Effects of Different Growing Media on Plant Growth and Nutrient Contents of Petunia (Petunia hybrida)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different growing media on plant growth and nutrient contents of petunia (Petunia hybrida). The experiment was conducted in a chamber room under controlled conditions at the laboratory. Seven different media (soil, 3:1 soil: peat (P1), 2:1 soil: peat (P2), 3:1 soil: barnyard manure (BYM1), 2:1 soil: barnyard manure (BYM2), 3:1 soil: sugar beet pulp (SBP1), 2:1 soil: sugar beet pulp (SBP2)) were used as plant growing media. The experiment was ended after three months following transplanting of seedlings. Plant growth and flower parameters and macro-micro nutrient contents were determined in harvested plants. The highest stem diameter, branch number, flower diameter, flower stalk diameter, plant fresh weight and plant dry weight were in 2:1 ratio of soil: peat mixture as 7.00 mm, 6.33, 8.91 cm, 3.59 mm, 48.47 g and 4.52 g while the highest plant lenght, lateral branch number and flower number means were found as 27.43 cm, 24.67 and 24.67 in ratio of 3:1 soil: peat growing media respectively. The highest potassium, magnesium and zinc means of plants were obtained as 6.6%, 2.2% and 32.50 mg kg-1 in soil: barnyard manure (2:1) growing media while the highest phosphorus and calcium means of plants were found as 0.27% and 4.5% in soil and peat growing media respectively. The highest iron and copper means of plants were determined as 231 mg kg-1 and 32.50 mg kg-1 in ratios of 2:1 and 3:1 of soil: sugarbeet pulp growing media respectively.