Effect of growing media containing fly ash and press mud on growth and yield of chrysanthemum variety Basanti

Abstract

Successful nursery production of potted plants is mainly dependent on the chemical and physical properties of substrates used as growing media. Selection of a suitable growing medium is very decisive for any given production system as it effects cultural practices like fertilization and irrigation. Present study was conducted during 2018-19 at ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune to appraise the possibility of using fly ash and press mud as growing media components to grow chrysanthemum variety Basanti. Ten treatments containing different combinations of fly ash, press mud, vermicompost and cocopeat were tested in comparison to control being cocopeat: vermiculite: perlite (1:1:1). Among the treatments tested, fly ash, press mud, cocopeat and vermicompost at 12.5:37.5:25: 25 proportion was found to be the best growing medium which resulted in maximum plant height, primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, number of buds/plant and maximum number of flowers/plant. Significant concentrations of macro and micronutrients were observed in the leaf samples of chrysanthemum variety Basanti grown in potting medium containing fly ash and pressmud when compared to control. The results indicated that, both fly ash and press mud which contained different plant essential nutrients significantly influenced the growth and development of chrysanthemum variety Basanti and they can be effectively utilized as growing media components.