Growth of Bedding Plants in Response to Root-zone Heating and Night Temperature Regimes

Nine bedding plant vegetable and flower cultivars were grown in each of 10 night air and root media temperature regimes. Generally, fresh and dry weights were greater at 16°C than at 7° night air temperature when root-zone (RZ) heating was not used. Soil warming increased fresh and dry weights of all cultivars grown at 16° night air temperatures. When air temperatures were below 16°, soil warming maintained fresh and dry weights equivalent to or better than plants grown at 16° without soil warming. Two split-night (SN) air temperature regimes were as effective as a constant 16° night temperature, ranking first and 3rd in fresh and dry weight per unit of energy consumption. All soil warming treatments had higher energy productivity than the 16° air temperature treatment with no RZ heating.