Effect of Some Growth Substances and Chemical Fertilization on Vegetative Growth and Chemical Composition of Matthiola Incana L. Plant

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during two successive seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 in the Floriculture Farm of the Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt to study the effects of spraying some growth substances (kinetin, salicylic acid, calcium thiosulfate and potassium silicate as well as, N.P.K chemical fertilization) on vegetative growth and chemical composition of Matthiola incana plants to increase and improve the quality of this plant as a bed gardens ornamentation. The obtained results showed that the tallest plants and the thickest plant stems were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin combined with NPK fertilization at high level treatment in both seasons. The heaviest fresh and dry weights of leaves/plant were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin-sprayed plants enriched with NPK fertilization at the highest level in both seasons. The highest number of branches and leaves/plant were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin-sprayed plants combined with NPK fertilization at high level in both seasons. The highest leaf N and total carbohydrates % were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin-sprayed plants provided with NPK fertilization at the highest level, whereas the richest leaf P % was registered by 200 ppm salicylic-sprayed plants combined with NPK fertilization at the highest level. While, the greatest leaf K % was scored by 6 cm 3 potassium silicate-sprayed plants, supplemented with NPK fertilization at the highest level in both seasons. Conclusively, spraying Matthiola incana plants with kinetin at 100 ppm in addition to chemical fertilizer at 100 N: 200 P: 200 K kg/fed produced the best vegetative growth and quality of this plant.