EFFECT OF BIOFERTILIZERS AND CARBOLIZER ON GROWTH OF GERBERA PLANT (GERBERA JAMESONII)

This Study was during the growing seasons 2015 to 2016 to study the effect of biofertilizer and carbolizer on the growth of Gerbera jamesonii cv. Stanza. This experiment was designed according to the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) as factorial with three replications. Comparison among means was done using LSD (Least Significant Difference) test (P=0.05). The experiment consisted of two factors; the first factor was bio-inoculant included four levels [without inoculation (A0), inoculation with bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum and Bacillus subtilus) (A1), fungal inoculation with mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae) (A2) and inoculation with both bacteria and mycorrhiza (A3)],The second factor was liquid organic fertilizer (carbolizer) included three levels (B0 control, B1 1.5, B2 2.5 ml.L -1). Effects of bio-inoculants showed that the combination of both mycorrhiza and bacteria (A3) were significant, increasing in vegetative growth characteristics; includes leaf chlorophyll intensity (44.99 spade unit), leaf area (1305.00 cm2), number of offsets.plant-1 (6.52), and percentage of leaf dry matter (28.59%). Moreover, they increased concentration of mineral elements N (4.95%), P (0.45%), K (4.39%), Fe (141.70mg.kg-1), and Zn (35.29 mg.kg-1), in gerbera leaves. Also, this treatment showed significant increasing in flowering characters include length of flower stalk (52.35 cm), diameter of flower stalk (9.53 mm), capitulum diameter (17.34 cm), percentage of flower dry matter (17.58%), anthocyanins concentration in flower petals (32.39 mg.100g-1), number of flowers during the study period (46.45) and vase life (28.52 days). Additionally, the same treatment showed significant increasing in root characters include length of main root (43.28 cm), diameter of main root (3.24 mm), root surface area (86.05 cm2), N (4.51%), P (0.60%), K (4.64%) and root dry matter (18.41%). Foliar spray with carbolizer especially at concentration 2.5 mg.L-1 (B2) had a significant effect in most vegetative growth characters, includes leaf chlorophyll intensity (44.72 spad unit), leaf area (1302.6 ds2), number of offsets.plant-1 (6.06), and percentage of leaf dry matter (26.92%). Also, it increased the concentration of mineral elements in gerbera leaves like N (4.31%), P (0.38%), K (4.05%), Fe (136.26mg.kg-1) and Zn (29.45 mg.kg-1). Besides it increased significantly all characters of flowering includes length of flower stalk (48.83 cm), diameter of flower stalk (9.10 mm), capitulum diameter (15.80 cm), percentage of flower dry matter (16.06%), anthocyanins concentration in flower petals (30.11 mg.100g-1), number of flowers during the study period (42.25) and vase life (26.72 days). Furthermore, the same level of carbolizer showed significant increases in root characteristics such as the length of main root (39.27 cm), diameter of main root (2.98mm), root surface area (82.14 cm2), N (4.23%), P (0.59%), K (4.84%) and root dry matter (16.72%). The interaction between the experimental factors (biofertilizer and carbolizer) significantly enhanced vegetative, root and floral growth characteristics, especially (A3 × B2).