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Pak. J. Bot., 44: 291-299, Special Issue March 2012.

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GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF GERBERA AS INFLUENCED BY VARIOUS HORTICULTURAL SUBSTRATES

IFTIKHAR AHMAD^1,*, TANVEER AHMAD¹, ARFAN GULFAM¹ AND MUHAMMAD SALEEM¹

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and flowering of gerbera grown in various horticultural substrates combined with conventional media (composed of garden soil, silt and sand in equal proportions) which is commonly used for its commercial production in the country. Two horticultural by-products viz. coconut coir and spent mushroom compost were tested for their suitability to be used as growing media for cut flower production. No major differences in yield were observed between conventional media and both horticultural by-products; however, flower quality was improved when both of the substrates were used in combination with conventional media. Growing substrate choice also influenced flower stalk length and diameter which revealed positive correlation of these substrates with various attributes of flower quality but not flower yield. Moreover, incorporation of coconut coir and mushroom compost lowered pH and increased available organic matter and electrical conductivity of conventional media which improved nutrient uptake by the plants.

¹Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: iftikharahmadhashmi@gmail.com;Tel: +92 41 9201085, Fax: +92 41 9201086