water were sup­

plied to each pot of the control treatment at the time of each ap­
plication of nutrients to the other treatment.

To prevent the in­

crease of the nutrient concentrations, after every second addition
of nutrients

200 m illiliters of distilled water were added to each

pot instead of the usual nutrient supply.

Exposing the bulbs to the daylight.

All the bulbs were

grown in a dark room at a controlled 50° Fahrenheit temperature.
As soon as at le a st two of the bulbs in each pot had produced
leaves

6 centimeters in height, the pot was placed in another green­

house in the same randomized pattern and exposed to natural light
where the night tem perature was 50° Fahrenheit.

In instances

14

when the vegetative growth had not reached 6 centimeters in height,
the bulbs were removed to the daylight as soon as at least two of
them began to flower.

Method of recording data.

Since some of the bulbs were

found to be rooting when they were received and some of them had
already grown vegetatively at the time of planting, it was not pos­
sible to record accurately the data for the time required for the
appearance of vegetative growth.
made:

The following records were

time required during the dark period, the period from the

blooming of the fir s t flower until the death of the last flower, the
number of the florets on each raceme, the number of the florets
on the secondary stems, the length and width of the three outer
leaves, and the length of the raceme.
On February 9 - -forty-one days after planting- - one bulb of
approximately the same weight representing each level of each
treatment was carefully washed from the sand to allow photograph­
ing the root growth.
After the vegetative growth had been allowed to dry, five
bulbs representing each level of each treatment were chosen at
random for quantitative analysis of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
calcium, magnesium, manganese, ash content, and moisture content.

15

Second Experiment

P reparatio n of the nutrient solutions.

As a result of the

f ir s t experiment, it was n ecessary to modify the procedure
for the second experiment.

slightly

The second y e a r's work was somewhat

a repetition of the previous work, with the addition of another
treatment.

The prelim in ary experiment showed that phosphorus

was n ecessary for b e tte r growth and development of the bulb.

At

the same time, an excess of that element seemed to retard almost
any phase of growth and development.

Consequently, an extra

treatm ent was included, using the same nutrients at the same three
levels as before, but the concentrations of the phosphorus were
reduced to forty, twenty, and ten p arts per million for the high,
moderate,

and low nutrient levels respectively.

This was done to

attempt to maintain a b etter nutrient balance and thereby produce
better growth.
Methods of dilution were identical with those described
previously.

Dilute solutions of microelements were prepared, as

in the f ir s t experiment, for the treatment using microelements
alone.

F o r all other treatments containing microelements, the

microelements were not mixed until immediately p rio r to feeding
the bulbs.

16

Planting.

Four hundred and five bulbs,

19 centimeters in

circumference, of the variety Gertrude were selected for planting.
The planting date was December
for the f i r s t experiment.

15--fifteen days e a rlie r than that

This made it possible to record the

time required for the vegetative growth to begin.

It was also pos­

sible to study the effect of the time of planting on the time of
flowering.

Because it was found that there was a lack of unifor­

mity of growth among the bulbs of the same circumference during
the f ir s t experiment, each bulb was planted separately in a 4-inch
pot in the same manner as before and using a pound of clean
silica sand.

A 2.5-inch pot was placed below each of the planted

pots to prevent contamination of nutrients.

One hundred m illiliters

of solution or of distilled water were added to each pot when the
nutrients were

supplied.

Planting of the bulbs, one p er pot, en­

abled accurate

recording of all data for each bulb.

As a relatively high percentage of bulbs {approximately
25%) was infected by the pathogenic bacteria identified to be E r winia carotovora and Xanthomonas hyacinth!. this separate planting
prevented the spread of the pathogen which could enter any bulb
readily through wounds on the scales.

17

Method of recording data.

The number of flowers produced

by each bulb in the f i r s t experiment was sufficient to conduct a
correlation analysis with the weight of the bulb.

These data were

not collected during the second experiment.
The following records were made:

time required from

planting until the appearance of the vegetative growth, time from
the appearance of vegetative growth until exposing the bulbs to
normal light, time elapsing from blooming of the f ir s t flower on
each raceme until death of the last flower on each raceme, the
length and width of the three outer leaves,
racem e.

and the length of the

RESULTS

The following stages
in the discussion of the

of growth were

results:

segregated to facilitate

from planting to appearance of

vegetative growth, from beginning of vegetative growth until normal
light conditions, from beginning of exposing the bulb to norm al light
conditions until flowering,

and the flower period (Fig.

for Experiments One and Two were
placed on the

sim ilar.

1).

Results

More emphasis is

resu lts of the second experiment,

and those of the

f i r s t experim ent are included only where important deviations are
found.

Time Required for the Various Stages of Growth

F rom planting until the appearance of vegetative p a r t s .
bulbs supplied with high, moderate,

and low nutrient levels,

either phosphorus or calcium lacking,

with distilled water (Table II).

and

required on the average

days longer to produce vegetative p arts

than the bulbs

The

5.7

supplied

Treatments where high nutrient

levels were added and phosphorus concentration was 40 p arts per
million,

as well as treatm ent were nitrogen was lacking,

did not

FIGURE

1

Time Required for Flowering

TIME R E Q U I R E D

FOR FLOWERING

STAGE I
STAGE 2.
STAGE 5

TREATMENTS

LEVELS

21
TA BLE

II

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS REQUIRED FROM PLANTING
UNTIL THE APPEARANCE OF VEGETATIVE PARTS
"STAGE I"
Numbe r of Days
T reatm ent

High.
Nutrient
Level

(a) Complete,
containing all
nutrient e le ­
ments
(b) Minus n itro gen . .
(c) Minus phos phorus
(d) Minus potas sium .
(e) Minus calcium .
(f> Minus magne slam
<ff> M icroele­
ments
<b) Distilled
water
(i) All nutrients
and low phosphorus
«

Average

«

•

•

«

Mode rate
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

29.6

26.8

22.9

26.4

24.2

24.6

26.8

25.2

28.7

27.2

28.0

28.0

27.3

25.8

23.9

25.7

31.3

27.3

25.4

28.0

25.7

28.7

24.4

26.3

25.8

26.2

25.8

25.9
22.3

24.1

23.7

25.6

27.1

26.3

25.4

24.5

22

significantly in crea se the time as did the high level in the other
treatm en ts,

including the treatm en t where only m icroelem ents were

supplied.
At all levels where no phosphorus was added, the
tion of rate of growth was significant.

r e ta r d a ­

Addition of 10 p a rts p e r

million phosphorus with low levels of the other elements also r e ­
tarded the growth.

F ro m the appearance of vegetative p a rts until normal light.
During this

stage, the treatm ents

In the f i r s t group,
much le s s

as is

million.
the

This

segregated into two groups.

conspicuous in Table III, the growth is

rapid in treatm en ts

sult of the p resence

may he

at the high concentration as a r e ­

of phosphorus at the rate of 200 p a rts p e r

retardation effect of phosphorus was significant at

1-percent level when compared to the treatm en t supplied with

distilled water.

All other treatm ents fall in the

second group

where there is no retardation from all concentrations of phos­
phorus employed (100,
The bulbs

50, 40, 20,

in the treatm en t where no phosphorus was used

in combination with other nutrients
days le s s

10, 0 ppm.).

the average time

tilled water was added.

required an average of 2.8

required by the bulbs where d is­

The bulbs supplied with low phosphorus

23
TABLE

HI

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS REQUIRED FROM THE
APPEARANCE OF THE VEGETATIVE GROWTH
UNTIL LIGHT PERIOD
"STAGE H"
Number of Days
T reatm ent

(a) Complete,
containing all
nutrient e le ­
ments .....................
(b) Minus n i t r o ­
gen .............................
(c) Minus phos­
phorus
.................
(d) Minus p o ta s ­
sium .........................
(e) Minus c a l­
cium .........................
(f) Minus m ag ­
nesium
.................
(g) M icroele­
ments .....................
(h) Distilled
wate r
.....................
(i) All nutrients
and low phos­
phorus
.................

Average

.....................

