Response of kochia scoparia trichophila plants to different plant spacing and chemical fertilization treatments

Abstract EN

The experiment was caried out during two years 2003 and 2004 at Ornamental Horticulture Departments, Faculty of Agriculture, Cario University to study the effect of some agricultural practices such as plant spacing (20, 40 or 60 cm between the plant and some chemical fertilization treatments such as (ammonium nitrate, or ammonium sulphate at the rate of 2, 4 or 8 gm / plant or NPK at the levels of (1 : 1 : 1 ; 2 : 1 : 1 ; 3 : 1 : 1 ; 1 : 2 : 2 ; 2 : 2 : 1 ; 3 : 2 : 2 ; 1 : 3 : 2 and 3 : 3 : 1) at the rate of 5 / gm / plant on growth and chemical composition of Kochia scoparia trichophila plants in order to recommend the best plant spacing as well as the suitable fertilization treatments which can be used for production of Kochia plants.

The results can be summerized as follows :- I-Plant spacing :- Plant spacing (20, 40 or 60 cm between the plants) had a highly significant effect on plant growth and chemical composition.

The closer plant spacing (20 cm) produced significantly the tallest plants.

- The wider plant spacing (60 cm) significantly increased the following characteristics : number of branches / plant ; plant circumference ; fresh and dry weights of the herb ; and the percentages of carbohydrates, nitrogen, protein, phosphorus and potassium in the plant.

II- Chemical fertilization :- - The applicator of chemical fertilization treatments had a highly significant effect on plant growth and chemical composition which were used in this study.

NPK treatment at the rate of 1 : 3 : 2 was the most effective treatment in producing the tallest plants, the largest plant circumferences and the heaviest fresh and dry weight/plant in both seasons.

- NPK treatment at the rate of (1:3:2) significantly increased carbohydrates, nitrogen and protein percentages.

- NPK treatment at the rate of (2 : 2 : 1) was the most effective treatment in increasing the percentages of phosphorus and potassium in the plant.