Effects of different potting growing media for Petunia grandiflora and Nicotiana alata Link & Otto on photosynthetic capacity, leaf area, and flowering potential

Abstract

are two of the most widely spread plants on the market for annual potted ornamental plants. In order to identify the most adequate substrate formula we analyzed the effects of different potting growing media used for P. hybrida grandiflora 'Bravo' and N. alata 'Dinamo' on their photosynthetic capacity, leaf area, and flowering potential. Optimization of growing media formula for petunia and ornamental tobacco was performed by preparing four growing media mixing fallow soil (FS), Biolan peat (BP), acid peat (AP), leaf compost (C), and perlite (P) in different proportions. The physiological potential of petunia and ornamental tobacco was investigated by photosynthesis and respiration rate and chlorophyll pigments in leaves, while the vegetative and flowering phenological stages were evaluated by number of leaves per plant, leaf area, number of flowers per plant and leaf area/flowers ratio. These measurements were significantly influenced by the different potting growing media used in this study. In the flowering stage, the highest photosynthesis rates (8.612 µmol CO2 m -2 s -1 ) as well as leaf area (1.766 dm 2 ) of petunias were obtained on growing media with 60% biolan peat, 30% acid peat and 10% perlite (BP60-AP30-P10). Flowering responses to growing conditions vary greatly among plants and the biggest number of ornamental tobacco flowers (22 flowers plant -1 ) was registered as an effect of BP60-AP30-P10 media. Growing media with the BP60-AP30-P10 formula seem to be the most adequate growth substrate to develop profitable crops for petunias and ornamental tobacco with high decorative value.

Impact of Growing Media and Compound Fertilizer Rates on Growth and Flowering of Cocks Comb (Celosia argentea) Plants

“…The differences were significant among the different growing media in both seasons. These results were similar to those obtained by Ahmad et al, (2012), Dubey et al, (2013) and Popescu and Popescu (2015) on Gerbera and petunia plants, respectively.…”

“…Cocks comb plants grown in peat + sand (2:1) medium recorded the highest values of total chlorophyll and total carbohydrate in both seasons. Similar results were in harmony with those obtained by Popescu and Popescu (2015) on Petunia grandiflora and Nicotiana alata plants . The increment in leaf chlorophyll and carbohydrate contents as a result of growing media might be due to soil application of peat moss which led to increasing sand soil organic matter, improves soil structure and increases the water-holding capacity, which reflected to improve availability of macro and micronutrients such as nitrogen, magnesium and others.…”

Sera Koşullarında Farklı Yetiştirme Ortamlarının Domates, Hıyar ve Biberde Bitki Gelişimi ve Verimi ile Domateste Fide Kalitesi Üzerine Etkileri

“…The findings are consistent with the results of the study conducted by Sahinet al (1998), who reported that mere peat and peat mixed at a rate of 50% were recommended. Several studies have reported similar results in media that contained peats and perlite; for example Petunia peats + 10% perlite and Pelargonium and Salvia less than 25% of compost+ perlite were recommended by Popescu, G. and Popescu. M (2015) and Do and Scherer (2013), respectively.…”

Potential Alterations in the Chemical Structure of Soil Organic Matter Components during Sodium Hydroxide Extraction

“…Lignin was extracted from aspen wood ( Populus L.) via acid detergent lignin methods (van Soest, 1963). Black peat was manufactured by the Klasmann‐Deilmann Company (Li et al, 2009; Popescu and Popescu, 2015). The elemental compositions of cellulose, lignin, and peat are shown in Supplemental Table S1.…”