High
Nutrient
Level

Moderate
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

51.9

35.8

36.3

41.0

58.6

40.4

36.4

45.1

35.6

35. 8

33.2

34.9

56.4

37.8

33.9

42.7

52.3

36.1

35.0

41.1

62.1

36.5

35.2

44.6

38.0

34.6

36.9

36.5
37.7

37.6

34.8

36.7

49.1

36.5

35.5

36.4

24

concentrations
days less

of 40,

20, and

than the bulbs

10 p a r ts p er million req uired

supplied with distilled w ater.

1.3

Even with

such a low phosphorus concentration, the time req uired in crea sed
over that where no phosphorus was added.
Where no phosphorus was added and where nitrogen was
lacking, the r e s u lts were co n trary to those obtained during the
stage of the vegetative growth.

The bulbs

supplied with high, m od­

erate, and low n utrient levels, but without phosphorus, grew m ore
rapidly than those in any of the other treatm en ts
significance

(Table III).

The

over the tre a tm e n ts a, b, d, e, and f, where all the

n utrients were added and where nitrogen,

potassium,

magnesium respectively, were lacking, was a t the

calcium, or

1-percent level.

Where a ll the n utrients were added and nitrogen was lacking, the
bulbs req u ire d an average of 10.2 days m o re than where nutrients
were

supplied but phosphorus was omitted.

Obviously absence of

nitrogen in c re a s e d the delaying effect of phosphorus.

This effect

was m o re pronounced with the high level of phosphorus where the
time re q u ire d was on the average 20.9 days m ore than that r e ­
quired by the bulbs
Bulbs

supplied with distilled water.

supplied with high nutrient levels, but from which

magnesium was

omitted,

req uired 24.4 days m ore than the bulbs

25

supplied with, distilled w ater.
nutrients

lacking magnesium were used,

closely sim ila r
the same

to the time

quired m o re
or

the

the bulbs

the time required was

req uired by the other treatm en ts

of

(significant at

supplied with m od­

1% level;

Fig.

planting until exposure to norm al lig h t.

stages together,

second

supplied with high nutrient levels r e ­

time to develop than those bulbs

low nutrient levels

F rom
the f i r s t

and low levels of

levels.

Generally,

erate

Where m oderate

stage

(Table IV and Fig.

The le a st time
40, 20, and 10 p a r ts
high, m oderate,

the re su lts

1).

Considering

are very s im ila r to those of
1).

req uired was that of the treatm en t where

p er m illion phosphorus were added to the

and low levels of the other nutrients.

Omitting m agnesium from the nutrient supply resulted in
increasing the time
The difference

averaged

the tre a tm e n t where
were

req uired m ore

40,

than in any other treatm ent.

10.0 days m ore than, the time

required in

20, and 10 p a rts p e r million phosphorus

added to the three levels.
Lack of nitrogen

age by 9.4 m ore

resu lted in increasing the time

days than the time

40, 20, and 10 p a rts

on the a v e r ­

required by treatm en t where

per million phosphorus were

supplied.

26
T A B LE

IV

AVERAGE TIME IN DAYS REQUIRED IN THE DARK PERIOD
Numbe r of Days
T reatm ent

(a) Complete,
containing sill
nutrient e l e ­
ments .....................
(b) Minus n itr o ­
gen .............................
(c) Minus p hos­
phorus
.................
(d) Minus p o tass i u m .........................
(e) Minus calc i u m .........................
(f) Minus mag ne s i um .................
(g) M icroele­
ments .....................
(h) Distilled
wate r
.....................
(i) All nutrients
and low phos­
phorus
.................

Average

High
Nutrient
Level

Moderate
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

81.4

62.6

59.2

67.7

82. 8

65.0

63.2

70.3

64.4

63.0

61.2

62.9

83.8

63.6

57.8

68.4

83.6

63.4

60.4

69-1

87.8

65.2

59.7

70.9

63.8

60.8

62.7

62.4
60.7

61.7

58.5

62.4

78.2

62.8

60.8

60.9

27

The following conclusions in summary of the two stages are
of in te re s t.

Absence of phosphorus or calcium, increased the time

during the f i r s t period.

Even a low phosphorus concentration of

10 p a rts

per million was below the minimum required for optimum

growth.

At the same time, increasing the phosphorus

to 200 p a rts p er million,

concentration

or even 100 p arts per million,

resulted

in increasing the time of growth in any stage.
The m o st favorable concentration of phosphorus that resulted
in the sh o rte st time was 2 0 p arts per million in combination with
the m oderate

level of the other nutrients.

It is possible that additional nitrogen was not needed during
the f i r s t stage, while its need was apparent during the second stage,
since its absence with addition of high phosphorus concentration r e ­
sulted in delaying the time more than any other nutrient element.
Considering the nutrient levels, there was no significant difference
between the time required for the moderate and low levels during
the f i r s t or the second stage, while during the whole period the
significance was over the

1-percent level.

During the norm al light.

During this

stage the time r e ­

corded was from the beginning of exposure to norm al light until the
f i r s t flo ret opened.

Contrary to the resu lts

obtained during the

28

dark period,
els

the bulbs

supplied with the various high nutrient lev­

containing phosphorus

req u ire d the le a s t time to develop after

they were placed in the light:
(Table V).

The time

average from 6.3 to 10.0 days

req u ired by the bulbs

supplied with distilled

w ater averaged

14.6 days.

n utrient levels,

but without phosphorus o r with a low concentration

of 40 p a rts

Meanwhile, the bulbs tre a te d with high

p e r m illion phosphorus,

req u ired alm o st the same time

to flower as the bulbs grown in distilled water.
tre a tm e n ts,

where m o d erate

in c re a se d this

time

In general,

or low n utrient levels were

the

supplied,

over the tre a tm e n ts with high nutrient levels

(significant a t 1% level).

F ro m planting until flowering.
phosphorus

concentrations of 2 00 p a rts p e r million were

with the other high n utrient levels,

days,

The in c re a s e

distilled water was supplied

ranged on the average from

15.5 to 19-3

where all the nutrients were added, and where a ll the n u tr i­

ents were added and magnesium was lacking,
Among the tre a tm e n ts
els

supplied

resulted in an in crea se in time

req uired for flowering over that where
(Table VI).

The treatm en ts, where high

(phosphorus

ila rity .

supplied with m oderate nutrient lev­

concentration of 100 ppm.),

The difference

respectively.

there was g re a t s im ­

on the average was 2.4 to 4.1 days m ore

29
TA BLE

V

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS REQUIRED DURING
THE NORMAL LIGHT
"STAGE HI"
Numbe r of Days
T reatm ent

(a) Complete,
containing all
n utrient e le ­
ments
(b) Minus n itro gen . .
<c) Minus phos phorus
(d) Minus potas s ium .
(e) Minus calcium .
<f) Minus magnesium
(g) M icroele­
ments
(h) Distilled
wate r
(i) All nutrients
and low phos­
phorus
•

•

Average

•

•

•

•

•

•

■

•

High
Nutrient
Level

Moderate
Nutrient
Level

8.8

15.8

15.8

13.5

10.0

13.6

14.1

12.6

14.8

14.8

14.6

14.7

7.6

14.1

15.6

12.4

8.1

14.0

14.5

12.2

6.3

13.5

14.6

11.5

14.0

14.2

14.3

14.2

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

14.6

•

15.2

16.4-

13.9

10.6

14.6

14.7

15.2

30
TA BLE

VI

A V E R A G E T IM E IN D A Y S R E Q U IR E D F R O M
P L A N T I N G U N T IL F L O W E R IN G
•’S T A G E S I, II, A N D i n "
1952
Num.be r of Days ,
T reatm ent

High.
Nutrient
Level

(a) Complete,
containing all
n u trien t e le ­
ments
(b) Minus n itro gen . .
(c) Minus phosphorus
<d) Minus potas s ium
(e) Minus calcium .
(£) Minus magne s i um
(g) Microele merits
(b) Distilled
water
(i) All nutrients
and low phos­
phorus
•

•

„

.

•

•

.

.

•

.

.

•

.

.

.

•

Mode rate
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

90.2

77.1

75.0

80.8

92-8

7 8.6

77.3

82.9

79.2

77.8

75.8

77.6

91.3

77.7

73.3

80.8

91-7

77.4

74.8

81.3

94.0

7 S. 8

74.2

82.3

77.8

75.0

76.9

76.6
74.7

................................................ ............

Average

Ave rage

76.9

74.8

76.3

86.7

77.2

75.5

76.0

31

than the time re q u ire d where
difference
ents.

only distilled water was added.

A

of 2.4 days resu lte d from the addition of all the n u tri­

A difference

of 4.1 days resu lte d from treatm en ts where

all the n utrients w ere

supplied and m agnesium was lacking.

The

range between the average time req u ired for flowering where low
n utrient levels w ere

supplied was m o re than that where m oderate

nutrients w ere added.
levels

Omitting potassium from the low nutrient

re su lte d in decreasing the time req uired for flowering over

that where distilled w ater was

supplied by an average of 1.4 days.

The longest tim e req u ired was where nitrogen was lacking from
the low n utrient level solution,
the time where

differing by 2.6 days m o re

distilled w ater was used.

In the tre a tm e n t where phosphorus
and 10 p a r ts

than

concentrations of 40, 2 0,

p er m illion were added to the high, m oderate, and

low n utrient levels,

respectively, the difference was slight:

an

average m axim um difference of 2.2 days and minimum difference
of 0.1 days over that where distilled water was

supplied.

m oderate n u trien t levels and phosphorus at a ra te

Using

of 2 0 p arts per

million resu lte d in increasing the time by 0.1 days over that
where distilled w ater was used.

Regarding the levels in general,
tion between the time
the levels.

The

req u ired for flowering and the in c re a se

significance for low or m oderate

tion to high

levels was

nificance in

time where

to m o d erate

levels was

It is

over the

1-p e rc e n t level,

of

levels in r e l a ­
while the

sig ­

low nutrient levels were used in relation
only at the

5-p ercen t level.

in te re s tin g to observe that omitting phosphorus

using high levels
the time

there was a d irect r e l a ­

of the other nutrients

while

resulted in an in c re a s e

in

req u ired for flowering over that where phosphorus was

supplied in low concentrations of 40, 2 0, or

Comparison of re s u lts

10 p arts p er million.

for two y e a r s .

sults for both experim ents were

sim ila r.

In general, the r e ­

The m o st outstanding

differences were found in the time elapsing between planting and
flowering (1951 in Table VII, and
that reporting
sion to follow.
phorus

some of these

1952 in Table VI).

com parisons would aid in the d is c u s­

Where high nutrient levels

concentrations

It was thought

combined with phos­

of 2 00 p arts p er million were added, the time

req uired for flowering was longer than that where m oderate nutrient
levels with phosphorus concentrations of 100 p a rts p er million were
used.

Both the high and m oderate

levels

resulted in longer time

req u ired for flowering than the addition of low nutrient levels with

33
TABLE

VII

AVERAGE TIME IN DAYS REQUIRED EROM PLANTING
UNTIL FLOWERING
1951
Numbe r of Days
T re a tm e n t

Complete,
containing all
n u trien t e le ­
ments .....................
0>) Minus n i t r o ­
gen .............................
(c) Minus p hos­
phorus
.................
<d) Minus p o ta s ­
sium .........................
(e) Minus c a l­
cium .........................
<*> Minus m ag ­
.................
n esium
<g) Microele m e n t s .....................
(b) Distilled
.....................
wate r

High
Nutrient
Level

Mode rate
N utrient
Level

Low
N utrient
Level

Average

(a)

Ayerage

68.0

60.3

52.6

60.3

84.8

60.5

55.4

66.9

51.9

53.1

54.9

53.3

63.9

55.3

54.5

57.9

65.4

61.6

53.8

60.3

67.6

54.0

54.3

58.6

55.2

51.8

58.2

55.0
53.9

65.3

56.7

54.8

34

phosphorus
were

concentration of 50 p a r ts p er million.

s im ila r both y e a r s .

the f i r s t y e a r 's

When phosphorus was omitted during

work, the time

req u ired for the high, m oderate,

and low levels averaged 53.3 days,
than the tim e
second y ear,
days m o re

These r e s u lts

which was a 0.6 days le ss

req u ire d when distilled w ater was used.
the tim e

req u ired by the

than the time

During the

same treatm en t was 2.9

req u ire d when distilled water was

sup­

plied.
Using high n utrient levels and omitting nitrogen during the
first year
m o re

resu lte d in m axim um delay in flowering:

than that where

ment during the

distilled w ater was used.

second year also

re q u ire d for flowering;
time

18.1 days m ore

req uired when distilled water was used.

in crea sin g the time

same t r e a t ­

resu lte d in increasing the time

the difference was

while using high n utrient levels

The

30.9 days

than the

Omitting magnesium

resu lte d during the f i r s t year in

req uired for flowering by only 13.7 days

m o re than that req uired when supplying distilled water,

compared

to 19-3 days in the second year.
The difference in the average time
between the bigh and m oderate
year,

required for flowering

levels was 8.6 days for the f i r s t

while it was 9.5 days for the

second y ear (Table VIII).

35
TABLE

VIII

TIME IN DAYS REQUIRED FROM PLANTING
UNTIL FLOWERING
Number of Days
Year

High
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

Mode rate
Nutrient
Level

1951

65.3

56.7

54.8

1952

86.7

77.2

75.5

Differences

of

1.9 and

1.7 days were

obtained between the time

required for flowering between the moderate
the f i r s t and the

second year,

and low levels

daring

respectively.

It is conspicuous in Table VIII that the difference in time
required for flowering between the two years for each nutrient
level was twenty-one

days.

This delay in flowering resulted from

planting the bulbs fifteen days e a r l ie r in 19 52.

Flowering p erio d .

The

second

the time from the opening of the f ir s t
florets.

The flo rets

water was

stage in the normal light is
floret until fading of all

of the bulbs in the treatm ent

supplied required an average

the

where distilled

of 13.4 days

(Table IX).

36
TABLE IX

AVERAGE TIME IN BAYS OF THE FLOWERING PERIOD
"STAGE IV"
Numbe r of Days
T reatm ent

(a) Complete,
containing all
nutrient e le ­
ments
0>) Minus n itro gen . .
(c) Minus pbo s phorus
( d ) Minus potassium .
(e) Minus calcium .
(f) Minus magnes ium
<g> Microele ments
( h ) Distilled
water
(i) All nutrients
and low phos­
phorus

Average

High
Nutrient
Level

Moderate
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

13.7

14.6

15.6

14.6

12.3

14.6

15.9

14.3

15.9

14.4

14.0

14.8

12.4

13.9

14.6

13.6

12.1

14.5

13.6

13.4

13.0

15.1

15.0

14.4

13.7

15.0

12.7

13.8
13.4

14.9

16.5

15.5

13.5

14.5

14.6

15.6

37

Where moderate nutrient level was added with phosphorus concen­
tration of 20 p arts per million, the average time was 3.1 days
more than that where distilled water was supplied.

Adding the

high nutrient level with phosphorus lacking resulted in an increase
of an average time of 2.5 days m ore than that of the control t r e a t ­
ment, while addition of low nutrient level and omitting nitrogen r e ­
sulted in an in crea se of 2.5 days with a significance over the
percent level in every case.

Other treatm ents

1-

resulting in a sig­

nificant difference over the 5-percent level above that where d is ­
tilled water w as

supplied were:

low level of all the nutrients, low

nutrient level with a phosphorus concentration of 10 p arts per m il­
lion, moderate level of nutrient and magnesium lacking, and mod­
erate m icroelem ents level.
In general,

the low levels of the nutrients resulted in in ­

creasing the time over that where the high nutrient levels were
supplied (significant at 1% level).

Quality of Plants

Length of ra c e m e s .

Where high nutrient levels were

sup­

plied and phosphorus was lacking or added at low concentrations
of 40, 2 0, and 10 p arts per million, the average length of the

38

flower stem was g re a te r than for any other treatm ent (Table X
and Fig. 2).

