Journal of Crops Improvement

Journal of Crops Improvement

Effect of different levels of nitrogen in nutrient solution on the qualitative and quantitative traits of geranium (Pelargonium hortorum cv. Bulles eye)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Azizollah Khandan-Mirkohi 1
Farzaneh Kazemi 2
Mesbah Babalar 3
Rouhangiz Naderi 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
2 Former M.Sc. Student, Department of Horticulture Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3 Professor, Department of Horticulture Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
10.22059/jci.2014.51949
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of limited application of nitrogen (N) on the height control of geranium
(Pelargonium hortorum) and improving its quality performance, an experiment was conducted based on a
complete randomized block design with three replications in the greenhouse environment through the
years 2011-2012. Geranium seedlings were cultivated in the pots filled with peat-based substrate (peat, 80
vol. percent + sandy loam field soil 20 vol. percent). For the limited application of N, four different
nutrient solutions with the same macro and micro elements, except N levels of 2.5, two, 1.5 and one mM
were applied. The rate of ammonium to nitrate nitrogen for all treatments was kept as 20 to 80 percent.
The traits such as plant height, number and length of shoots, number of florescence and number of
flowers in the florescence, pedicle length and leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll, antocianins, fresh and
dry weight of shoot and root were measured at the end of the experiment. Limitation of N application
from 2.5 mM to 1.5 mM in the nutrient solution, although reduced the length of shoot, but did not affect
negatively the quality of plants. Farther decreasing of N level to 1 mM, negatively influenced the all
quality and quantity parameters of the plant and may not be introduced for production of geranium.
Keywords
Chlorophyll
Flowering
limitation of nutrient
nutrition Solution
Peat

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Journal of Crops Improvement
Volume 16, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Spring 2014
Pages 157-168