1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture:
TOWARDS SOIL SUSTAINABILITY
11–13 June 2024 • Lublin–Nałęczów, Poland

https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.25
Published online: 4 October 2024

Reducing nutrient losses and soil contamination through rational fertilization of ornamental plants
Jacek S. Nowak*, Jadwiga Treder, Małgorzata Kunka, Waldemar Kowalczyk

The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
* Corresponding author:

Abstract
In horticulture, especially in soilless cultivation and intensively fertigated field crops, excessive amounts of fertilizer ingredients are often used to obtain high and good quality crop yields and to provide them with appropriate growth conditions. Such action may lead to soil salinization and contamination of groundwater with some components. In the cultivation of ornamental plants under cover, soilless substrates are most often used using open-circuit fertigation, in which excess nutrient leaking from the root zone is discharged directly to the ground in the greenhouse/tunnel or outdoors. The results of research conducted at the National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice have shown that in tomato cultivation, while maintaining 20% overflow, approximately 5 tons of nutrients from fertilizers are introduced into the ground with drainage water. These components move through the soil profile to groundwater and then to other water intakes/sources, i.e. wells, lakes or rivers. This may lead to excessive pollution of surface waters with, among others, nitrogen and phosphorus. An effective method of reducing nutrient losses is balanced fertilization of plants, which allows managing nutrients in a way that reduces soil and water contamination with nutrients from fertilization and increases the efficiency of their use. Such rational fertilization should be based on knowledge of the nutritional needs of plants, soil fertility (including the abundance of essential nutrients), weather conditions during the growing season, and plant cultivation technology. For this purpose, regular chemical analyses of the soil/substrate and plant material, nutrient and drainage water analyses are necessary. The National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice, as part of the optimization of fertilization, implements target task 4.1 “Rational fertilization”, financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in which the research conducted allows for correcting the fertilization strategy of selected species in order to adjust doses to the needs of plants while implementing strategies to reduce consumption. This action, apart from verifying the available limit numbers, also aims to reduce water pollution with nitrates and phosphorus from horticultural crops.

Keywords: rational fertilization, fertigation, ornamental plants, soil health

How to cite
Nowak J.S., Treder J., Kunka M., Kowalczyk W., 2024. Reducing nutrient losses and soil contamination through rational fertilization of ornamental plants. 1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture: Towards Soil Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.PP.25