Gerbera Genotypes as Performed Under Different Soil Amendments

Abstract

Cultivation of gerbera is a promising practice among the flower growers. Proper soil preparation can substantially improve their productivity. Finding the appropriate gerbera genotype performing better in a suitable soil combination is a potential field of study. On this aspect, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and performance of Gerbera genotypes with soil amendments during the period from November 2014 to July 2015 at the field research site of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. There were five treatments viz. T0 (control), T1 (Cowdung), T2 (Mustard oil cake), T3 (Urea+ TSP+ MOP), T4 (Organic+ Inorganic) along with five genotypes (G1 = White double, G2 = Yellow double, G3 = Light orange single, G4 = Light pink spider G5= Deep red double). Significant variation among the genotypes and treatment were observed either in single or in combination. Genotype G3 produced the maximum leaf number, flower number (32.4), whereas genotype G5 had the maximum diameter of flower stalk and produced larger flower as well (9.2cm). However, genotype G1 showed the maximum vase life (9.47days). These all were happened when organic and inorganic fertilizers (T4) applied combined. Among all, G3 produced the maximum leaf and flowers numbers which was dwarf at the same time and in case of interaction effect, G3T4 was observed to produce maximum number of leaves and flowers.