Accumulation and translocation properties of dry matter and mineral elements in edible canna (Canna edulis Ker)

In order to establish a reasonable fertilization protocol in canna production, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the accumulation and translocation characteristics of biomass and mineral elements in different organs of edible canna at the taro enlargement stage and taro ripe stage. The total dry matters of edible canna at the taro enlargement stage is about 54.99-62.21g/plant, and the leaf is the main translocation organ. At the taro ripe stage, the total dry matter of edible canna is more than four times of the taro enlargement stage, and the rhizome is main translocation organ. The accumulation amounts of total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) of edible canna at the subtaro enlargement stage are 497.4-598.8, 128.7-223.1, 2021.2-2450.3, 496.0-577.3 and 526.7-804.5 mg/plant, respectively. The highest N content is in leaves, the highest P, K and Mg contents in stems and Ca content in roots. At the ripe stage, the total N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents of edible canna are 1116.2-1210.8, 852.6-907.5, 4528.9-5055.2, 919.2-991.7 and 888.2-1369.0 mg/plant, respectively. The highest N content is in leaves, followed by rhizome, the highest K content is in roots, the same high P contents in stems and leaves, Mg in rhizome. To build the same dry matter of edible canna, more K, Ca and Mg are needed with Xingyu-1 than Xingyu-2 and PLRF, similar amounts of N and P required for the three cultivars. Because of the percentage dry matters distribution of Xingyu-1 in rhizome is higher than those of the other two cultivars, Xingyu-1 absorbs less N, P and K than the other two cultivars to produce the same rhizome dry weight biomass.