Growth of Juniperus and Potentilla using Liquid Exponential and Controlled-release Fertilizers

Abstract

Juniperus scopularum Sarg. (Rocky Mountain juniper) and Potentilla fruticosa L. 'Gold Drop' (gold drop potentilla) plants grown in containers had similar or better morphology, higher nitrogen concentrations and contents, and higher N-use efficiency when grown with liquid fertilizer applied at an exponentially increasing rate as compared to the same amount of N applied via controlled-release fertilizers. More importantly, plants grown with a half-exponential rate were similar to those grown with controlled-release fertilizer but with a higher N-use efficiency, indicating that this type of fertilization may be a method for reducing the amounts of applied nutrients in nurseries and subsequent nutrient discharge.