Abstract
Container-grown Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) D. Don and Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. inoculated or noninoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith were fertilized with Lesco 20N-2.6P-10K (20-6-12) at either 0, 4.3, 8.6, 17.3 or 34.6 g (0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.60 or 1.20 oz) per 6-l (#2) container. Plants were fertilized at potting and again 3.5 months later for each of 2 consecutive applications. Seven months after potting, P. macrophyllus shoot dry weights were greater for noninoculated than inoculated plants when fertilized with the manufacturer's recommended fertilizer rate of 17.3 g per container. L. japonicum shoot dry weights were not different due to inoculation at the 17.3 g fertilizer rate. Mean heights for P. macrophyllus were greater for the inoculated than noninoculated plants and plants fertilized with one-half the recommended fertlizer rate (8.6 g) were ranked superior to noninoculated P. macrophyllus receiving the manufacturer's recommended rate (17.3 g). One year after plants were transplanted to a simulated landscape, P. macrophyllus and L. japonicum shoot dry weights were not different due to inoculation.
Author notes
Published as Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. R-00547. The authors gratefully acknowledge Gramling Nursery Co., Inc., Plant City, FL., Roger Newton, Hillsborough County Extension Agent, Frank Martin, Statistician, and Claudia Larsen, Meg Nederhofer and Jan Weinbrecht, Biologists, for their assistance.
2Current address of second author: Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA 30223.
3Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.