Effects of compost media on growth and flowering of parviflorous garden pansy (Viola x wittrockiana Gams.). Part II. Plant flowering and decorative value

Agnieszka Zawadzińska,Dorota Janicka

doi:10.5586/aa.2007.046

Abstract

The purpose of the studies was to determine the effects of media containing composts from sewage sludge and potato pulp on the flowering and decorative value of 'Butterfly Yellow with Blotch' parviflorous pansy. In the experiment 14 potting media, including 12 media made of 4 composts, were tested. The percentage of compost mixed with sphagnum peat was 25%, 50% and 75%. The components of particular composts were as follows: I - municipal sewage sludge 70% and straw 30%; II - municipal sewage sludge 70% and sawdust 30%; III - municipal sewage sludge 35%, potato pulp 35% and straw 30%; IV - municipal sewage sludge 35%, potato pulp 35% and sawdust 30%. Two control potting media were used: 1 - sphagnum peat with Osmocote Exact Lo-Start at the dose 5 g×dm<sup>-3</sup> and 2 - sphagnum peat with Azofoska at the dose 2.5 g×dm<sup>-3</sup>. There was no top-dressing during cultivation. The pansies for whose cultivation a slow-release fertiliser was used turned out to have most flowers, but the plants cultivated in compost with peat at the ratio 1:1 had equally abundant flowering. At the generative stage, the pansies in control media were the most decorative and those growing in 25% of compost I, 75% of compost II and 50% of compost III and IV. On the basis of plant valuation scale, quality assessment and the abundance of flowering it was found that the media containing 50% of composts were optimal for pansy cultivation.

Highlights

The garden pansy (Viola wittrockiana Gams.) called ‘the flower of all seasons’ is cultivated on the largest scale in USA, as a bedded and pot plant (Startek, 2003)
The seedlings at the stage of 3-4 leaves were planted into 14 media including 12 compost media from 4 kinds of composts prepared in the autumn of 2004 whose composition adjusted to the dry weight basis, was as follows: compost I – municipal sewage sludge 70% and rye straw 30%; compost II – municipal sewage sludge 70% and coniferous tree sawdust 30%; compost III – municipal sewage sludge 35%, potato pulp 35% and rye straw 30%; compost IV – municipal sewage sludge 35%, potato pulp 35% and coniferous tree sawdust 30%
In the media containing compost I made from sewage sludge (70%) and straw (30%), at an initial stage the fastest and most abundant flowering was observed in the pansies from the cultivation with 25% of compost, but at the end of flowering the plants from the medium 4 with 50% of compost I had more flowers

Summary

Introduction

The garden pansy (Viola wittrockiana Gams.) called ‘the flower of all seasons’ is cultivated on the largest scale in USA, as a bedded and pot plant (Startek , 2003). Many cultivar groups may be cultivated in a year cycle – sown either in winter or spring, since they do not need low temperature at the seedling stage for the transition into the generative stage. They are heterositic cultivars F1 and F2, tolerant to light and stand, of a shorter production cycle than the cultivars with permanent traits. The studies showed that the latter ones give better results, since they ensure an even supply of nutrients and continuous flowering. Startek et al (2006a) found that coconut media have a favourable effect on both the pansy emergence and further growth

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion