The influence of salicylic acid and nutritional requirement on the growth, flowering and chemical composition of geranium (Pelargonium zonale, L.) plants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fac.of Agric., Omar- Almuktar Univ. Bayda- Libya.

Abstract

The current research aimed to investigate the impact of salicylic acid at concentrations of 0.00, 50.00, 100.00, and 150.00 mgl-1 via foliar spray, as well as nutritional requirement of NPK (19:19:19) at 0.00, 2.00, 3.00, and 4.00 g/pot. NPK monthly throughout the growing season, and their combined influence on the growth, flowering, and chemical composition of leaves of Pelargonium zonale, L. plants under full sun conditions in an open field. The findings indicated that the application of salicylic acid and/or NPK fertilizer led to a significant increase in most studied parameters compared to the control. In terms of Pelargonium zonale, L. plants, it was observed that spraying SA at 100.0 mgl-1 while using 3 g/pot mineral NPK monthly during the growing season resulted in the highest significant values for plant height, root volume, and root dry weight. Furthermore, results showed that plants receiving SA 150 mgl-1 combined with a medium rate of NPK application (3g/plant) monthly during the growing season had the highest significant values for stem diameter, leaf number per plant, leaf area and leaf dry weights, inflorescences number, and inflorescences diameter. The data total chlorophyll, carotenoids, leaf NPK contents revealed that the highest significant values were achieved in plants treated with SA 150 mgl-1 combined with medium and/or the highest rate of NPK application in comparison to untreated plants.    
 

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