An average flower stem length of 21.0 centim eters

was obtained where all the nutrients were added and phosphorus
concentrations were 40, 20, and 10 p a rts per million.

This was

the highest average among all treatm ents —1.4 centim eters m ore
than the average length resulting from distilled water alone.
Phosphorus concentration of 2 0 p a rts p er million,
the m oderate
age,

combined with

level of the other nutrients, produced, on the a v e r ­

stem s that were 2.6 centim eters —longer than the average

resulting from distilled water.

In this treatm ent, the uniformity

of the lengths of the stem s was very apparent.

Excluding two

infected bulbs, the difference between the longest and the shortest
stems was
tre m e s
was

1.7 centim eters, while the difference between the ex­

of the stem length of the bulbs grown in distilled water

10.3 centim eters.

Similar uniformity was observed where all

the nutrients were added and phosphorus concentrations were
or 20 p a rts
The

40

per million.
sh ortest average length was obtained in the treatm ent

where high, m oderate, and low nutrient levels were

supplied and

potassium was omitted; this difference was 3.6 centim eters less
than in distilled water.

39
TA BLE

X

RACEME LENGTH
Length in Centim ete rs
T re atm exit

High
Nutrient
Level

(a) Complete,
containing all
n utrient e le ­
ments
<b> Minus n itro gen . .
(c) Minus plxos phorus
(d) Minus potas s ium .
(e) Minus calc ium .
(f) Minus magne s ium
(g) Mic roele ments
(b) Distilled
wate r
(i) All nutrients
and low phos­
phorus
•

Ave rage

•

•

•

•

Moderate
Nutrient
Level

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

14.5

17.4

21.3

17.7

12.2

18.4

21.2

17.3

20.2

20.8

21.5

20.8

10.4

16.4

21.1

16.0

14.4

19.5

20.9

18.3

11.5

18.5

19.3

16.4

20.2

20.1

19.1

19.8

19.6

20.0

22.2

20.9

15.4

19.4

20.7

21.0

FIGURE 2

Height of P lan ts

41

H E I G H T OF P L A N T S
LEAVES
PEDUNCLE

to

IO

LENGTH

IN C E N T IM E T E R S

15

a
•

TREATMENTS

<i

LEVELS

42
The av erag e

stem length in c r e a s e s d ire c tly with a d ecrease

in levels of n u trie n ts , from high to m o derate

(significant a t

1%

level), and m o d erate to low (significant a t 5% level).

Length of le a v e s .

Using d istilled w ater for com parison,

th e re w as an in c re a s e in the av erag e length of the three outer
leav es in the tre a tm e n t where phosphorus was added a t 40, 20, and
10 p a r ts p e r m illion , and the tre a tm e n t w ere phosphorus was not
added to the u sual th re e

levels (Table XI and F ig. 2).

over th a t w here d istille d w ater was used was
both tre a tm e n ts .

The in c re a se

1.2 cen tim eters for

The m o d erate n u trie n t level with phosphorus

co ncentration of 20 p a r ts p e r m illion, produced an average in c re a se
of 1-7 c e n tim e te rs.
The s h o rte s t av erag e length was obtained where any of the
th re e n u trie n t lev els w ere added and potassiu m was lacking.

This

length w as 2.9 c e n tim e te rs le s s than in d istilled w ater.
A m ark ed uniform ity between the lengths of the leaves where
the m o d e ra te n u trie n t level was used with 20 p a r ts p e r m illion
phosphorus co n tra ste d a lack of uniform ity between the lengths of
the leav es when using d istilled w ater.

43

TABLE XI
AVERAGE LENGTH OE THE

THREE OUTER LEAVES

Length, in Centimete rs
Tre atment

High
Nutrient
L evel

Moderate
Nutrient
L evel

8.6

12.9

15.3

12.3

7.9

12.8

15.5

12.1

15.2

15.1

15.9

15.4

7.8

12.0

14.0

11.3

9.9

13.6

14.0

12.5

8.3

12.7

14.6

11.9

13.9

13.9

13.2

13.7

Low
Nutrient
L evel

(a) Complete,
containing a ll
nutrient e le ­
ments
0>) Minus n itrogen . .
<c) Minas phosphotos
(<D Minus p otasslum .
<e) Minas c a lcla.ro
Ivlinas m agnesium
(s) M icroele­
m ents
Distilled.
water
(i) A ll nutrients
and low phosphoras

14.6

15.9

15.6

A rerag e

10.8

13.6

14.8

.

Average

14.2

15.4

44

The average lengths of the three outer leaves increase
directly with a decrease in lev els of nutrients, from, high to mod­
erate (significant at 1%), and moderate- to low (significant at 5%).

Width of lea v e s.

In the treatment supplied with all nutrients

and phosphorus concentrations of 40, 20, and 10 parts per million,
and where no phosphorus was added, the widest leaves were pro­
duced (Table XU).

The significance of the increase of both these

treatments over that where no potassium was added to the three
lev els was at the 1-percent lev el, while it was significant over all
the other treatments each containing the high, moderate, and low
le v e ls, at the 5-percent lev el.
The average length of the flower stem, and the average
length and width of the three outer leaves were found to he in­
creased to the same extent.

The treatment producing the longest

flower stem s produced on the average the longest and widest leaves.
Each treatment ranked in the same order for flower stem length,
length artd width of the three outer leaves, and, in descending
order, it was the same treatment that produced the same decrease
■
vrt flower stem length, and length and width of the leaves.
The treatment which was supplied with all nutrients and
phosphorus concentrations of 40, 20, and 10 parts per million

45
TABLE XH

AVERAGE WIDTH OF THE THREE OUTER LEAVES
Width in Centimete r s
Tre atm ent

(a) Complete,
containing all
nutrient e le ­
ments ....................
(b) Minus nitro­
gen ............................
(c) Minus phos­
phorus
. . . . .
(d) Minus potas­
sium ........................
(e) Minus cal­
cium ........................
(f) Minus mag­
nesium .................
(g) M«ticreelem e a t s ....................
(h) D istilled
w a t e r ....................
<i) All^ nutrients
and isvF phos­
phorus
................

High
Nutrient
Level

....................

Low
Nutrient
Level

Average

2.0

2.2

2.3

2.17

1.9

2.2

2.3

2.13

2.3

2.4

2.3

2.33

1.9

2.2

2.1

2.07

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.20

1.9

2.2

2.3

2.13

2.3

2.1

2.2

2.20

-

Average

Moderate
Nutrient
Level

2.20

2.3

2.3

2.4

2.09

2.23

2.28

2.33

46
resulted, in longer flower stem average than the treatment where
phosphorus was omitted; yet, both treatments gave the same re­
sults for the length and width of the three outer leaves.

Root growth.

Figures 3 and 4 show one representative

bulb from each treatment where moderate nutrient levels were
supplied for the fir st and second year, respectively.

Figures

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 show representative samples for the
high, moderate, and low nutrient lev els, forty-one days after
planting, each treatment during the first experiment.

Figure 12

shows the differences in root growth for representative samples
of the treatment where all the nutrients were added at the usual
three levels (Table I) with phosphorus concentrations of 40, 20,
and 10 parts per m illion for the high, moderate, and low nutrient
lev els, respectively.

This photograph was also made from the

second experiment during 1952, forty-two days after planting.
These bulbs show the pernicious effect of high phosphorus concen­
trations.

Roots produced on the bulbs supplied with high nutrient

levels did not show this harmful effect unless phosphorus con­
centrations were 200 parts per million.

Omitting any of the other

elements did not result in such a marked increase of root growth.
Figures 5 to 12 show also that by decreasing the phosphorus

FIGURE

3

Effect of moderate nutrient levels, forty-one days after
planting; f ir s t experiment,

1951.

/

. \
•*

Cft

49

FIGURE 4

Effect of m oderate n utrient lev e ls, forty-tw o days after
planting;

second experim ent,

1952.

((jj

I

ALL
'07

cr

sir;

_ m D micRo
.

