Effect of Levels and Application Methods of Iron and Zinc on Growth and Flowering of Rosa hybrida Cv. "Dallas"

Abstract

The present study was carried out during two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 at a commercial nursery at Alexandria city to investigate the effect of foliar spraying or/and soil application (with irrigation water) four times of four concentrations of chelated iron (0, 30, 60 and 120 ppm) and three concentrations of chelated zinc (0, 75 and 150) singly or in combinations (24 treatments) on the growth, flowering and chemical composition of Rosa hybrida cv. "Dallas". Results of the two seasons indicated that using the two nutrient elements (iron and / or zinc) singly or in combinations as a foliar spraying led to positive significant effects on all the studied parameters, compared with adding them as a soil application. Spraying iron at 30-60 ppm alone or combined with zinc at 75 ppm gave significant increases in the most studied parameters of rose plant, compared with the other treatments. While using the two nutrient elements at their highest concentrations (120 ppm iron or 150 ppm zinc) alone or in combinations led to decrease the most studied parameters of Rosa hybrida cv. "Dallas", compared with their lower concentrations.