IMPROVEMENT OF PETAL COLORATION AND FLOWER PRODUCTION OF POTTED GERBERA THROUGH FOLIAR FEEDING AND TRADITIONAL MULCHES

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the improvement of petal coloration and flower production of potted gerbera through foliar feeding and traditional mulches at Horticulture Farm, Sher-e­ Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from May, 2008 to December, 2008. The trial consisted of Factor A: Mulching viz. Mo; control; M1; straw and M2; black polythene and Factor B: Foliar feeding viz. Fo; control; F1; wuxol and F2; agro-grow. Mulching and foliar feeding had significant effect on flower color, yield and yield contributing characters of potted gerbera, Incase of mulching, longest plant (37.8 cm), highest leaf length (27.7 cm), maximum number of leaf (37.3 I plant) and maximum nwnber of flower (15.3 I plant) was recorded from M1 while these parameters were lowest at M0• For foliar feeding, longest plant (36.0 cm), highest leaf length (26. l cm), maximum number of leaf (32.6 I plant) and maximum number of flower •• II . (14.0/plant) was recorded from F 1 while all the above parameters were lowest at Fo. For combined effect longest plant (40.1 cm), highest leaf length (30.8cm), maximum nwnber of leaf (43.5/plant) and maximum number of flower (17.5 I plant) was recorded from M1F1 while all the above parameters were lowest with M0F0. Treatment combinations of straw mulch with wuxol were more effective for quality production of potted gerbera .