Response of Chrysantemum morfolium Ramat Cv. ICECAP to potassium silicate spraying

Abstract EN

This study was carried out in the greenhouse on Chry’santemum morfolium Ramat Cv.

which is one of the important ornamental plants, to test its response to potassium silicate spraying as regard its growth behavior, its flowering aspects, some leaf chemical charactcrs and its contents of pigments, nitrogen (N),phosphate (P) and potassium (K).

The treatments were as follows: the plants were sprayed once (one month after transplanting), or twice (one month after transplanting and then one month later) or three times (one month after transplanting and then at one month intervals) with potassium silicate at 0.00, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1%.

Spraying the plant once, twice or three times with the sprayer at rates 0,025 to 0.1% significantly enhanced plant growth, flowering numbers, plant pigments and sugar content and the uptake of N, P, and K in relation to the control.

The enhancement was associated with increasing concentrations and frequencies of potassium silicate.

The best results obtained on growth, flowering aspects, plant pigment contents and nutritional status were with spraying potassium silicate three times at rate of 0.1%.

It can be concluded that growth, flowering characteristics and the nutritional constituents of Chrysantemum morfolium Ramat cv can be improved by spraying the plant by potassium silicate twice or three times during the first three months