■

I
i

mODERRTE

M

,

W -

M

51

FIGURE 5

Growth, of bulbs forty-one
fe ct of high, m o derate,

days a fte r planting,

and low lev els of complete

showing ef­

solutions,

1951.

FIGURE 6

Growth of bulbs forty-one
■'r #

days a fte r planting, showing ef*

-

feet of high, m oderate, and low n u trien t lev els with the om ission
of nitrogen,

1951.
•’

I *.

52

FIG U R E

Growth, of bulbs forty-one

7

days a fte r planting, showing ef­

fect of high, m oderate, and low n u trie n t levels with the om ission
of phosphorus,

1951.

FIGURE

Growth of bulbs forty-one
fect of high, m oderate,
of potassium ,

1951.

8

days a fte r planting,

showing ef­

and low nutrient levels with the om ission

55

FIG U R E

Growth of bulbs forty-one
fect of high, m oderate,
of calcium ,

9

days a fte r planting,

showing ef­

and low n u trie n t levels with the om ission

1951.

FIGURE

Growth of bulbs forty-one
fect of high, m oderate,
of magnesium,

1951.

10

days a fte r planting,

showing ef­

and low n u trien t levels with the om ission

1

FIG U R E

M icroelem ents

11

supplied at high, m oderate,

and low lev e ls,

1951.

FIGURE

Growth, of bulbs forty-tw o

12

days after planting, showing ef­

fect of low phosphorus concentrations added to the high, m oderate,
and low n u trien t lev els,

1952.

59

concentrations to

100 p a r ts p e r m illion,

a b e tte r growth of roots

o ccu rred , while the b e s t root growth re su lte d from addition of 50
p a r ts p e r m illion of phosphorus.

F igu re

12 shows a ra th e r in te r ­

esting observation which could not be observed in any of the other
tre a tm e n ts.

Higher n u trien t lev els with phosphorus concentration

of 40 p a rts p e r m illion re su lte d in d ecreasin g root growth com­
p a re d to the growth in the m oderate and low n u trien t levels of
the

same tre a tm e n t with phosphorus concentrations of 20 and 10

p a r ts p e r million, resp ectively .

Such a d ecrease in root growth

was not observed even from addition of low n utrient levels with
phosphorus concentration of 50 p a rts p e r m illion.
F ig u re s

13,

14, and 15, taken, during the second experim ent,

eighty days after planting, show rep re sen tativ e bulbs of about the
sam e weight.

They re p re s e n t m ature p lan ts and illu stra te

relatio n between growth and phosphorus concentrations.

the

F igure

13 shows the effect of adding all the n u trien ts at the high, mod­
e ra te ,

and low lev e ls, while F igure

14 shows the effect of omitting

phosphorus from the high, m oderate,
u re

and low n utrient levels.

F ig ­

15 shows the differences in growth resulting from adding phos­

phorus concentrations of 40, 20, and 10 p a rts p e r m illion to the
usual high, m oderate,

and low lev els.

60

FIG U R E

13

Growth, of bulbs at fall bloom,
e ra te ,

showing effect of high, mod­

and low n u trie n t le v e ls of com plete

FIGURE

solutions,

1952.

14

Growth of bulbs at full bloom, showing effect of high, m od­
e ra te ,

and low n u trie n t lev e ls with the om ission of phosphorus,

FIGURE

1952.

15

Growth of bulbs at full bloom, showing effect of low phos­
phorus concentrations
le v e ls,

1952.

added to the high, m oderate, and low n u trien t

F ro m

close observation of the tre a tm e n t where phosphorus

was added at a concentration of 40 p a r ts p e r m illion to the high
n u trie n t lev el (Fig.

15), it is noticed that the

root growth was equal

to o r b e tte r than where low er phosphorus concentrations were added
in the

same tre a tm e n t.

This is

c o n tra ry to the sam e tre atm en t

made forty -tw o days a fte r planting (Fig.

12).

Chemical Analysis

T issu e

content.

A fter the plants

of the f i r s t experim ent

had flow ered, and were thoroughly dried, five bulbs of each level
of each tre a tm e n t were chosen at random.

Quantitative analyses

were made to determ ine nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium ,

calcium ,

m agnesium , m anganese, ash, and m o istu re contents (Table XIII).
The bulbs from the second experim ent were dried, and five
bulbs w ere chosen a t random fro m
m ents:

each of the following t r e a t ­

no phosphorus added to the high, m oderate, and low nu­

tr ie n t levels;

40, 20, and 10 p a r ts p e r m illion phosphorus included

in the high, m oderate, and low n u trien t levels;
They w ere

chem ically analyzed to determ ine

tioned elem en ts, as well as iro n .

Five bulbs

and d istille d w ater.

the previously m en­
rep resentin g the

63
TABLE

XIII

CHEMICAL CONTENT OF HYACINTU BULBS
FIVE BULBS FOR EACH TREATMENT
1951

T reatm en t

L evel

---------h 2o

(a) Complete, containing a ll n u trien t elem ents

H
M
L

66.23
67.40
68.59

(b) Minus nitrogen

H
M
L

65.29
68.70
69.91

(c) Minus phosphorus

H
M
L

73.19
69.37
70.38

(d) Minus potassium

H
M
L

67.78
70.58
68.00

(e) Minus calcium

H
M
L

66.99
69.11
70.92

(f)

H
M
L

66.93
68.21
67.89

H
M
L

69.92
68.68
67.82

Minus m agnesium

(g) M icroelem ents

(h) D istilled w ater

69.53

64

TABLE

XIII

(C ontinued)

Perc entage on F resh Weight Bases
Ash

Ca

K

Mg

Mn

N

P

1.04
1.11
1.13

0.027
0.015
0.026

0.383
0.424
0.434

0.033
0.035
0.034

0.00021
0.00023
0.00022

0.790
0.904
0.801

0.103
0.137
0.125

1.04
1.14
1.07

0.025
0.026
0.017

0.403
0.445
0.446

0.032
0.035
0.033

0.00014
0.00016
0.00021

0.820
0.880
0.939

0.109
~ 0.122
0.141

1.35 .
1.08
1.07

0.038
0.027
0.003

0.483
0.428
0.431

0.051
0.035
0.033

0.00022
0.00037
0.00018

1.01
0.732
0.814

0.137
0.090
0.090

1.11
1.09
1.04

0 . 02 6
0.023
0.019

0.410
0.424
0.408

0.044
0.043
0.052

0.00017
0.00018
0.00026

1.06
0.840
0.659

0.133
0.122
0.101

1.25
1.23
1.05

0.003
0.029
0.020

0.435
0.464
0.379

0.027
0.041
0.032

6.00017
0.00014
0.00018

1.01
1.08
0.855

0.140
0.146
0.110

1.25
1.24
1.30

0.031
0.028
0.028

0.42 0
0.484
0.478

0.015
0.018
0.018

6.00013
0.00 0 2 6
0.00023

0.844
0.967
0.767

0.121
0.137
0.110

1.21
1.20
1.2 6

0.011
0.023
0.024

0.418
0.429
0.437

0.028
0.027
0.016

0.00063
0.00035
0.00013

0.877
0.806
0.927

0.120
0.125
0.139

1.14

0.021

0.401

0.014

0.00 0 0 6

0.842

0.107

65

tre a tm e n t where all the n u trien ts were

supplied at the high level

w ere chosen a t random fo r iro n determ ination.
Tables XHI and XIV sum m arize these data and show that
th ere was no consistent tren d in the re su lts of this analysis.
They could not be re la te d to the v ariatio n in the rate o r time of
growth.

High iro n content was conspicuous in the bulbs supplied

with all the n u trien ts a t the high level.
the

It was twice as g re a t as

highest iro n content in any bulbs that were supplied with e ith e r

40,20, o r
e ra te ,

10 p a r ts p e r m illion in combination

with the high, mod­

and low n u trien t lev els, where phosphorus was om itted

from the high, m oderate, o r low lev els,

o r where distilled w ater

was supplied.

The
m ent when

pH of the culture m edium .

