Publication
from Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Hydrogen
peroxide as a soil amendment for greenhouse nasturtium production
(Tropaeolum majus
L.)
Interpretive
Summary
Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, occurs naturally in animals and plants, and
can help protect plants from diseases or signal the plant concerning
stress. In addition to its use as a disinfectant for humans and in
water purification, hydrogen peroxide is approved for the control of
plant diseases. Hydrogen peroxide is used to control diseases on plant
leaves, roots, and cuttings. The soil can also be treated with hydrogen
peroxide before a plant is started in the soil.
There are also common
reports that hydrogen peroxide provides additional growth benefits
beyond its ability to control diseases and help the plant deal with
stress. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of
soil applications of hydrogen peroxide solutions on plant growth and
flowering.
Container grown nasturtium seedlings cv. Scarlet Glean
Improved were irrigated with either distilled water, tap water, or
hydrogen peroxide solutions. The hydrogen peroxide treatments included
adding 1.3, 13, or 26 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of
distilled water. Distilled water was used to be sure there wasn’t
something else in the water that was helping or hurting the plants.
Hydrogen peroxide applications did affect the nasturtium leaves, stems,
roots, and flowers. Nasturtium leaves and stems, and the total plant
(leaves, stems and roots) dry weight were greater when using 1.3
teaspoons/gallon than the 13 teaspoon/gallon. Twenty-six
teaspoons/gallon resulted in more root growth than using 1.3
teaspoons/gallon. Flowering was also better when using 1.3
teaspoons/gallon than either 13 or 26 teaspoons/gallon.
The results
indicate that watering with 1.3 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide/gallon
of distilled water did provide growth and flowering benefits to
nasturtiums grown in containers, although the results were not as great
as the non-scientific reports would suggest. The difference between our
results and what many people generally report may be the benefit of
hydrogen peroxide decreasing or eliminating diseases in the soil
containers rather than it directly helping the plant grow better.
Technical
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, is a highly reactive oxidizing agent naturally
occurring in plants and animals. Plants produce hydrogen peroxide to
destroy either infected plant cells or the pathogens within a plant.
Hydrogen peroxide also acts as a stress signal to plants.
It is
approved for the control of microbial pests, fungi and bacterial that
cause plant diseases and it is applied as a foliar spray, as a dip for
cuttings and roots, and as a pre-planting soil treatment to prevent or
control plant pathogens. There are also anecdotal reports that hydrogen
peroxide provides additional growth benefits beyond its actions related
to plant infection or plant stress.
The objective of this research was
to determine the effect of soil applications of hydrogen peroxide
solutions on plant growth and flowering. Container grown nasturtium cv.
Scarlet Glean Improved seedlings were irrigated with either distilled
water, tap water, or hydrogen peroxide solutions. The hydrogen peroxide
treatments included 0.005% H2O2 (1X), 0.05% H2O2 (10X), and 0.1% H2O2
(20X), which are equivalent to 1.3, 13, and 26 tsp/gallon of 3%
hydrogen peroxide.
The foliage and root fresh and dry weights harvested
at 22 days after initiating treatment (DAIT) and the fresh weights at
33 DIAT were not significantly different as a result of the hydrogen
peroxide concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations significantly
impacted the foliage, root, and total dry weights at 33 DAIT. The 1X
concentration of hydrogen peroxide produced significantly greater
amounts of nasturtium foliage and total plant dry weights at 33 DAIT
compared to the 10X concentration, but it was not significantly
different from the distilled and tap water applications. The 20X root
dry weights were significantly greater than all other treatments except
the 1X hydrogen concentration. The 1X concentration produced
significantly greater total number of flowers than either the 10X or
20X concentrations and 64 and 57% greater numbers of flowers than the
distilled and tap water treatments.
The results indicate that watering
nasturtiums at the tested hydrogen peroxide applications rates did
provide slight growth and flowering benefits to nasturtiums grown in
containers, although the results were not as great as anecdotal reports
would suggest. The most likely explanation for the anecdotal reports of
dramatic growth stimulus of hydrogen peroxide watering solutions may be
a result of hydrogen peroxide decreasing or eliminating diseases in the
soil containers rather than it serving as a direct stimulus to the
plant.
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Bibliography
Webber III, C.L., Sandtner, S.J., Webber, C.L. 2007.
"Hydrogen peroxide as a soil amendment for greenhouse nasturtium
production (Tropaeolum majus L.)." Proceedings of Horticultural Industry
Show. 26:140-144, Publication
date: 5/1/2007, Acceptance date: 2/8/2007, Last
modified: 10/17/2017,
Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=207538.
Accessed 18 Oct. 2017.
Published 21 Mar. 2018 KJ |