USE OF SOILLESS CULTURE TECHNIQUES IN THE PRODUCTION OF CHRYSANTHEMUM AND CARNATION

Abstract

 The highest plant height, leaf number/plant, stem diameter/plant happened when plants were initially cultured in a substrate-culture medium composed of palm fiber + peat moss. Whereas, the lowest values of the abovementioned parameter were obtained from fine sawdust and coarse sawdust substrate-culture media.  The heaviest shoots fresh and dry weights/plant were obtained when plants were at the start cultured in palm fiber + peat moss substrate-culture medium. Whereas, the lightest shoots fresh and dry weights/plant were obtained when plants were cultured in fine sawdust substrate-culture medium.  The heaviest roots fresh and dry weights/plant were obtained when plants were originally cultured in palm fiber + peat moss substrate-culture medium. Whilest, the lightest roots fresh and dry weights/plant were obtained when plants were cultured in either fine sawdust or coarse sawdust substrate-culture media.  The highest N, P and K % inside shoots and roots were found when plants were primarily grown in palm fiber + peat moss substrate-culture and water hyacinth + peat moss medium. On the other hand, the lowest values were obtained from fine sawdust and coarse sawdust substrate-culture media. The largest flower diameter/main stem branch was obtained when plants were cultured to start with in a substrate-culture medium composed of either palm fiber + peat moss or water hyacinth