engleski

Use of alternative substrates in the cultivation of seedlings geraniums (Pelargonium zonale L.)

The use of alternative substrates in a container production of horticultural plants in developed countries, is becoming increasingly popular. The reason is the high cost of commercial substrates and their availability on the market. When selecting an alternative substrate, care should be taken that it has all the features necessary for the smooth growth and development of plants. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the positive characteristics of poultry manure in the production of geraniums (Pelargonium zonale L.). Plants were divided into two groups with 30 plants in each of them. The first group was transplanted to a commercial substrate TS3 and served as control. The second group was transplanted to a mix of commercial substrate and chicken manure and was a treatment. Plants grown on a substrate containing chicken manure (1: 3) showed better results in terms of morphological characteristics (plant height, number of leaves, number of buds, number of flowering branches, number of flowers), because the average values of all examined parameters were significantly higher compared to the average value of the control plants. The average fresh and dry weight of roots and shoot parts are also in favor of the chicken manure. From the results it can be concluded that application of chicken manure as an alternative substrate in the production of geraniums (Pelargonium zonale L.) is reasonable.

alternative substrate ; chicken manure ; geranium

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