Effect of nitrogen form ratio on pansy growth and nutrition and the palatability to white-tailed deer

Pansies are one of the most popular annual bedding plants in the:United Sta tes. Growth and uptake of essential nutrients as influenced by N-form ratio was evaluated in pansy as well as what role pansy nutrition plays in the p rotection of pansy against feeding damage by white-tailed deer provided by selected repellents. Plants were grown under three N-form ratios: 100:0, 50 :50 and 0:100 NO3:NH4. Dry weight was highest for pansy treated with 100:0 and lowest for plants treated with 0:100 NO3:NH4 Mean qualify ratings were 4.07 for pansies grown with 100:0, 1.80 for pansies grown with 50:50 and 0. 78 for pansies grown with 0:100. Potassium(K), magnesium(Mg), and manganese (Mn) content was lower in plants treated with 0:100 than in those treated with 100:0. Ammonium may have competed with these cations for uptake. Boron (B), copper (Cu), molybdenum(Mo), and aluminum (Al) content was highest in plants treated with N-NH4. There was no significant difference shown in nu trient levels caused by repellent treatments. Feeding damage was shown to b e affected by N-form ratio only on Day 3 of the study. Of the,three repelle nt treatments [Deer and Rabbit Repellent (Thiram), Deer Away putrescent:egg spray, and no spray], Thiram provided the greatest protection to pansies o ver the Study period.