PLANT NOT GROWING AS IT SHOULD BE

The Reasons for the improper growth of plants in agricultural soil and soil-less farming depend on various parameters but some unknown, hidden common and minute mistakes you seldom make are:-

Plant not growing as expected Agriculture Novel — Oxygen deficiency leads to root harm

Plant not growing as expected? The secret of growing seedlings and plants without any mistake.

Root death due to oxygen deficiency is a result of over-watering, especially during a hot environment.
Salt accumulation when the root zone is not sufficiently leached by irrigation water, ammonium toxicity due to high concentrations of fertilizer during periods of high temperature,
Exposure of the plant container to direct radiation (radiation of unwanted light can also affect the growth like from sun which causes overheating of root areas).

IF YOU GROW SEEDLINGS IN A SMALL CONTAINER.

Seedlings growing in containers, develop roots in the space between the medium and the container wall and at the bottom of the container. This is due to stuffing and compaction of the growing medium, which causes oxygen deficiency and root death at the centre of the container.

This thing can be even more harmful when the medium contains organic matter which is decomposing by oxygen-consuming microorganisms.

Downward root growth is a natural response to gravity. In containers, a root mat develops at the bottom, where it may result in oxygen deficiency due to competition among the roots for oxygen with the frequent accumulation of a water layer at the bottom of the container

Air Pruning tray vs conventional tray Agriculture Novel — Image credit

The container material and its colour affect the absorbed radiation and can increase in temperature to which the roots are exposed.

If you are using plastic and black in colour make sure to keep it in a cool place

But, Clay pots keep roots cool due to evaporation cooling from the container walls.

Plastic and metal containers cause root temperature to rise above ambient air temperature

Sand used as a growing medium may cause aeration and compaction problems in container-grown plants. Sand compresses and reduces air spaces due to its physical nature, increasing the resistance to root penetration for root growth.

Extra Air Pruning trays Agriculture Novel — Ingrown tray extra air pruning trays are good for initial growth.

If you use the growing media, like – peat, clay balls, glass-wool, it is due to their high water retention capacity while maintaining sufficient aeration for the root zone but don’t forget proper aeration between the medium. eg, add perlite in coco-peat.

The plant-growing systems such as the nutrient film technique(NFT) is to fulfil the demand for oxygen in nutrients with continuous care. It has been researched that even a 10-min. shortage of oxygen can stop root growth and a 30-min. Shortage results in the death of the major part of roots areas.

Special care should be taken to prevent compaction of growing medium and if the root touches the container wall, which gradually changes the direction of its growth.

Once a soil or growing media is compacted especially when coco peat added without perlite. It is very hard to reverse the root formation.

Nutrient supply influences the size and morphology of the whole plant as well as the root system.

Research showed that root growth responds mainly to local nutrient supply availability and especially to phosphorus (P) concentration. (P) should be under the limit, excess of anything can cause plant root damage and if root dot damaged then the plant will not be able to survive.

During the early stages of seed development, before the first leaf opens and transpiration begins, water uptake by the root must be controlled by osmotic factors.

A common factor stopping root growth is a shortage of oxygen.

It is mostly seen that in field and greenhouse practices, excess irrigation leads to an oxygen deficiency which causes root damage it is highly noticed by growers.