Monitoring and Managing Soluble Salts in Ornamental Plant Production
It is necessary to maintain optimum nutrient levels in the soil or growing media to maximize growth in ornamental plant production. Since plant size along with plant quality dictates sale price, nursery growers certainly recognize this relationship. There is also the need to recognize that adequate moisture levels must be maintained as medium nutrient levels increase to avoid soluble salt injury to the roots. Excessively high soluble salt levels can damage roots, severely restrict plant growth, causing undesirable foliage damage (salt-burn) and possible death of the plants. A systematic salinity-monitoring program is thus required to successfully produce high-quality plants.