EFFECT OF AMINO ACIDS APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH AND QUALITY OF SCHEFFLERA (SCHEFFLERA ACTINOPHYLLA) AND CROTON (CODIAEUM VARIGATUM)

Abstract

This research study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Trials took place in an un-heated plastic tunnel in the experimental farm of ornamental plants in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, located at Shoubra El-Kheima, Kaliobia Governorate, Egypt. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amino acids applied as a mixture from a commercial amino acid compound (known as Amino-zeid) on growth and quality of two important ornamental plant species Schefflera actinophylla and Codiaeum varigatum. The initial idea behind suggesting the use of amino acids as biostimulants in this research study emerged from the fact that they are natural substances with no detrimental effects on human and animal health, and at the same time they are friendly to the environment. Amino acids were applied at the rate of 250, 500 and 1000 ppm using two methods of application, viz. soil drench (SD) and foliar spray (FS) making up six treatments in total plus two controls, where tap water was used without amino acids for each application method. Applicati