Overview

The central theme of my research program is to understand the influence of environmental factors and cultural practices on the physiology, development, and biochemical characteristics of floriculture crops. Of particular focus is the influence of water quality, rhizosphere conditions, and nutrient availability on the physiology of herbaceous ornamental plants. This fits well with my extension goal of providing producers with relevant, research-based information for the production of high quality floriculture crops using nutrients, water, and energy efficiently. A challenge in floriculture research is the diversity of cultivars, species, and genera that are economically important. I try to address this diversity two ways: 1) in basic research I seek to understand mechanisms that underlie fundamental plant responses with potential application for many genera; and 2) in applied research I seek to answer specific questions that will have direct implications for floriculture production practices. The complexity of biological systems requires collaboration with other specialists; and necessitates integrative methods for prediction and analysis of plant response to interacting factors.

Research Focus

My current research focus is water and nutrition management, including strategies to reduce inputs and mitigate runoff from horticultural facilities. Examples of current research projects include: screening herbaceous ornamental species for response to silicon (considered by some as a "quasi-essential " plant nutrient); determining whether silicon supply can improve the response of economically important ornamental species to biotic and/or abiotic stresses; and characterizing physiological and biochemical factors that influence salinity tolerance of ornamentals. The ornamental industry typically needs to produce uniform, high-quality plants for a very narrow timeframe. I am interested in understanding plant growth and development as it relates to temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity for the development of production schedules.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I communicate my research findings with industry clientele through presentations at grower training sessions, trade-journal and peer-reviewed articles, internet-based fact sheets, and on-site visits with producers. The information I generate concentrates on cultural practices related to water and nutrient management and environmental control (temperature, light) effects on crop development.

Additional Links

• Floriculture Production
• Greenhouse Horticulture
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

Selected Publications

• Bar-Yosef, B., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2009. Effects of NH4:NO3:urea ratio on cut roses yield, leaf nutrients content and proton efflux by roots in closed hydroponic system. Scientia Horticulturae. 122:610-619.
• Massa, D., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2009. Effects of saline root environment (NaCl) on nitrate and potassium uptake kinetics for rose plants: a Michaelis-Menten modeling approach. Plant and Soil. 318:101-115.
• Burnett, S.E., R.G. Lopez, and N.S. Mattson. 2009. Evaluate your greenhouse to save energy. Greenhouse Management and Production. 29(9):20-26.
• Mattson, N.S., S.E. Burnett, B.A. Krug, and R.G. Lopez. 2009. Becoming sustainable by reducing crop shrinkage. Greenhouse Grower. 27(5):26-32.
• Mattson, N.S. W.R. Leatherwood, and C. Peters. 2009. Planting the seeds for consumer success: are your irrigation and fertility practices backfiring on the end consumer and causing garden failure? GrowerTalks Magazine. 73(1):56-59.
• Mattson, N.S. W.R. Leatherwood, and C. Peters. 2009. Ten tips to save on fertilizer costs. GrowerTalks Magazine. 72(12):52-56.
• Mattson, N.S., Leatherwood, W.R., Peters, C. 2009. Nitrogen: all forms are not equal. Greenhouse Management and Production. 25(6):18-23.
• Massa, D., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2008. An empirical model to simulate sodium absorption and accumulation in a closed hydroponic system for rose culture. Scientia Horticulturae. 118(3):228-235.
• Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H., Kim, W.S. 2008. Temporal Dynamics of Nutrient and Carbohydrate Distribution during Crop Cycles of Rosa spp. `Kardinal` in Response to Light Availability. Scientia Horticulturae. 118(3):246-254.
• Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2008. `Kardinal` rose exhibits growth plasticity and enhanced nutrition absorption kinetics following nitrate, phosphate, and potassium deprivation. Journal American Society Horticultural Science. 133(3):341-350.
• Mattson, N.S. Lieth, J.H. 2007. A software tool for scheduling production of cut flower stems of Rosa hybrida based on thermal units. Acta Horticulturae. 761:609-616.
• Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H., Kim, W.S. 2006. Modeling the influence of cyclical plant growth and nutrient storage on N, P, and K absorption by hydroponically grown cut flower roses. Acta Horticulturae. 718:445-452.
• Oki, L.R., Mattson, N.S., Lieth, J.H. 2006. Predicting stem length of cut flower roses at harvest using stem elongation rates in relationship to developmental events. Acta Horticulturae. 718:113-120.
• Mattson, N.S., Erwin, J.E. 2005. The impact of photoperiod and irradiance on flowering of several herbaceous ornamentals. Scientia Horticulturae. 104:275-292.
• Erwin, J., Warner, R., Mattson, N. 2005. Fundamentals of flowering: how to schedule bedding plant flowering. Greenhouse Grower. 23(5):100-102.
• Erwin, J. Mattson, N., Warner, R. 2004. Light effects on annual bedding plants. Chapter 10 in: Lighting Up Profits, Understanding Greenhouse Lighting (Fisher, P. and Runkle, E., Eds). Meister Media Worldwide. Willoughby, OH. pp. 62-71.
• Erwin, J.E., Mattson, N., Warner, R. 2003. Fundamentals of flowering in plants: effects of daylength and supplemental lighting on flowering of seed-propagated bedding plants. Greenhouse Grower. 21(8): 90-94.
• Olness, A., Lopez, D., Cordes, J., Sweeney, C., Mattson, N., Voorhees, W.B. 2002. Application of a management decision aid for sequestration of carbon and nitrogen in soil. Chapter 23 in: Agricultural Practices and Policies for Carbon Sequestration in Soil (Kimble, J.M., R. Lal and R.F. Follett, Eds.). pp. 245-253.

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