AlainOlivier

Growth of Eight-Year-Old American Ginseng in a Red Maple Forest as Influenced by Lime and Organic Fertilizer Application: 

Growth of Eight-Year-Old American Ginseng in a Red Maple Forest as Influenced by Lime and Organic Fertilizer Application Alain Olivier Isabelle Nadeau Hakim Ouzennou Justin P. Dzaringa Guy-Régis Bibang

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.): 

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) Native species from deciduous forests in the Eastern half of North America Medicinal plant Related to Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer)

Wild populations: 

Have been intensively harvested Endangered in Canada Over-harvesting Destruction and degradation of their natural habitat (White 1988) Less than 20 000 plants left in Canada (Nault et al. 1998) Wild populations

Field-cultivation: 

Since the end of the 19th century Intensive field-cultivation under artificial shade structures Tens of millions of dollars in income every year in Canada only (Statistics Canada) Field-cultivation

Forest farming: 

Lower yield than field-grown roots Roots of higher quality Higher retail value No cost associated with shade structures Forest farming Source : John Proctor

Where does wild ginseng grow ?: 

Where does wild ginseng grow ? In Québec, wild populations stand : In the Southern part of the province In mature sugar maple forests On rich, slightly acidic (pH 5.9), deep and well drained soils, with abundant litter rapidly decomposed (Nault 1997)

Where can we grow ginseng in Québec ?: 

Where can we grow ginseng in Québec ? Most forests available for farming do not correspond to the natural environment of ginseng Short growing season Very acidic soils Nutrient-depleted soils

Soil pH: 

Soil pH Affects ginseng growth Affects shape, size, and biomass of the roots (Pritts, 1995) pH 5.5 doubled yield as compared to pH 4.4 (Konsler and Shelton, 1990) Source : John Proctor

Slide9: 

Calcium content of the soil Wild ginseng in New York state grows on soils with high calcium content (Beyfuss, 2000) Calcium deficiency restricts root biomass (Stoltz, 1982) Source : John Proctor

Can we use very acidic forests to produce wild-simulated ginseng ?: 

Can we use very acidic forests to produce wild-simulated ginseng ?

Material and Methods: 

Material and Methods When ? Fall 1995 - Fall 2003 Where ? Experimental Farm of Université Laval (46° 39' N, 72° 06' W) Red maple forest Very acidic Tilly silty clay (gleyed humo-ferric Podzol) Mor humus of low nutrient status

Initial soil characteristics of the experimental site (October 1995): 

Initial soil characteristics of the experimental site (October 1995) Mehlich III extractable P, K and Ca

Treatments: 

Treatments

Cultural operations: 

Cultural operations A very low level of management was chosen Only a few trees and shrubs providing excessive shade were removed prior to sowing

Cultural operations: 

Cultural operations Leaf litter removed Seeds broadcast at a rate of 40 kg/ha, then incorporated (October 30-31, 1995) Lime, organic fertilizer and fungicide applied the same day Leaf litter put back above the soil

Cultural operationsRaking leaves and liming: 

Cultural operations Raking leaves and liming

Maintenance Treatments (Spring 1997): 

Maintenance Treatments (Spring 1997)

Maintenance Treatments (Spring 1998): 

Maintenance Treatments (Spring 1998) N.B. No maintenance treatment was applied after 1998

Measures: 

Measures Soil pH Soil Ca Ginseng population counts Leaf area Root biomass

Experimental design: 

Experimental design Randomized complete block design Five replicates Plot size : 10 m X 2 m Data submitted to standard ANOVA Contrasts T1 vs T2 : effect of liming T1 vs T3 : effect of organic fertilization T2 vs T4 : effect of adding organic fertilizer to lime T4 vs T5 : effect of the fungicide

Results: 

Results

Soil pH: 

Soil pH

Soil calcium content (mg/kg) : 

Soil calcium content (mg/kg)

Ginseng density (plant / m2): 

Ginseng density (plant / m2)

Ginseng leaf area (cm2): 

Ginseng leaf area (cm2)

Ginseng fresh root biomass (g / plant) : 

Ginseng fresh root biomass (g / plant)

Discussion: 

Discussion

Discussion: 

Discussion Very acidic, nutrient-depleted soils of red maple forests in Québec are not suited for ginseng cultivation Not even one plant left in all of the control plots

Liming: 

Liming Improved : Ginseng plant density Ginseng leaf and root growth Improvement could be due to : Increased soil calcium availability Lower aluminum toxicity (Nadeau et al. 2003)

Calcium : a key element?: 

Calcium : a key element? Wild populations grow on a wide range of soil pH, but always on calcium-rich soils (Beyfuss 2000) Calcium deficiency restricts N, P and K accumulation in leaves (Khwaja et al. 1984) Calcium alleviates aluminum toxicity (Brunet 1994)

Organic fertilization: 

Organic fertilization Positive impact on ginseng growth, although lower than that of liming Phosphorus and nitrogen in soil are correlated to root biomass of ginseng (Konsler and Shelton 1990 ; Stoltz 1981) Lower ginseng winter survival than with lime A result of calcium deficiency and/or aluminum toxicity bringing higher ginseng susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses?

Fungicide application: 

Fungicide application Did not result in better emergence, survival rate, leaf area, nor root biomass of ginseng

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Soil nutrient management is essential to produce healthy marketable ginseng roots Soil calcium content may be critical Sufficient quantities of lime have to be added in this very acidic soil in order to make wild-cultivation of ginseng a valuable alternative

Acknowledgments : 

Acknowledgments Nutrite Hydro-Agri Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Jean Coulombe and the team of the Joseph-Rhéaume Experimental Farm Jean Collin