During the f i r s t ex p eri­

the flow ers w ere in full bloom, the leachate of one pot

of every tre atm en t was collected following the second application
of the n u trien ts to determ ine the pH values.

F rom

Table XV it

was observed that the pH value of the leachate of the treatm en t
where no phosphorus was supplied to the high concentration of the
o th er elem ents was 4.24, and this treatm en t produced the beat
growth m ost rapidly during the f i r s t year.

In the other treatm en ts

supplied with high n u trie n t levels, the rate of growth was le s s

66
TABLE

XIV

CHEMICAL CONTENT OF HYACINTH BULBS
FIVE BULBS FOR EACH TREATMENT
1952

Treatment

All nutrients and
low phosphorus

Minus phosphorus

Level
h 2o

Ash

Ca

H

66.46

1.31

0.047

M

67.67

1.19

0.052

L

69.58

1.26

0.035

H

69.66

1.25

0.047

M

69.24

1.13

0.051

L

66.99

1.13

0.044

68.02

1.04

0.036

Distilled water
AH nutrients

H

67

TABLE XIV (Continued)
P ercen tag e on F re s h
Weight B ases
K

Mg

Mn

0.0011

0.533

0.008

0.00018

1.09

0.163

0.0012

0.442

0.024

0.00015

0.950

0.152

0.0013

0.472

0.021

0.00014

0.976

0.152

0.0017

0.482

0.016

0.00024

0.998

0.125

0.0014

0.448

0.036

0.00014

0.985

0.119

0.0013

0.418

0.030

0.00014

0.917

0.125

0.0011

0.413

0.020

0.00010

0.918

0.132

Fe

N

P

*
5
0.0034

68

TABLE XV
pH VALUES OF THE LEACHATE
pH Values
T re a tm e n t

a)

High
N u trien t
Level

Com plete, containing
all n u trie n t elem ents

b) Minus n itro g en

6.23

6.02

3.60

5.14

5.41

4.24

5.14

6.3 1

. . . .

5.11

6.49

6.72

.................

4.08

5.80

6.67

. . .

6.07

6.37

7.26

.................

7.26

6.22

7.35

.................

7.22

. . . . .

d)

Minus p o tassiu m

e)

Minus calcium

f)

Minus m agnesium

h)

D istilled w ater

LowN utrient
Level

5.45

c) Minus phosphorus

g) M icro elem en ts

M oderate
N utrient
Level

. . .

ra p id and the tim e of flow ering was l a t e r .
and the pH v alu es ranged fro m

T here

was le s s

growth,

a low of 3.60, where n itro g en was

om itted, to a high of 6.0 7, w here m agnesium was om itted.
By com paring the tim e

req u ired fo r growth as an example
!

of a growth p ro c e s s ,

it was found that where the m ac ro elem e n ts
J

w ere used, th e re was no c o rre la tio n between the pH value and bulb
growth within any of the le v e ls , although such c o rre la tio n existed
betw een the le v e ls .
pH value

D ecreasing the n u trie n t lev els in c re a se d the

and im proved the growth.

DISCUSSION

It was observed th at weights of bulbs of a shipm ent of hya­
cinth bulbs of the

sam e v a rie ty and fro m the same

sam e y e a r, v a rie d g re a tly .
one lot ranged fro m
the

sam e

ex p o rte r, in the

Bulbs of the sam e c irc u m feren c e fro m

40 to 81 g ra m s in weight, while the bulbs of

c ircu m fe ren c e and the sam e weight produced from fo rty -

five to ninety-five f lo re ts .

It was noticed also that bulbs of the

sam e weight and circu m fe ren c e v a ried as much as 8 days in the
v a rio u s p h ase s of growth.
The difference in num ber of flo re ts from bulbs of the same
c irc u m fe re n c e and weight m ight be attrib u ted to the difference in
te m p e ra tu re

to which the bulbs had been subjected (B eijer,

Since, in spite
tre a tm e n t,

1936).

of the uniform ity in exposing these bulbs to the heat

such d ifferen ces occur, i t was thought th at differences in

the n u tritio n a l sta tu s of the bulbs (carbohydrates, p ro tein s, auxins,
v ita m in s, m in e ra l elem ents, o r other substances that a re
ab so rb ed by the plant o r

either

synthesized in it) could be related in ­

d ire c tly to the environm ent of the bulb.

Since all the bulbs were

im p o rted fro m the N etherlands a t the sam e tim e, the probability
of relatin g these

d ifferen ces to the availability of the

soil n utrients

71
i s m o re likely than d ifferen ces in p o sth a rv e s t environm ental con­
ditions.

R e fere n ce s to w ork done fo r Hyacinthus and o th er g enera

of bulbs tend to suggest that th e re is a m ark ed re la tio n between
the supply of n u trie n ts and the growth of the bulb.

The D ep ressio n of Growth By High
C oncentrations of Phosphorus

It h as been re p o rte d by m any r e s e a rc h w o rk ers th at soil
applications

of phosphorus d e p re sse d the growth of c e rta in plants.

During 1944, Woodman found th at high concentrations of phosphorus
re s u lte d in d e p re ssio n in yield of tops a p d 'ro o ts of c e rta in vege­
ta b le s, B r a s s ic a Rapa ro o ts being p a rtic u la rly susceptible.
land, Omund, and Brown (1942),
P ru n u s p e r s ic a tr e e s ,

B ille -

studying the phosphate n utritio n of

observed that poor growth could frequently

be a sso c ia te d with high phosphorus.

L oustalat and W inters (1948)

stated th at a high level of phosphorus (25 ppm.) g re atly d ep ressed
growth of Cinchona ledg eriana in the p resen ce of a low supply ofn itro gen , and d e p re sse d growth to a le s s e r
level of nitrogen.

extent with a m edium

In F lo rid a , R euther, G ardner, Smith, and Roy

(1949) indicated th at a d ep ressio n in growth or orange tr e e s was
asso c ia te d with a heavy superphosphate application.

Chapman and

72
Fulmoi* (1951)

r e p o r te d th a t e x c e s s ph.osplia.te tended to d e c re a s e

c itr u s f r u it s iz e .
In a g re e m e n t with the r e s u l ts of the p r e s e n t w ork, H ow ard (1951)
r e p o r te d th a t the height of G ossypiam th ir ty days a f te r e m e rg e n c e was
sig n ifica n tly l e s s in a low phosph oru s solution, while sixty days a f te r
e m e rg e n c e , the h eig ht of the p la n ts was s till s h o rt, but not sig n ifican tly
lo w e r than w h ere re la tiv e ly h ig h e r phosph oru s c o n c e n tra tio n s w ere ap ­
p lie d .

N inety days a f te r e m e rg e n c e , the p lan ts began to grow m o re

rap id ly ; and fin a lly , 145 days a f te r e m e rg en ce, they w ere h ig h e r than
p la n ts w ith a high supply of p ho sph oru s.

Shanks and Link (1951) reportec

th a t the ad dition of p ho sph oru s, in o r d e r to m ain tain it a t high le v e ls ,
re d u c e d the n u m b er of flow ering shoots of H ydrangea, as w ell as reduce*
the grow th.

O th er r e s e a r c h w o rk e rs e ith e r re p o rte d the d e p re s s io n e f­

f e c t of grow th re su ltin g fro m high p h o sph oru s ap p licatio n s, o r such an
effe ct could be o b se rv e d fro m th e ir data.

A thorough in v estig atio n of

the type of c u ltu re m edium , its re a c tio n , av aila b ility of p ho sph oru s,
o th e r e le m e n ts p re s e n t, and the m icro b io lo g ica l activ ity of the soil,
would influence the
calciu m
av ailab le

effect of high p hosphorus

ap plication s.

ion is p re v a le n t in a so il, phosphorus m ay becom e
c alc iu m phosphate

compound.

If the
an un­

Under such conditions,

ad dition al p h o sp h o ru s would be b en e fic ia l to the p lan t.

In so ils

tending to have an acid reactio n ,
unavailable phosphate
th at m o d e ra te

iro n

compounds.

