Influence of Compost Fertilization and Pinching Number on Growth and Flowering of Cineraria Plant

Abstract

The present work was undertaken at the Nursery of Floriculture Plants, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, through the two growing seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, to evaluate the impact of compost fertilization levels (0, 50, 75 and 100 g/pot) and pinching treatments (no pinching, pinched once, -twice and -thrice), moreover, their interaction on vegetative growth, flowering parameters and some chemical composition of Cineraria hybrida plant. All compost levels significantly enhanced vegetative growth traits (plant height, stem diameter, number of branches and leaves/plant, leaf area and plant aerial parts dry weights), flowering traits (days taken to first flowering, number of flowers/plant, diameter and area of floral disc, flowering fresh weight and flowering duration) and chemical constituents [photosynthetic pigments (mg/g) and NPK (%)] comparing with control. In all cases, 100 g/pot compost was more effective in this concern. Pinching treatments significantly decreased plant height, in the same time, significantly increased the other abovementioned characters. In most cases, the treatment of pinching plants twice was the best treatment in this concern. The best interaction treatment was supplying plants with 100 g/pot compost plus pinched plants twice for good appearance of cineraria plant.