Effect of Date Palm Wastes, Perlite and Magnesium on Growth and Flowering in Gerbera Plants (Gerbera jamesonii L.)

This study evaluated the effects of date palm wastes + soil (۱:۱ v/v), perlite + soil (۱:۱ v/v) and soil with no additive, along with the spraying of MgSO۴.۷H۲O at (۰, ۵۰ and, ۱۰۰ mg. L-۱) on the growth and flowering of potted Gerbera. The results showed that adding date palm wastes to the soil significantly increased plant height to ۳۰.۳۶ cm, number of leaves (۶.۹۱), branches (۱۱.۳۵) and suckers (۳.۳۹/ plant). Also nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in leaves recorded: ۲.۱۸ %, ۰.۲۸ %, and ۲.۳۴ %, respectively. Leaf dry matter raised to ۲۰.۶۳ % as well. Moreover, adding date palm wastes+ soil increased chlorophyll, carbohydrates, and protein contents in leaf to ۱.۷۶ mg/g. fresh wt., ۱۴.۱۴ % and ۱۳.۶۴ % respectively, as well as flower stalk diameter to ۰.۳۴۶ cm and the vase life to ۱۲.۲۶ days. Magnesium improved plant height to ۲۷.۷۵ cm, number of suckers to ۳.۰۵/ plant and leaf area to ۱۳۶.۳ cm۲. Likewise, there were increases in N (۱.۹۶ %), P (۰.۲۵ %), and K (۲.۰۳ %), chlorophyll (۱.۴۵ mg/g. fresh wt.), carbohydrates (۱۳.۲۷ %) and protein (۱۲.۲۸ %). The flower stalk diameter became thicker when increasing the concentration of Mg and scored ۰.۳۹۳ cm. Also, Mg at ۱۰۰ mg. L-۱ raised vase life to ۱۱.۰۸ days. Some interferences between the media and magnesium treatments were significantly effective as the longest vase life (۱۲.۷۹ days) occurred in plants grown on date-palm wastes+ soil and were treated with ۱۰۰ mg. L-۱ of Mg.

Keywords:

culture media , date palm wastes , Gerbera jamesonii L , Magnesium