S id e ris and K raus

(1934) stated

to high ap plications of phosphate to so ils with an

in itia l pH value of between 6.0 and
Ananas

and alum inum would fo rm

7.0 m ight r e s u lt in d e p re ssio n

sativ u s growth a s w ell a s d e c re a s e y ields.

Where they

applied .the sam e q uan tities of phosphate to so ils with an in itia l
pH value of betw een 3.5 and 5.8,
in c r e a s e in yields was

std.m.ulation of plant growth and

suggested.

Swenson, Cole,

and Sieling (1949)

r e p o rte d th at maximum, fixation of phosphate w as found to occur a t
pH 2.5 to

3.5 with iro n ,

and a t pH 3.5 to 4.0 with alum inum , but

ap p ro x im ately 90 p e rc e n t of the phosphorus was
and alum inum a t pH 6.5.
ch em ically
ra is in g

5 0 p e rc e n t of the phosphate

combined with iro n o r alum inum would n e c e ssita te

the pH of the

fo r alum inum .
phosphorus

To r e le a s e

s till fixed by iro n

soil to 7.0 o r 8.0 fo r iro n and even higher

Even in the plant,

W right (1943) re p o rte d th at high

co ncen tratio ns w ere found in the

ro o ts, and a low er

p ercen tag e of w a te r-so lu b le phosphorus was found in the top r e ­
sulting fro m an ex cess
stated th a t phosphorus

of aluminium.

P ie rre

concen tratio ns of the

ceiving alum inum w ere in some

c a se s

and S tu art (1933)
sap of the plants

re­

one-fifth to one—
Seventh as

74
high a.s fro m
la r

those which did not receiv e alum inum .

Under s im i­

conditions, additional phosphorus would benefit the plant.
When the phosphorus

pecially

sand o r

statu s is o bserved in so ils,

solution culture medium ,

ex cess

and e s ­

of phosphorus

could be e a sily obtained and h arm fu l effects could be expected.
F o rs e e

and Young (1948) re p o rte d that heavy applications of s u p e r­

phosphate to so il d e c re a se d the a ssim ila tio n of copper by the
C itru s

sin e n sis

tr e e

and re su lte d in copper deficiency sym ptom s.

P ie rre

and S tu art (1933) observed that superphosphate reduced the

co ncen tratio n of alum inum in the soil without affecting the pH of
the so il.
cu ltu re

M arsh and Shive (1925) planted Glicine Soja in w ater
supplied with iro n ,

phosphorus, and o th er elem ents.

found a slight iro n p recip itatio n on the outside of the ro o ts.
also

stated th a t the plants

they showed abnorm ally high iro n

re la tiv e ly low iro n

They

showing chlorotic or toxic conditions

contained h ig h er to tal ir o n than the norm al p lants.
f u rth e r,

They

Explaining

content in the

concentrations in the leav es.

stem , but

Olsen (1935) r e ­

ported th at iro n was p recip itated as iro n phosphate in the leaf
tissu e ,

p a rtic u la rly along the v a sc u la r bundles.

that chlorotic leav es
leaves.

She also found

contained as much o r m ore iro n than g re en

O ther in v e stig a to rs have observed this

effect of phosphorus

75

on iro n .

R ecently Biddulph (1950), using radioactive

iro n in n u tr i­

ent solution f o r feeding Glycine Soja plants, found la r g e r amounts
of p re c ip ita te d ir o n on the root su rfa c e s.
hibited the uptake of additional iro n .
to be f e r r i c

This p re cip itate was found

phosphate a t pH 's below 6.0.

cium was p re s e n t, and a t pH 7.0,

Such p re c ip itatio n in ­

At pH 6.0,

calcium was predom inant.

also found th at at pH 4.0 and with m edium phosphorus
tion,

some c a l­
He

co n c e n tra ­

equal d istrib u tio n of iro n o ccu rre d throughout the plant,

while

a t a pH 7.0 and with m edium phosphorus concentration, little o r no
d istrib u tio n of iro n o c c u rre d in the m esophyll.
the veins indicating com plete im m obility.

It was accum ulated in

He also found that a t pH 7.0

and with high phosphorus concentration, radioactive iro n failed to en ter
the xylem a s i t p re cip itated a t the ro o t su rfaces, and v ery little of i t
was found e ith e r in the veins o r in the m esophyll.
B esid es the p ossible p recip itation of iro n by high phosphorus
co ncen tratio ns,
ta ss iu m ,
tion,
the

in c re a se of calcium concentration, d e crease of po­

in c re a s e of m agnesium would accentuate

such p re c ip ita ­

e ith e r d ire c tly o r in d irectly , through the in teractio n between
elem ents

(Holmes and Crowley,

W allace and B ear,

1944; Lindner and H arley,

1949; Troug, Goate, and Gerloff,

1947).

1944;

76
In the p re s e n t investigation, although, ch lo ro sis
from

the tip and m a rg in s of the hyacinth leaf to the b ase of the

leaf, i t ap p eared on alm o st a ll of the plants
posure to n o rm al light.
to e ith e r deficiency o r
bulbs

extended

se v e ra l days a f te r ex­

It was im possible to re la te this ch lo ro sis
excess

of any elem ent.

It appeared on the

supplied with d istilled w ater.

The E ffect of N utrients

It was shown in Table VI that the n u trien ts had little in ­
fluence on the tim e re q u ire d fo r flowering.
tion of the v ario us

T here was a r e ta r d a ­

stages of growth as a re s u lt of adding high

phosphorus concentrations.

In general, i t was observed that when

phosphorus was added a t low concentrations of 40, 2 0, and 10
p a rts p e r m illion, the le a s t tim e was req u ired for the various
stag es of growth.

Omitting phosphorus re su lte d in reducing the

tim e fo r growth, but not as much reduction was produced as when
phosphorus was added at low concentrations of 40, 20, and 10 p a rts
p e r m illion .

The m o st rapid and m o st vigorous growth resu lted

from the addition of a m o derate

concentration of all n u trien ts

bined with a phosphorus concentration of 2 0 p arts p e r m illion.
T his was not tru e for every stage of growth, but the o v e r-a ll

com ­

77
growth, r a te was m o st rapid, and the longest racem e,

la r g e s t

leaves, and the m o st ro o ts w ere produced by this tre a tm e n t.
a condition i s

p r e f e r r e d fo r the production of la r g e r bulbs.

Such
P ro ­

ducing l a r g e r bulbs containing m o re n u trien t elem ents is im p o r­
tan t for production of m o re flo re ts.

Jenkins and Stuart (1949) found that larger applications of
nutrients re stilted in increasing the rate of growth of Narcissusbulbs the second year after supplying them with the nutrients.
P ark e r

(1935) also found that heavier N a rc iss u s m other bulbs were

produced a s a r e s u lt of h eav ier fe rtiliz a tio n .

He stated that bulbs

fe rtiliz e d when planted produced fewer flow ers the second y ear,
with no difference in size, although the flow er stalk s and foliage
w ere

significantly longer.

white),

Working with N arcissu s bulbs (paper

Dickey (1940) observed that la r g e r bulbs produced a g re a te r

num ber of saleab le bulbs.

L a rg e r

siz e s of N arcissu s bulbs (paper

white) in each of th e ir c ateg o ries produced m ore flow ers.

Woycicki,

in Poland (1945-46), calculated a ra tio of nitrogen: phosphorus: po­
ta ssiu m

contents of Tulipa to be 5.5:1:2.5 during the vegetative

period, and 3.5:1:2.5 during dorm ancy.

He calculated the amounts

of nitrogen, phosphorus, and p otassium absorved by one hundred
bulbs and found them to be

14.41,

3.89, and 14.92 g ram s, respectively

78

T his r a tio i s

v e ry clo se to the ra tio of n itro g en , phosphorus, and

p o ta ssiu m (5:1:5) th a t w as found to be the m o s t fav orab le fo r op­
tim um grow th of the hyacinth.
A c o r re la tio n coefficient a n a ly sis was m ade between the
w eight of the bulbs and the n um ber of the flo re ts produced by
each bulb, and was found to be highly significant a t the
level.

