Water use estimation and growth of container grown tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba L. 'Sibirica') and cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L. 'Novita')

Abstract

The pot in pot (PIP) system is a new alternative to container above ground (CAG) cultivation in nurseries. Our study estimates plant water usage of plants in CAG and PIP. Plant species, nursery container type and year effect on morphological parameters (plant size, leaf area, fresh and dry weight), on daily water use (weighed DWU), transpiration of leaves (DT) supplemented with species effect were analysed. Twenty plants grown in 5 L plastic pots of each combination were investigated. For leaf area measurement by AM350 we sampled 30 leaves from each plant. Forty plants were weighed by a digital scale morning and evening on each sampling day. Leaf gas exchange was measured on the same days by using leaf gas exchange analyser. From the two investigated deciduous (tatarian dogwood) and evergreen species (cherry laurel), only the tatarian dogwood showed improved quality in the PIP system (enhanced canopy increment, fresh and dry weight). Significant difference showed the two species in DWU, and in DT. The tatarian dogwood used 626 g day-1 water (194%) compared to the cherry laurel's 341 g day-1 water use and this ratio was 144% in favor of tatarian dogwood in the next year. We measured higher initial morning weight (IWC) in PIP system. The transpiration measurements on single selected leaves overestimated the real transpiration compared to DWU. The DT of the deciduous tatarian dogwood responses more sensitively to environmental conditions than the evergreen cherry laurel.