Effect of organic and bio-fertilization on the growth and chemical composition on umbrella papyrus (Cyperus alternifolius, L.)‎ plants

Abstract EN

The present experiment was performed throughout two successive seasons of 2016 and 2017 at the Nursery of Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Gardening, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer and different levels of bio-fertilizers on the vegetative growth, flowering characteristics, rhizomes production and chemical composition of Cyperus alternifolius, L.

plant.

Split-plot was the experiment design in three replicates, and sixteen in each.

The main plot represented the organic fertilizers (cattle manure) (0, 10, 20, and 30 % V/V) were mixed with growing media.

The sub-plot was bio fertilizer (sub-factor).

The two biofertilizers used were Nitrobine and Phosphorein.

(B0 = control, B1 = 5 g Nitrobine / pot , B2= 5 g Phosphorein/pot, B3= 5 g Nitrobine +5 g Phosphorein / pot).

The results indicated that adding organic fertilizer to growing media by 30% V/V with fourth level of bio-fertilizers B3 (5 g Nitrobine +5 g Phosphorein / pot) Led to a significant increase of vegetative growth characteristics (plant height, stem length , leaf length , number of leaves / stem, number of stems/ plant and total vegetative fresh weight / plant) and number of days from planting to flowering , rhizomes production, as well as significant increase of chemical composition of leaves and rhizomes, (total chlorophylls contents (SPAD units) in the leaves and carbohydrates contents in rhizomes).

It can be recommended that producing high quality umbrella papyrus plants for different decorative purposes in landscaping can be accomplished by addition 30% (V/V )cattle manure to growing media with the addition of bio-fertilizers at rate of 5 g Nitrobine +5 g Phosphorein / pot as the best way to provide the needs the plant of fertilization