1-p e rc e n t

H a rg ra v e and Thompson (1939) stated th at n itro g en , p h o s­

p h o ru s, and potassium, contents in hyacinth bulbs v a rie ty L 'ln ao cen se
in c r e a s e d w ith in c re a sin g the
m e t e r s in c irc u m fe re n c e ,

size of the bulbs fro m

y e a r,

16 c e n ti­

Although this tendency of in c re a s e in

n itro g en , phosphate, and p o ta ssiu m
bulbs of 17 to

8 to

content was observed on the

18 c e n tim e te rs in c irc u m fe re n c e planted the f i r s t

the change of v a rie ty and p o ssib le

m ade a co m p ariso n illo g ic al.

change in p a s t h is to ry

It should be m entioned that relatin g

the in c r e a s e in n u m b er of flo re ts to the c irc u m fe re n c e s of the
bulbs would not be of the sam e a c c u ra c y a s
to the w eight of the bulbs e ith e r of the

relatin g

this in c re a s e

sam e o r d ifferen t c irc u m ­

fe re n c e s .
The effect of om itting the v a rio u s n u trie n t elem ents was ob­
se rv e d during the f i r s t and second stag e, tim e re q u ire d from
planting until the vegetative growth ap peared , and tim e

req u ire d

79
fro m

the a p p e a ra n c e of v eg etativ e grow th until exposing the bulbs

to n o rm a l light.

Such an effect was n o t of g re a t im p o rtan ce in

changing the tim e
phosphorus,

re q u ire d fro m planting until flow ering.

calcium , and m ag nesium in c re a s e d

the tim e

Omitting
re q u ire d

fro m planting u ntil the ap p earan ce of the vegetative growth.
sion of n itro g en ,

p o tassiu m , a s w ell as

in c re a s e d the tim e

re q u ire d fro m

calcium and m agnesium ,

the appearance

u n til exposing the bulbs to n o rm a l light.
of a ll the n u trie n ts

a t the tim e

of vegetative p a rts

A ccordingly, the addition

of planting is favored to d e c re a se

the o v e r - a ll tim e re q u ire d fo r the f i r s t two stag es.
c le a r ly

shown th a t addition of a ll the n u trie n ts

tim e fo r the f i r s t two sta g e s, the re ta rd in g
p horus co n cen tratio n s

O m is­

should be taken into

Although i t is

did not reduce the

effect of high phos­
co nsid eration .

R ecom ­

m endation of the addition of a ll the elem ents with phosphorus con­
c e n tra tio n of 20 p a r ts p e r m illio n can be em phasized, th e re fo re ,

as

the b e s t tre a tm e n t fox m o st ra p id growth.
Since the bulbs w ere planted late in the seaso n (D ecem ber
30 and

15, fo r the f i r s t and second y e a r,

sible th a t if they a r e
the tim e

resp ectiv ely ),

to be planted e a r lie r ,

it is p o s­

a probable v aria tio n in

re q u ire d fro m planting u ntil flowering m ight occur.

Such

80

v a ria tio n m ight be in fav or of adding a ll the n u trie n t elem ents a t
m o d erate

concen tratio ns with 20 p a r ts p e r m illio n of phosphorus.

The addition of n u trien ts
the lengths of ra c e m e s .

re su lte d in the uniforznity between

This uniform ity was v ery ap paren t where

low phosphorus concentrations of 40, 2 0, and 10 p a rts p e r m illion
w ere added to the high, m o d erate, and low level of n u trie n ts,
spectively.

Excluding two infected bulbs from those

re ­

supplied with

m o d era te n u trie n t level and 20 p a r ts p e r m illion phosphorus, the
difference between the longest and s h o rte s t racem es was
m e te r s .

1.7 cen ti­

This uniform ity was also noticed, but to a le s s e r

extent

w here phosphorus was not included with the other n u trien t elem ents.
Such uniform ity could be observed to a much le s s e r

extent where

low lev els of n u trie n ts w ere added and any one of the other e le ­
m en ts was om itted.
bulbs

Uniform ity was not so m arked between the

supplied with a ll the n u trie n ts

the low n u trie n t lev e ls w ere
cium,

except phosphorus o r where

supplied and nitrogen, potassium ,

o r m agnesium w ere om itted.

c a l­

The v ariatio n in the n u trien t

content resu ltin g fro m the p a st h isto ry of the bulbs m ight be sug­
g ested as a reaso n fo r this lack of uniform ity.
C onsidering the tre a tm e n t, each containing the high, m od­
e ra te , and low lev e ls, i t was observed that the lack of potassium

81

re su lte d in the le a s t growth, followed by omitting m agnesium , n i­
trogen,

and calcium ,

resp ectiv ely .

S tuart (1947) and Bould (1939)

indicated the im portance of p otassium for producing b e tte r yield
of bulbs and flow ers of N a r c is s u s , and in c re a se in
i n c r e a s e . '1
s h o r te r

Seely (1950) observed s m a lle r flow ers and leaves and

shoots of Rosa ( P e te r 's

sand deficient in potassiu m .
Rosa (B etter

1'bulb weight

B r ia r cliff) grown in pure q uartz

P o s t and F is c h e r

(1951) found that

Tim es) produced significantly le ss flow ers with low

p otassiu m during th e ir
length was also

second- and th ird -y e a r growth.

The stem

significantly reduced during the second y ea r.

Twigg and Link (1951) found that growth of Azalea was g reatly
r e s tr ic te d as a r e s u lt of omitting potassium .
Additional microj-elements a t the high and m oderate
tra tio n s

concen­

re su lte d also in in creasin g the racem e length and leaf

size of hyacinths over that resu ltin g from, addition of d istilled
w ater.

E m sw eller (1938) indicated that in c re a se in num ber of

N a rc iss u s flow ers re su lte d from addition of boron during the f i r s t
p erio d of growth.

SUMMARY

Hyacinth bulbs, v a rie ty G ertru d e, w ere planted in silic a
sand.

They w ere

supplied with the following n u trien t solutions:

com plete, containing a ll n u trie n t elem ents;
minus nitrogen;

a ll n u trie n t elem ents minus phosphorus;

tr ie n t elem ents minus p otassium ;
cium;

all n u trie n t elem ents
all nu­

all n u trien t elem ents minus c a l­

all n u trie n t elem ents minus magnesium; m icroelem ents;

d is tille d w ater;
phosphorus.

and all n u trie n ts with a low concentration of

F o r each tre a tm e n t, three lev els w ere

supplied; high,

which was twice the m oderate level, and m oderate, which was
twice the low level.

Data were recorded for the time required from planting
until the vegetative growth appeared, from the appearance of vege­
tative growth until exposing the bulbs to normal light, from expos­
ing the bulbs to normal light until beginning of blooming, period
of flowering, length of raceme, length and width of the three outer
leaves.

Photographs were made to compare the effect of the nu­

trients on root, shoot, and raceme growth.
The addition of n u trien ts favored rapid and b e tte r quality
growth of p lan ts.

83

The b e s t tim e f o r adding the n u trie n ts

is im m ediately a fte r

planting.
High phosphorus concentration of 200 p a rts p e r m illion
g re a tly re ta rd e d the tim e

req u ire d fo r the various p ro c e s s e s

of

growth, as well as im p aired the quality of the plants.
Optimum uniform ity of growth re su lte d from

the addition

of a com plete n u trie n t solution combined with a phosphorus
tra tio n of 20 p a r ts p e r m illion.

This uniform ity was reduced with

e ith e r d ecreasin g o r in creasin g the phosphorus
T here

concen­

concentrations.

was a m arked lack of uniform ity of growth where a high

phosphorus concentration of 200 p a r ts p e r m illion was used, o r
w here

only d istilled w ater was supplied.
Optimum quality of plants was produced fro m bulbs grown

in sand supplied with a complete n u trien t solution containing 100
p a r ts p e r m illion of nitrogen, potassium ,
m illion m agnesium ; m oderate

calcium ;

50 p a rts p e r

concentrations of m icroelem ents;

and 20 p a r ts p e r m illion of phosphorus.

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