Abstract
In the years 2007–2008, experiments were conducted with four cultivars of garden pansy grown in pots, in media prepared as mixtures of wet shrimp waste (BioHydroHumus) and sphagnum peat at the following volumetric ratios: 2% BioHydroHumus + 98% sphagnum peat, 5% BioHydroHumus + 95% sphagnum peat, 10% BioHydroHumus + 90% sphagnum peat. The Osmocote Exact 5–6 M (15:8:10:3MgO + microelements) fertilizer at the rates of 2.5 and 5.0 g × dm<sup>-3</sup> was added to each medium. Sphagnum peat with addition of 5.0 g × dm<sup>-3</sup> Osmocote Exact 5–6 M was used as control medium. It was found that BioHydroHumus can be a source of macroelements in the cultivation of garden pansy. It is characterized by alkaline reaction and high total soluble salts. BioHydroHumus used as a component of media affects the quality of cultivated plants. The best results were obtained when BioHydroHumus was used at the rates of 2 and 5%, even if the rate of fertilizer were twice smaller than in control medium. At full flowering, plants grown in medium containing 5% BioHydroHumus were the most branched. Garden pansies cultivated in medium containing 10% BioHydroHumus were characterized by a smaller number of leaves. Plants grown in media with addition of 2 and 5% BioHydroHumus flowered more abundantly in comparison with garden pansies cultivated in medium containing 10% BioHydroHumus, regardless of the rate of fertilizer. However, an ambiguous influence of BioHydroHumus on height and diameter of garden pansy cultivars was found.
Highlights
BioHydroHumus in cultivation of garden pansyGarden pansy has been one of the most popular bedding and pot plants for many years [1]
The results of chemical analyses of the mixtures containing sphagnum peat and BioHydroHumus conducted before planting seedlings showed that in both years of the experiment those media were characterized by slightly acidic reaction, very low to medium total soluble salts and a low content of nitrogen (Table 2)
On the basis of chemical analysis of media made after the end of the experiment (Table 3), it was found that in 2007 both media containing 2% BioHydroHumus and 98% sphagnum peat and medium containing 5% BioHydroHumus, 95% sphagnum peat and Osmocote Exact 5-6 M at the rate of 2.5 g × dm-3 were characterized by a low content of nitrogen and phosphorus, a higher content of potassium, slightly acidic to neutral reaction and very low total soluble salts
Summary
Garden pansy has been one of the most popular bedding and pot plants for many years [1]. And Carrera, can be cultivated as annuals [2,3]. According to many authors [4,5,6], post-production shrimp waste is characterized by alkaline reaction and is a source of macro- and microelements for plants. A few experiments have been carried out to examine if shrimp waste can be recommended as organic fertilizer for cultivation of vegetables – broccoli and sweet pepper [7,8,9]. The positive results of those experiments show that shrimp waste can be used in the cultivation of vegetables. There is a lack of information concerning the possible use of shrimp waste in the cultivation of ornamental plants
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
