The response of Laucadendron 'Safari Sunset' to the fertilization regime

The responses of Leucadendron 'Safari sunset', on its own roots and grafted on 'Orot' rootstock, to a range of fertilization regimes were studied. The experiment was conducted during the summer of 1994, at Bet Dagan, Israel, and included three levels of compound NPK, two levels of P, and two NH4:NO3 ratios. Ungrafted plants fed without P yielded fewest marketable branches and had t he lowest fresh and dry weights. Increasing the P concentration in the irri gation water to 10 mg/dm(3) improved the yield, whereas increasing the NPK level reduced the number of marketable branches and the fresh and dry weigh t yields. Lowering the NH4:NO3 ratio in the irrigation water significantly reduced the yield. The grafted plants were significantly better than the ungrafted plants unde r all the treatments examined. The superiority of the grafted plants was mo re evident under conditions of P deficiency and non-optimal pH.