Effect of black peat, pH and Mg on growth of heather on sandy soil.

Abstract

Eight field trials were carried out with various heather cultivars (Calluna vulgaris Carmen, Cuprea, Robert Chapman; Erica tetralix Con Underwood; E. carnea [herbacea] King George and E. cinerea C.D. Eason). Peat at 0-8 msuperscript 3/100 msuperscript 2 was incorporated into the top soil or applied as a layer and soil pH-KCl was maintained at levels between 3 and 6.8. Increasing peat application up to 4 msuperscript 3/100 msuperscript 2 improved the growth and quality (visual rating) of the stand; higher amounts had little additional effect. Peat applied as a layer gave some slightly better results than peat incorporated into the topsoil. A soil pH-KCl value of 4.2 was the optimum for growth of most cultivars and reasonable growth could be expected in the range 3.8-4.7. Cv. King George was more tolerant to high pH than cultivars of the other species tested. In 3 trials with Calluna cultivars MgO application at 150 or 200 kg/ha increased the Mg content of the soil and shoots but had a slight negative effect on growth. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)